Social Security recipients for SA2 from 2016 to present

Abstract The Department of Social Services (DSS) provides counts of Income Support Payment recipients, Family Tax Benefit recipients, selected supplementary payment recipients and Concession Card Holders at the end of each quarter for each Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). Counts are provided from quarter 1, 2016 to the present. The following recipients and card holders are counted. * ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) * ABSTUDY (Non Living Allowance) * Age Pension * Austudy * Carer Allowance * Carer Allowance - Child Health Care Card Only * Carer Payment * Commonwealth Seniors Health Card * Disability Support Pension * Family Tax Benefit A * Family Tax Benefit B * Health Care Card * Low Income Card * Newstart Allowance * Jobseeker Payment * Parenting Payment Partnered * Parenting Payment Single * Partner Allowance * Pension Concession Card * Sickness Allowance * Special Benefit * Widow Allowance * Widow B Pension * Wife Pension (Partner on Age Pension) * Wife Pension (Partner on Disability Support Pension) * Youth Allowance (Other) * Youth Allowance (Student and Apprentice) * Commonwealth Rent Assistance Why this is useful * Better understand how your local community is changing over time. * Data from 2016 means both spatial and time-related analyses can be performed. * Identify trajectories in the number of recipients by SA2, to identify appropriate services for changing communities. * Help vulnerable communities plan for and respond to emergencies. Note: reporting rules and policy settings have changed over time. The data from different periods may not be directly comparable. Each Statistical Area is duplicated 32 times, one for each quarter. For each quarter there are over 20 benefit types. Presenting all of that information on one map is impossible. Even displaying one benefit type for all SA2s for one quarter will be slow to display. If possible limit investigations to a small geographic area or time period. To begin, decide if you want to investigate the spatial distribution of recipients of a payment type or concession card across multiple SA2s, or if you want to investigate how the number of recipients of a payment type or concession card changes over time. To view the spatial distribution of recipients of a payment type or concession card * Add this layer to a new map. * Click Properties on the right hand side. * Click edit layer style and click the x next to the attribute currently symbolised. * Click field and select the payment type or concession card you want to investigate on the map. * To display just one quarter click filter and then Add expression. * Replace the current field with Quarter, select "is on" and then select a date from the list. * Select a style, colour scheme and theme appropriate for the purpose of your map. * Rename the layer to better reflect the payment type or concession card and quarter just selected. Click the ellipsis next to the layer name and enter a new title. To view the distribution of social security recipients over time * Add this layer to a new map. * Click Properties on the right hand side. * Click edit layer style and click the x next to the attribute currently symbolised. * Click field and select the payment type or concession card you want to investigate on the map. * To display just a subset of SA2s click filter and then Add expression. * Replace the current field with "SA2 code", "SA2 Name" or "State and Territory name", whichever will let you focus your analysis appropriately. More than one SA2 can be specified. * Select a style, colour scheme and theme appropriate for the purpose of your map. * Click on "Time" to display the time slider allowing you to view how the number of recipients in the chosen SA2 changes over time. * Rename the layer to better reflect the payment type or concession card and quarter just selected. Click the ellipsis next to the layer name and enter a new title. These instructions are not exhaustive and only outline two workflows possible with this layer. Currency Date modified: May 2024 Update frequency: Quarterly Data Extent Spatial Extent * West Bounding Longitude: 109.7° * East Bounding Longitude: 159.4° * North Bounding Latitude: -6.9° * South Bounding Latitude: -45.5° Temporal Extent January 2016 - Present Source Information Social security data is provided by the Department of Social Services. * [Metadata] * [Public listing] Statistical Areas Level 2 geographies are provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. * [Metadata] * [Public listing] Lineage Statement This layer was put together using two data sources: social security data provided by the Department of Social Services was joined to the Statistical Areas Level 2 provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Social Security Recipients * A recipient or card holder is counted if they are current or suspended on the Centrelink payment system as at the end of the quarter. The address provided by a recipient or card holder is geocoded to determine their SA2. * From December 2022, to protect individuals’ privacy, all counts have been rounded to the nearest 5. Values from 1 to 7 are rounded to 5. Zero counts are actual zeros. This may result in non-additivity for some totals. Caution should be taken in re-calculating totals from rounded data, as this may compound the effects of rounding. Prior to December 2022, where a SA2 has 5 or less recipients, the number 0 or 5 was randomly assigned to the SA2 to ensure individuals can not be identified. * The payment type "Commonwealth Rent Assistance income units" is only available from March 2017. * Widow B Pension ceased on 20 March 2020. Recipients were transferred to the Age Pension. The data available at data.gov.au was used. [dss-payments-by-2011-statistical-area-2.csv] [dss-payments-2016-sa2-jun-2019-to-mar-2023 map-historic.csv] [dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv] Each file contains about 30 columns. Each row describes the number of recipients for each benefit type for the end of each quarter and the SA2 in which the recipient resides. For example, a typical line in [dss-payments-2016-sa2-jun-2019-to-mar-2023 map-historic.csv] looks like. 2019-03,11007,Braidwood,0,5,487,5,76,5,42,113,147,203,165,172,106,23,10,32,806,0,7,8,143,0,5,0,5,5 2019-03 - Last month of the quarter. 11007 - Unique five digit code comprising the State and Territory identifier and SA2 identifier. NSW is 1, Braidwood is 1007. Braidwood - Unique name given to each SA2. All subsequent integers are recipient and card holder counts for that SA2. In [dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv] the 9 digit identifier replaces the 5 digit code used in the previous two CSVs. This is because as at ASGS edition 3 the 5 digit codes are no longer used. See [ABS] for more information. Columns in each CSV were renamed to ensure consistency across the entire time period. Some columns were merged as shown below. ───────────────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────── dss-payments-by-2011-statistical-area-2.csv│dss-payments-2016-sa2-jun-2019-to-mar-2023 map-historic.csv│dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv│Becomes ───────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────── JobSeeker Payment │Newstart Allowance / JobSeeker Payment │Newstart Allowance │Newstart Allowance or JobSeeker Payment ───────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────── Commonwealth Rent Assistance │Commonwealth Rent Assistance │Commonwealth Rent Assistance (income units)│Commonwealth Rent Assistance ───────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────── Pension Concession Card │Pension Concession Card │Pensioner Concession Card │Pension Concession Card ───────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────── Australian Statistical Geography - Statistical Area Level 2 The [Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)] is a classification of Australia into a hierarchy of statistical areas. First introduced in 2011, the ASGS replaced the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) that had been used since 1984. The ASGS is a social geography, developed to reflect the location of people and communities, and used for the release and analysis of statistics and other data. The ASGS is updated every 5 years to account for growth and change in Australia's population, economy and infrastructure. The Statistical Area Level 2 is the third highest resolution (third lowest level) in the ASGS hierarchy of social geography. Three editions of ASGS are used in this product: Edition 1 2011, Edition 2 2016 and Edition 3 2021. They are all available from the ABS as ArcGIS Feature Services. [ASGS 2011 SA2] [ASGS 2016 SA2] [ASGS 2021 SA2] Data Preparation Joining social security data to SA2 geographies The table below shows which social security CSV was joined to which ASGS Edition. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────── CSV file name │ASGS edition ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────── dss-payments-by-2011-statistical-area-2.csv │ASGS Edition 1 2011 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────── dss-payments-2016-sa2-jun-2019-to-mar-2023 map-historic.csv│ASGS Edition 2 2016 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────── dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv │ASGS Edition 3 2021 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────── After the join the ASGS edition used is assigned to each row so users know which ASGS edition is used. The first two CSVs were joined to SA2 geographies using the 5 digit code; the third CSV used the 9 digit code. Data loss The social security CSVs and corresponding ASGS editions have the following record counts. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────── CSV file name │Recipient Row Count grouped by SA2│ASGS Edition Row Count ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────── dss-payments-by-2011-statistical-area-2.csv │2214 │2196 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────── dss-payments-2016-sa2-jun-2019-to-mar-2023 map-historic.csv│2292 │2292 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────── dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv │2454 │2473 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────── The first CSV file has more SA2s than the service provided by the ABS. The second CSV has the same number and the third has less. This discrepancy is due to the inconsistent use and representation of special purpose code SA2s in both the DSS CSVs and ABS web feature services. Special purpose code SA2s are used by ABS to capture demographics for people in transit such as air and ship crews and people with no fixed address. They are not represented by geographies in the ABS provided ASGS feature services until edition 3 when they exist in the table but they have no geometry. When the social security data is joined to the ASGS geographies all records for special purpose code SA2s are dropped in Edition 1 and Edition 3 making it appear there has been