A study on the death rate among welfare recipients has highlighted “profound” inequality in health between average people and those on the lowest incomes.
The report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare compared mortality rates and causes of death for people receiving and not receiving various income support payments by linking data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and government systems.
People receiving an income support including disability, unemployment or carers payments had an average mortality rate more than nine times higher than people who did not access the welfare system.
Of the 287,000 people aged 22 to 64 who died between 2012 and 2022, almost three in five received income support payments.
The report showed the main cause of death for people on income support was cardiovascular disease but there were also higher rates of “deaths of despair” associated with alcohol, drugs and self harm, University of Queensland social science research fellow Mark Robinson said.
“The findings point to the profound health inequities in Australia despite its comparatively strong health record,” Dr Robinson said.
“It demonstrates Australians facing economic disadvantage are carrying a much higher burden of premature mortality than others.”
Income support recipients had higher death rates from suicide and accidental poisoning, with alcoholic liver disease fatalities being 21 times more prevalent.
The independent federal agency produced the report to aid policy-makers.
The government would have to tackle complex issues around mental health services, the cost-of-living crisis and raising income support in order to improve health among welfare recipients, Dr Robinson said.
An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare spokesperson said the statistical report had identified higher death rates for people on income support but not the causes.
“Further research could help build a better understanding of how factors such as economic participation, service use and other life circumstances are linked to mortality outcomes,” the spokesperson said.
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