How to Apply for the Disability Support Pension (DSP)
Last updated: June 2026
What Is the Disability Support Pension?
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is a payment for people with a permanent physical, intellectual, or psychiatric condition that substantially limits their ability to work. It pays more than JobSeeker and has fewer mutual obligation requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible you must:
- Be aged 16 to 66 (under Age Pension age)
- Be an Australian resident
- Have a permanent condition — not likely to improve with reasonable treatment
- Score at least 20 points on the Impairment Tables
- Be unable to work 15+ hours per week at award wages, or have completed a Program of Support
The 20-Point Impairment Test
Centrelink assesses your condition against standardised Impairment Tables for different body systems. Points reflect functional limitations:
| Points | Level of impact |
|---|---|
| 0 | No functional impact |
| 5 | Mild |
| 10 | Moderate |
| 20 | Severe |
| 30 | Extreme |
You must score at least 20 points from a single condition or from conditions that interact with each other.
Program of Support Requirement
Most applicants must show they have participated in a Program of Support — a program to help find work or manage their condition — and it hasn't helped.
Exceptions: You can bypass this if your condition is so severe that work is not possible within 2 years of claiming, or if you have a Schedule 3 condition (e.g., intellectual disability with IQ under 70, blindness, dialysis dependency).
How to Apply
- Gather medical evidence: Detailed specialist reports, test results, hospital records
- Lodge the claim via myGov or call Centrelink (132 717)
- Attend a Job Capacity Assessment by a Centrelink-contracted health professional
- Centrelink makes a decision based on all evidence
If Your Claim Is Rejected
DSP rejections are common even for genuinely eligible people. You can:
- Request an ARO review within 13 weeks
- Apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal if the ARO upholds the rejection
- Seek help from a disability advocacy organisation or community legal centre
Key Points
- Must score 20+ points on the Impairment Tables from a permanent condition
- Most applicants also need to have completed a Program of Support
- Comprehensive medical evidence is critical — invest in specialist reports
- Rejection is common — appeal rates for DSP are high and many are overturned
- DSP has income and assets tests similar to the Age Pension