data loss. The special purpose code SA2s are included in the first CSV however the number of all recipients in each one is zero. Update Method The number of payment and concession card holders will be determined by DSS at the end of each quarter. Priorities and resources will determine when the update is placed into data.gov.au. New updates will be added to the existing file "dss-demographics-2021-sa2-december-2023.csv" while the DSS use the 2021 ASGS Edition 3 SA2s. In 2026 when the ABS release ASGS Edtion 4, a new CSV file will be made available in data.gov.au and updates made to it. While the current CSV file is being updated by DSS the Python script below can be used to add the new quarter. The script could be modified to only pick up the changes or run as is. With appropriate permissions the script could be automated to poll the CSV data.gov.au to determine if any changes have been made. Once DSS add a new CSV file the script will need to be modified. Scripts All data manipulation, joins and spatial operations were performed using Python 3.9.16, Pandas 1.4.4, Geopandas 0.12.2 and ArcGIS API for Python 2.1.0.2. The full script is available from the Geoscience Australia Digital Atlas of Australia GitHub repository. Path is data/DSS Payments by SA2/data preparation/download and prep.ipynb. Data Dictionary ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Attribute Name │Description ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SA2 Identifier │Statistical Area Level 2 unique numeric code ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── State or territory name │State or territory name ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Quarter │Date of end of quarter as 12/31/2023 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SA2 name │Statistical Area Level 2 name ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ABSTUDY Living Allowance recipients │Number of ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ABSTUDY non Living Allowance recipients │Number of ABSTUDY (non Living Allowance) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Age Pension recipients │Number of Age Pension recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Austudy recipients │Number of Austudy recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Carer Allowance recipients │Number of Carer Allowance recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Carer Allowance Child Health Care Card only recipients │Number of Carer Allowance Child Health Care Card only recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Carer Payment recipients │Number of Carer Payment recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Commonwealth Seniors Health Card recipients │Number of Commonwealth Seniors Health Card recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Disability Support Pension recipients │Number of Disability Support Pension recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Family tax benefit A recipients │Number of Family Tax Benefit A recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Family tax benefit B recipients │Number of Family Tax Benefit B recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Health Care Card recipients │Number of Health Care Card recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Low Income Card recipients │Number of Low Income Card recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Newstart Allowance JobSeeker Payment recipients │Number of Newstart Allowance JobSeeker Payment recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Parenting Payment Partnered recipients │Number of Parenting Payment Partnered recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Parenting Payment Single recipients │Number of Parenting Payment Single recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Partner Allowance recipients │Number of Partner Allowance recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pension Concession Card recipients │Number of Pension Concession Card recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Sickness Allowance recipients │Number of Sickness Allowance recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Special Benefit recipients │Number of Special Benefit recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Widow Allowance recipients │Number of Widow Allowance recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Widow B Pension recipients │Number of Widow B Pension recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Wife Pension (partner on Age Pension) recipients │Number of Wife Pension (partner on Age Pension) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Wife Pension (partner on Disability Support Pension) recipients│Number of Wife Pension (partner on Disability Support Pension) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Youth Allowance (Other) recipients │Number of Youth Allowance (Other) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Youth Allowance (Student and Apprentice) recipients │Number of Youth Allowance (Student and Apprentice) recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Commonwealth Rent Assistance recipients │Number of Commonwealth Rent Assistance recipients ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ASGS year edition │Australian Statistical Geography Standard geographies release year and edition ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Point of Contact Organisation Name: Australian Government Department of Social Services Email address: [data@dss.gov.au] Online Resource: [https://www.dss.gov.au/]