The Department of Social Services (DSS) is the Australian Government’s preeminent source of advice on social policy and works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations to manage a diverse range of programs and services designed to support and improve the lives of Australians. DSS has whole of government responsibility
Families and Children
Housing Support
Seniors
Communities and Vulnerable People
Disability and Carers
Women's Safety
Mental Health
Settlement and Multicultural Affairs
Ageing and Aged Care
Review of Australia’s Welfare System
This statistical overview presents information about income support payments and customers administered by a number of Australian Government departments.
Unless otherwise indicated, the statistics relate to the relevant pay periods closest to 30 June. These periods will generally be within a fortnight either side of that date.
Key sections of the overview are:
payments for older people,
people with disability and
those caring for people with disability, severe medical conditions,
or those who are frail aged
student and labour market related payments
family assistance
other payments and services
pensioners paid overseas.
Payment and allowance information, including eligibility criteria, are included within each section.
When The Department of Social Services was formed in September 2013 the publishing of the Statistical Paper series ceased.
The DSS Payments Demographic Data Set is updated quarterly and covers the majority of the information contained in the Statistical Paper series.
Please contact the Data Requests team if you have any questions in relation to this publication or the DSS Payment Demographic Data Set.
Further information to assist with the interpretation of statistics is available from the DSS and Human Services websites: