About the Disability Support Pension
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is designed to support people if they have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment which is expected to persist, in light of available evidence, for at least 2 years, and attracts at least 20 points under the Tables for the assessment of work-related impairment for Disability Support Pension (the Impairment Tables). When applying for DSP, the person must also be assessed as being unable to work for 15 or more hours per week, for at least the next 2 years, due to their impairment. Not all people with disability are eligible for DSP as many people with disability are able to work.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the Disability Support Pension(Opens in a new tab/window) and information for health professionals(Opens in a new tab/window).
Eligibility
To get the DSP, a person must meet both non-medical and medical rules. These rules are based on social security law. The person must support their claim with medical evidence.
Visit the Services Australia website for information on eligibility(Opens in a new tab/window) including diagnosis, reasonable treatment, stabilisation, program of support rules(Opens in a new tab/window) and medical evidence.
In limited circumstances DSP may be granted without the need for further assessment. This is called a manifest grant. Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the manifest medical rules(Opens in a new tab/window).
Learn more about eligibility.
Impairment Tables
The Impairment Tables(Opens in a new tab/window) are used to work out if a person can get the Disability Support Pension.
The Tables are used to assess the impact of a person’s conditions, the effects the condition has on their ability to work and assigns an impairment rating.
To qualify for DSP, a person must have among others things, a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment assessed as 20 points or more under Tables.
Learn more about the Disability Support Pension Impairment Tables.