Number of people in poverty in 2019-20 by housing tenure, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/laJfe1sIhGLxiDir7OeD" prefix="JE8" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people in poverty by housing status"] The above graph shows that in 2019-20 the risk of poverty was twice as great (1,238,000 people) for people in households renting privately than for home purchasers (492,000 people) and homeowners (1,004,000 people), reflecting the higher cost and/or lower incomes of people in private rental housing. Poverty is even higher among tenants in public housing (311,000 people), mostly due to the lower incomes of this group. It is also high, at 275,000 people, in ‘other’ tenures including community housing. Almost half (1,549,000 people) of those in poverty were either tenants in private rentals or public housing. Among people in households renting privately, approximately 1,935,000 people in households receiving CRA were in poverty, compared with approximately 4,110,000 private tenants without Rent Assistance. Similarly, among people in ‘other’ housing…
Number of adults in poverty in 2019-20 by country of birth, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/5mNaK9jAiM9ENUHLo6CI" prefix="uyq" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people in poverty by country of birth"] The key distinction here is the lower poverty rate among migrants born in a major English-speaking country (218,000 people), compared with those born elsewhere (887,000 people). The rate of poverty was also below-average among people born in Australia (1,454,000 people). In the fourth quarter of 2019-20, poverty declined (by 254,000 people) among migrants from places other than ‘major Englishspeaking countries’ but rose slightly (by 12,000 people) among those from major English-speaking countries.
Number of people in poverty by labour force status of main income-earner in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/DwUVjk97sHgSGBDZX2Qo" prefix="enE" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people in poverty by labour force status"] Among people in households where the main income-earner was unemployed, 231,000 people were in poverty in 2019-20. Where the main income-earner was under 65 years old and not in the labour force, 1,186,000 household members were in poverty. Poverty rates were much lower where the main income-earner was employed fulltime (701,000 people). People in households relying on a single part-time wage were more than three times as likely as those relying on a fulltime wage to be in poverty (574,000 people). Among people in households where the main income-earner was 65 years and over and not in the labour force, 628,000 were in poverty. The greatest reductions in poverty occurred among people in households whose main income-earner was unemployed (by 94,000 people) or under 65 years and not in the labour force (by 327,000 people). Poverty also declined in…
Number of adults in poverty by disability status in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/aPsy3k4eQGudKesZ4HZX" prefix="jfi" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people in poverty by disability"] The above graph shows that the rate of poverty among adults with disability in 2019-20 was 853,000 people, and 295,000 people among adults with a core activity limitation. One-third of adults in poverty had a disability. Poverty among people with disability declined by 170,000 people in the fourth quarter of 2019-20. The decline in poverty was greater for people without a core activity restriction (by 153,000 people) than for those with one (by 10,000 people).
Rate of poverty by labour force status of main income-earner in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/bS4SXxQTjsCq9gSZ0JMD" prefix="2mv" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Rate of poverty by labour force status of household reference person (% of people)"] The above graph compares poverty rates among people according to the labour force status of the main income-earner. Among people in households where the main income-earner was unemployed, 62% were in poverty in 2019-20. Where the main income-earner was under 65 years old and not in the labour force, 47% of household members were in poverty. Poverty rates were much lower where the main income-earner was employed fulltime (4.8%). People in households relying on a single part-time wage were more than three times as likely as those relying on a fulltime wage to be in poverty (19%). Among people in households where the main income-earner was 65 years and over and not in the labour force, 16% were in poverty. While people in households whose main income-earner is employed had a relatively low rate of poverty, they…
Average poverty gap for ‘income support households’, by payment type ($pw)
[infogram id="_/5cGrpzr8wajIvuOfdMrE" prefix="8gg" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people in poverty by social security payment received by income support households"] The ‘poverty gap’ is a measure of the depth of poverty among those living below the poverty line. It is the average gap between their income and the poverty line, after deducting housing costs. In 2019-20, the average poverty gap for income support households was $197 per week. Poverty was deepest (average poverty gaps were largest) among people in households whose main earner received Youth Allowance ($390 per week), Newstart Allowance / JobSeeker Payment ($269), and Parenting Payment ($246) and Carer Payment ($201). Poverty gaps were somewhat lower for Disability Support Pension ($156) and Age Pension ($118).
Rate of poverty by social security payment received by ‘income support households’ in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/Zu16vWiixCd5iZEnggbD" prefix="TVl" format="interactive" title="2019-20_poverty rates in 'income support households'"] The graph above shows poverty rates and numbers of people in poverty among people in households mainly reliant on income support payments (‘income support households’). Across all income support payments, these poverty rates averaged 1,453,000 people. The highest poverty rates among people in ‘income support households’ were for those receiving Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment (323,000 people) or Parenting Payment (320,000), followed by Disability Support Pension (311,000) Carer Payment (82,000), Youth Allowance (21,000) and Age Pension (396,000). Altogether, almost one and a half million (1,453,000) of all people in poverty were in ‘income support households’. Poverty declined by 341,000 people among people in ‘income support households’. Poverty in ‘income support households’ relying on Newstart Allowance /…
Average poverty gap by main source of income ($pw)
[infogram id="_/5m35SMaRV8cuVViPcij3" prefix="RSU" format="interactive" title="2019-20_ Poverty gap by main income source (% of households)"] The above graph shows the average poverty gap for households by main income source, and how that changed when COVID income supports were introduced in the fourth quarter of 2019-20. Average poverty gaps were higher for households relying mainly on wages ($324) or investment and other incomes ($499). The average poverty gaps for households mainly relying on social security fell substantially, by an average of $81 per week, when COVID income supports were introduced. Average poverty gaps for households mainly relying on wages or ‘other’ incomes rose (by $25 and $50 respectively), likely due to a change in the profile of households below the poverty line relying mainly on wages or investment income at this time.
Number of people in poverty by main household income source in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/BDFbdUK0zSR9B0Pg5osf" prefix="fOs" format="interactive" title="2019-20_ Number of people in poverty by main income source"] Half of people in poverty were in households relying mainly on social security (1,626,000 of all people in poverty). Over one-third of people in households in poverty relied mainly on wages (1,257,000 people of all people in poverty), reflecting the large number of wage-earning households overall. Poverty fell substantially (by 389,000 people) among people in households mainly reliant on social security. This was likely due to the $275 per week Coronavirus Supplement which almost doubled many of the lowest payments. Poverty also fell substantially - by 401,000 people - among people in households mainly reliant on wages, likely due to the introduction of JobKeeper Payment. Consistent with this, financial stress among households whose main income was from low-paid employment fell substantially in 2020 compared with 2019. On the other hand, poverty…
Number of people in poverty by family type in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/vkGX0K9jeB9SB0hLGPXA" prefix="sO6" format="interactive" title="2019-20_ Number of people in poverty by family type"] The largest number of people in poverty are found in couple-with-children families (1,076,000 people compared with 665,000 people in sole parent families) due to the greater number of couple-with-children families overall. Single adults under 65 years have a slightly higher rate of poverty than those 65 years and older. Poverty fell substantially by 509,000 people in couple-with-children families and fell slightly in single person households of working age and among older couples by 5,000 people and 12,000 people respectively. Most of the overall reduction in poverty (647,000 people) occurred in couple-with-children families. In contrast to couples with children, poverty among people (including children) in sole parent families rose slightly by 21,000 people in the June quarter of 2020. Poverty also rose slightly among couples of working age without…