‘Alarming’: Number of Australians on Welfare Jumps to 2.1 Million

Recipients of NDIS make up an overwhelming 86 percent of the growth to the total number of people on welfare since 2018. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS logo is seen at its head office in Canberra, Australia, on June 22, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australia’s reliance on welfare payments has reached new heights, with the number of recipients now over 2.1 million, around 10 percent of the over-15 population, according to new think tank research.

This figure represents an additional 425,000 welfare recipients compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. It has largely been driven by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)—a taxpayer-backed program that helps pay for disability services.