ACOSS proposals for reform of family payments

April 2010

Category: Community Services Category: Employment & Income Support

The current family payments system is fairly well targeted to those most in need and relatively effective at addressing child poverty. The basic structure is well-designed to reduce child poverty without undermining work incentives. This is achieved by paying the same amount of Family Tax Benefit (Part A) to low income jobless and working families.

However, there are a number of problems which should be addressed through reform of the system to reduce child poverty, particularly for low income families with older children and sole parent families.

Award Modernisation : What will it mean for COSS Members?

December 2009

The national, state and territory Councils of Social Service have prepared this factsheet on the award modernisation process for our members in the social and community service sectors.

Key issues include: who will be affected by the modern award, within what timeframes, and how it sits with the pay equity test case announced recently. The fact sheet will be updated in light of industrial developments in the sector.

Changes to family payments will increase child poverty

June 2009

Analysis of proposed changes to FTB indexation

Proposed changes to the Family Tax Benefit made in the 2009 Budget will mean a loss of income over time for families who can least afford it and will almost inevitably lead to an increase in child poverty.

ACOSS is concerned that low income families who can least bear the cost will in this way be made to pay the price of the pension increase.

Pension and allowance increases in the 2009 - 2010 Budget

April 2009

Could you raise two children alone on $550 a week?
Sole parent families and the pension increase.

The Government is planning to lift single age pensions in the May Budget by around $30 per week and it is very likely that disability and carer pensions will also receive this increase.

However, no similar commitment has been made to the 360,000 sole parents on Parenting Payment Single, which is also a pension payment. They would normally get any increase in the pension but ACOSS is concerned that the automatic link between this payment and other pensions (which has been in place for over 30 years) may be broken in this Budget.

Poverty Factsheet

August 2005

ACOSS estimates that two million people live in poverty today - one in ten Australians. This factsheet includes statistics and information about poverty in Australia.

Payment Levels and Unemployment Factsheet

March 2005

Arguments to support the current Welfare to Work Bill (2005) include the view that putting people onto lower payments with increased activity requirements will result in more people finding work. This factsheet looks at payment levels and unemployment levels in Australia and other countries.