PIAC made a submission to the inquiry into the purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension (DSP). Our submission, drawing from the experiences of the Homeless Persons Legal Service clients and StreetCare members, focused on issues for people experiencing homelessness receiving or trying to access the DSP.
In PIAC’s view, the DSP should be an income support payment that enables people with disability with no or overall limited capacity to work, to live with dignity and supports their full and effective participation in society. Currently, inadequate DSP payment levels, complex assessment criteria and a rigid assessment process contribute to incidence and risk of homelessness and financial hardship.
Our submission made recommendations to reform the DSP and the broader social security system to; (a) enable people with disability to live with dignity and pursue opportunities, and (b) support vulnerable people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access their entitlements.
Reducing unfair fines and over-policing from alcohol-free zones