Disability Support Pension Australia 2026: Rates, Eligibility & How to Apply
๐ Quick Summary — Disability Support Pension (August 2026)
| Maximum rate — single | $1,200.90 per fortnight |
| Maximum rate — partnered | $905.20 each per fortnight |
| Claim age | From 16 and under Age Pension age |
| General medical rules | Condition must be diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised; 20+ impairment points |
| Work capacity | Generally unable to work 15+ hours/week in the next 2 years |
| Income free area | $226 single / $396 couple combined per fortnight |
| Single homeowner asset cut-off | $733,500 |
| Tax | Generally non-taxable below Age Pension age; taxable if receiving DSP at Age Pension age |
| Next regular pension rate indexation | 20 September 2026 |
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) can provide essential income support when a long-term disability or medical condition significantly limits a person's ability to work. The difficult part is that a diagnosis by itself is not enough. Centrelink looks at medical evidence, functional impairment, work capacity, residence, income and assets.
This guide explains the rules in plain English, including the current August 2026 payment rates, the 20-point impairment test, Program of Support rules, income and assets tests, and what happens when a DSP recipient reaches Age Pension age.
What Is the Disability Support Pension?
Disability Support Pension is a Centrelink income support payment for people who meet both non-medical and medical rules. The medical rules focus on how a permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition affects day-to-day function and capacity to work.
Most DSP recipients also receive a Pensioner Concession Card. Participation requirements are not the same for everyone: some DSP recipients under 35 may have compulsory participation requirements, depending on their circumstances.
DSP Eligibility — The Four Main Areas
For a new claim, you generally need to be at least 16 and under Age Pension age.
You generally need 10 years of Australian residence in total, including 5 continuous years, although important exceptions apply.
Under the general rules, conditions must be diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised and produce at least 20 impairment points.
The condition must generally stop you working at least 15 hours a week, or being retrained for that work, within the next 2 years.
The Medical Rules — What Centrelink Actually Assesses
Diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised
Since 1 April 2023, the correct test is “diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised”. The older phrase “fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised” is no longer the current wording.
- Diagnosed: the condition must be medically diagnosed and supported by the required evidence.
- Reasonably treated: reasonable treatment options must be considered in light of the person's circumstances; this does not mean every imaginable treatment must have been tried.
- Stabilised: the evidence must support the condition's ongoing functional impact and prognosis under the DSP rules.
The 15 Impairment Tables
The current 2023 Impairment Tables are part of social security law. Centrelink uses the table or tables that match the functional impact of a person's diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised conditions.
| Table | Function assessed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Functions requiring Physical Exertion and Stamina |
| 2 | Upper Limb Function |
| 3 | Lower Limb Function |
| 4 | Spinal Function |
| 5 | Mental Health Function |
| 6 | Functioning related to Alcohol, Drug and Other Substance Use |
| 7 | Brain Function |
| 8 | Communication Function |
| 9 | Intellectual Function |
| 10 | Digestive and Reproductive Function |
| 11 | Hearing and other Functions of the Ear |
| 12 | Visual Function |
| 13 | Continence Function |
| 14 | Functions of the Skin |
| 15 | Functions of Consciousness |
20 points and the Program of Support rule
You generally need an impairment rating of at least 20 points. However, how those points are reached matters.
DSP Payment Rates — August 2026
For recipients aged 21 or older, or under 21 with a dependent child, the current maximum DSP rates are:
| Situation | Per fortnight | Approx. per year |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,200.90 | ~$31,223 |
| Couple — each | $905.20 | ~$23,535 each |
| Couple — combined | $1,810.40 | ~$47,070 combined |
| Couple — each, separated due to ill health | $1,200.90 | ~$31,223 each |
The $1,200.90 single total consists of a $1,100.30 maximum basic rate, $86.50 maximum Pension Supplement and $14.10 Energy Supplement. Standard pension rates are normally reviewed on 20 March and 20 September.
DSP rates for people under 21 without dependent children
| Situation | Maximum per fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, under 18, dependent | $581.50 |
| Single, under 18, independent | $839.80 |
| Single, 18–20, dependent | $645.00 |
| Single, 18–20, independent | $839.80 |
| Couple, under 21 | $839.80 |
These under-21 rates include Youth Disability Supplement but do not include Pharmaceutical Allowance or Energy Supplement.
DSP Payment Estimator — August 2026
♿ DSP Payment Estimator — August 2026
For standard-rate recipients aged 21+ (or under 21 with a dependent child). For partnered selections, enter combined couple income and assets; the result shown is the estimated DSP for one eligible partnered person.
