News release

From: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Today we have published a new report, Mortality outcomes among people receiving income support, which provides new insights into the health inequalities experienced by Australians facing socioeconomic disadvantage.

Drawing on linked income support and mortality data, the report examines mortality outcomes for people aged 22–64 who received Australian Government income support payments between 2012 and 2022. This analysis does not examine, nor does it provide evidence of a causal relationship between receiving an income support payment and death.

Key findings

• Of the 287,000 people aged 22–64 who died between 2012 and 2022, almost 3 in 5 received income support payments.

• Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death among income support recipients.

• Income support recipients were overrepresented in deaths from suicide, accidental poisoning and alcoholic liver disease.

• Mortality rates and leading causes of death differed depending on the type of payment received.

Future work may further analyse the life circumstances of people receiving income support, including their economic participation and how this relates to mortality outcomes.