Welfare recipients still living in poverty
Media Release, Thursday 3 August 2006
Many Australians receiving government welfare benefits are still living below the poverty line, according to the latest issue of Poverty Lines: Australia, a longstanding publication produced by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at the University of Melbourne.
Figures in the March 2006 quarter, released this week, show that single adults on unemployment benefits fare worst, receiving around $77.09 less than the poverty line per week.
Unemployed couples without children are living on around $28.23 per week less than the poverty line, while couples with children are receiving up to $31.39 less than the poverty line on a weekly basis.
Singles and couples on pensions, as well as single parents with children, are the only welfare recipients to rise above the poverty line.
The figures given in the publication account for the maximum amount payable by Centrelink and do not take into account non-cash benefits to which many recipients are entitled, including concessions for health and welfare, housing, transport, education and other goods and services.
Poverty Lines is the longest running poverty index in Australia, having been produced since 1973. It is available on the Melbourne Institute website at www.melbourneinstitute.com.
Media enquiries to Roger Wilkins, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute on +61 3 8344 2100.
For further information or for interview opportunities, please contact Laura A’Bell, Communications and PR Manager, Melbourne Institute, on 03 8344 2154 or labell@unimelb.edu.au.
|
|