Income test estimate
$1,200.90/fn
Assets test estimate
$1,200.90/fn
Annual estimate
~$31,223
Rate basis
Single
standard pension rules
Illustration only. Uses standard August 2026 pension income and assets taper rules and maximum rates. It does not calculate deeming, Rent Assistance, Work Bonus, Working Credit, compensation rules, transitional rates, illness-separated couple rates, under-21 rates, overseas rates or other special rules. An official entitlement can differ. Check Services Australia or Payment Finder before making financial decisions.
Income and Assets Tests
Income test
From 1 July 2026, a single person can have income of up to $226 per fortnight before the standard pension rate starts reducing. Above that, the pension reduces by 50 cents for each $1 over the free area. The standard single income cut-off for a recipient aged 21 or older is $2,627.80 per fortnight, although the cut-off can vary in some situations.
For a couple living together, the combined income free area is $396 per fortnight. Above that, each person's pension reduces by 25 cents for each $1 of combined income over the free area. The standard combined income cut-off for a couple living together aged 21 or older is $4,016.80 per fortnight.
Assets test
| Situation | Full pension limit | Part pension cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Single homeowner | $333,000 | $733,500 |
| Single non-homeowner | $600,000 | $1,000,500 |
| Couple combined — homeowner | $499,000 | $1,102,500 |
| Couple combined — non-homeowner | $766,000 | $1,369,500 |
Above the full-pension asset limit, the standard pension reduces by $3 per fortnight for each $1,000 of excess assets for a single person, or $1.50 per fortnight for each member of a couple. Your principal home is generally not counted as an assessable asset, although other property and many other assets can count.
Can You Work While Receiving DSP?
Yes. Working does not automatically cancel DSP. However, your income can reduce your payment and your work hours can affect how Centrelink treats your entitlement.
Services Australia says DSP recipients can generally work up to 29 hours a week and remain on DSP if they still meet the income test. If you start working 30 hours or more a week, you need to tell Services Australia. Depending on the circumstances, DSP may be suspended rather than immediately cancelled, which can make it easier to return to payment if work later reduces or stops.
Working Credit may allow some employment income to be offset before it reduces DSP. Work Bonus is a separate scheme for eligible people who are Age Pension age or over.
How to Apply for DSP — Step by Step
- 1Check the basic rulesUse the Services Australia DSP pre-claim guide to review age, residence, medical, income and assets requirements before you start.
- 2Gather medical evidenceCollect relevant treating-doctor and specialist evidence, test results and treatment information. Make sure the evidence explains functional impact, treatment and prognosis, not only the name of the diagnosis.
- 3Claim online through myGovUse your linked Centrelink online account, then go to Payments and claims → Make a claim. A paper DSP claim is available if you cannot claim online.
- 4Complete any assessments Centrelink requiresCentrelink may arrange a Job Capacity Assessment and, depending on the claim, a Disability Medical Assessment. Attend appointments and provide requested information by the due date.
- 5Read the decision carefullyIf the claim is refused, the decision letter should explain why. You can ask Services Australia for an explanation or formal review. Further review by the Administrative Review Tribunal may also be available.
What Happens at Age Pension Age?
DSP does not simply convert automatically to Age Pension. Services Australia says it will invite a DSP recipient to apply to transfer about 13 weeks before reaching Age Pension age. The recipient can confirm that they want to transfer to Age Pension or choose to stay on DSP.
The choice can matter because the rules are not identical. Age Pension has no DSP medical reviews or work-hour limit, while staying on DSP may preserve access to some DSP-related benefits in certain circumstances. If you do not respond to the invitation, Services Australia says it may stop DSP once you reach Age Pension age.
Is DSP taxable?
Do not assume DSP is always tax-free. Services Australia states that DSP received at Age Pension age is taxable. Below Age Pension age, DSP is generally treated as non-taxable, subject to individual circumstances and tax law.
Common Questions
Final Takeaway
The headline DSP rate is easy to find; the eligibility rules are where most of the complexity sits. The strongest way to approach a claim is to understand the current medical terminology, match evidence to functional impairment, check whether Program of Support rules apply, and make sure income and assets information is complete.
For August 2026, the maximum standard rate is $1,200.90 per fortnight for a single recipient and $905.20 each for a partnered recipient. The next regular pension-rate indexation is scheduled for 20 September 2026, so re-check the official rates if you are reading this after that date.
Related Articles
Age Pension Australia 2026: Rates, Income Test and Assets Test Explained
JobSeeker Payment 2026: Current Rates, Income Test and How to Apply
How to Set Up myGov and Link Centrelink, ATO and Medicare (2026)
Official sources checked 7 August 2026
Services Australia — Disability Support Pension
Services Australia — DSP payment rates
Services Australia — DSP income test
Services Australia — DSP assets test
Services Australia — Diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised
Services Australia — Program of Support
Services Australia — Working while getting DSP
Services Australia — Transfer to Age Pension
Federal Register of Legislation — 2023 DSP Impairment Tables
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