Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637794951.pdf (Australia)
Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61 Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61 assessments of eligibility for the DSP to ensure that health professionals conducting assessments have access to all relevant information when making determinations.
Obtaining health assessments and medical evidence Carers NSW has significant concerns about the level of medical evidence required to demonstrate eligibility for the DSP and the undue strain this often places on carers.

Carers have reported to Carers NSW that they have experienced significant financial and psychological stress when supporting the person that they care for to obtain the appropriate assessments and reports to support their application for the DSP.
In some cases, carers have reported that they have provided extensive evidence however they have been advised that this has still been inadequate to determine eligibility.

Where a person with disability may be unable to self-fund medical assessments and reports, often due to the impact of their disability on their ability to earn an income through employment, carers often provide financial support to meet these costs.
This places additional financial strain on carers, who in many cases have a reduced income themselves due to the impact of their caring role on their ability to fully participate in employment.

Furthermore, where a person with disability is required to attend multiple appointments to engage in health assessments or obtain medical reports, carers may be required to assist with transport and mobility.
In these cases, additional time pressures may be placed on already time-poor carers, limiting their ability to engage in other activities such as employment or education, or see to their own health and wellbeing.

While Carers NSW understands that the Government requires evidence of disability from appropriately qualified medical professionals, Carers NSW believes that obtaining this evidence should not place a substantial burden on people with disability or their carers.
Furthermore, Carers NSW believes that where additional evidence, such as specialist reports or assessments, are required to support a DSP application, people with disability and their carers should be able to access additional financial support to meet the costs of obtaining this evidence to ensure no undue financial strain is placed on them.
f. discrimination within the labour market and its impact on employment, unemployment and underemployment of persons with disabilities and their support networks; Carers receiving DSP can experience multiple barriers to employment, facing discrimination due to their own disability as well as challenges associated with balancing the demands of their caring role with their employment.
Many carers report to Carers NSW that they cannot access employment that provides adequate flexibility that enables them to balance both their employment and their caring role.

Where carers are discriminated against due to their caring role, or are unable to find suitable, flexible employment, this often results in unemployment or underemployment for carers.
Carers NSW believes that there should be stronger legislative protections for carers seeking or engaging in employment and specialised employment supports available to carers with disability who may face multiple layers of discrimination in the workforce.
Additionally, Carers NSW encourages strengthening of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to ensure that carers with disability who are actively participating in the labour force are adequately protected against discrimination and have clear avenues of redress where discrimination is experienced.
3 Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61 Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61 Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61 adequately meet the needs of recipients, Carers NSW believes that the payment should be increased as soon as practicable.

Improving the adequacy of the payment for carers is likely to have positive impacts on not only outcomes for carers, but also for those they care for.
j. the relative merits of alternative investments in other programs to improve the standard of living of persons with disabilities; and Where income support payments such as the DSP do not adequately meet costs of living for recipients, carers often provide financial support to assist the person that they care for to meet these costs.
The 2020 Carer Survey found that carers (n=5255) most commonly reported providing financial support with costs of medicine (61%), transport (50%), health services and equipment (33%), insurance (29%), support services (25%) and accommodation (22%).
As such, Carers NSW believes that greater investment in the following areas is likely to improve financial outcomes for people receiving DSP and reduce additional financial strain on their carers:  Ongoing review of the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) and Medical Benefit Scheme (MBS) to ensure that essential health care and medications are adequately covered under these schemes  Ongoing investment in increased and more accessible public transport  Further investment in schemes or rebates that cover or reduce the cost of health or medical treatment co-payments  Additional investment in identifying and addressing gaps between formal service systems to minimise pressure placed on carers to self-fund services where they are not available or accessible   Increased investment in public and affordable housing Increasing the Commonwealth Rental Assistance and exploring additional schemes or rebates to address housing unaffordability.
Conclusion Carers NSW thanks the Committee once again for the opportunity to provide feedback on this matter.

Carers NSW believes that in order to ensure the best outcomes for carers and the people that they care for, the assessment of eligibility for the payment must include carers and not place undue stress on carers or the people they care for to obtain medical evidence.
Furthermore, Carers NSW believes that the adequacy of the DSP and additional financial and social support measures must be reviewed and increased to ensure that they meet the needs of recipients and enable them to achieve optimal social and economic outcomes.

6 Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support PensionSubmission 61