Changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) announced by the Federal Government on Monday are a good first step in encouraging recipients back into the workforce…but there’s still a long way to go.

Of the 700,000 DSP recipients in Australia, an estimated 20 per cent – 140,000 people – are thought to be capable of work.

One of the main hurdles for DSP recipients contemplating returning to work has been that, in doing so, they would be placed on the Newstart Allowance...

...the main level of income support for jobseekers.

The problem is that Newstart pays significantly less than the DSP and provides fewer associated benefits.

What would you do if you were on DSP? It’s not hard to see the disincentive is it?

The Government’s changes announced on Monday remove this barrier. From September, if you’re on DSP and you’re looking for work, you’ll stay on DSP.

Great news…but why stop there?

Another simple reform would be making sure that if a DSP recipient loses their new job in the first year that they return to receiving the benefit.

At the moment, if this happens, the person is pushed on to Newstart – pays less, fewer benefits.

Many DSP recipients don't look for work because they fear this very thing happening.

The cost to Government of introducing this reform would be negligible – in fact, it may actually make them a saving.

If the Government is serious about disability rights and wants to give disabled people greater access to the workforce, this is just one of a whole raft of disincentives and barriers waiting to be removed.

Mission Australia encourages them to do.