Before claiming

1: Before you start a claim

When you claim Disability Support Pension (DSP), we assess if you meet both non-medical and medical rules.

This guide can help you understand the rules for DSP and decide whether to make a claim.

It will ask you a question and, based on your answer, show you another question or result.

2: Do you meet the age rules?

You must be aged from 16 up to Age Pension age.

If you don’t know what the Age Pension age is, read about who can get it.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

4: Do you meet residence rules for DSP?

You must meet 1 of the following:

• you lived in Australia for at least 10 years in total, including 5 years in a row
• you are a refugee or former refugee
• you lived or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Australia for DSP
• you were living in Australia when you became unable to work more than 15 hours a week.

If you’re not sure, read more about residence rules for DSP and the countries we have social security agreements with.

These links will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

6: Is your income under the cut-off point?

You can earn income up to the cut-off point for your situation. If you have a partner, we assess you and your partner's combined income. Your income needs to be under the cut off point for your payment and situation. You can find out more about the income test and income cut-off points before claiming.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

8: Do you meet any of the following manifest medical rules?

These rules are:

• you are permanently blind
• you need nursing home level care
• you have a terminal illness with average life expectancy of less than 2 years
• you have an intellectual disability with an IQ of less than 70
• you have Category 4 HIV/AIDS
• you get a Department of Veterans' Affairs Disability Compensation Payment at the Special Rate (totally and permanently incapacitated) paid under the Veterans’ Entitlement Act 1986 (VEA).

If you’re not sure, read more about manifest medical rules.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

9: Do you have a disability or medical condition that is likely to persist for more than 2 years?

If you’re not sure, read more about the general medical rules.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

11: Is your condition diagnosed?

Your condition needs to be diagnosed by a qualified health professional.

Some conditions have specific diagnosis requirements. If you’re not sure, you can read more about:

• the requirements for being diagnosed
• which conditions have specific diagnosis requirements under medical evidence
• general medical rules.

These links will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

13: Will your condition stop you working in the next 2 years?

This means your condition will stop you working at least 15 hours a week in the next 2 years.

Consider if you may be able to work more with the help of:

• medical treatment
• rehabilitation
• training
• employment services.

You can read more about how we assess your ability to work.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

15: Can you get medical evidence?

You need to include medical evidence from your treating health professionals when you submit your claim.

Your medical evidence must tell us:

• your diagnosed disability or medical conditions
• past, current and planned treatment
• if your condition will improve, stay the same, or get worse
• how your condition impacts you day to day
• the names and contact details of your treating doctors.

If you’re not sure, you can read more about medical evidence. This includes the conditions where you need to give us specific medical evidence.

This link will take you away from the pre-claim guide. You can return to this screen by going back in your browser.

17: Have you claimed DSP before?

This may be because:

• we rejected your claim
• your DSP payment was cancelled.

This doesn't include a DSP claim that you started but didn't submit.