Disability Support Pension When Your Partner Is on Age Pension

If you're under Age Pension age, your partner is on the Age Pension, and you have a permanent medical condition that prevents you from working, the Disability Support Pension (DSP) may be the right Centrelink payment for you. Adult DSP rates match the Age Pension exactly, but qualifying for DSP is significantly harder than qualifying for the Age Pension — the medical evidence threshold is high, the impairment tables are specific, and many applications are rejected on first submission. This page walks through the eligibility tests, the impairment tables, the rates, the application process, and what to do if you're knocked back.

The Headline Numbers

Adult rates effective from 1 July 2026. DSP under-21 rates are reviewed each January (different cycle from main DSS indexation).

Key Point 1: DSP Eligibility

DSP has medical eligibility and non-medical eligibility. Both must be satisfied. The medical side is what makes DSP harder than other Centrelink payments to qualify for.

Non-medical requirements

• Age: Aged 16 or older, but under Age Pension age when you apply
• Australian residency: Must be an Australian resident, residing in Australia
• Income and assets: Must meet the same income and assets tests as Age Pension (combined household figures for couples)

Medical requirements — the FDTS rule

Your medical condition must satisfy the FDTS rule: Fully Diagnosed, Treated, and Stabilised. In practical terms:

• Fully diagnosed — by a qualified specialist (not just a GP, in most cases)
• Treated — you've received or are receiving reasonable treatment for your condition
• Stabilised — your condition is unlikely to significantly improve in the next 2 years

Centrelink will not approve DSP for conditions still being investigated, conditions where treatment hasn't been tried, or conditions likely to improve with further treatment. This catches many otherwise-eligible applicants who apply too early in their treatment journey.

The work-capacity test

Even with FDTS satisfied, you must have an impairment that prevents you from working 15 or more hours per week at or above the relevant minimum wage within the next 2 years. This is assessed through the Impairment Tables (see Key Point 2) and a Job Capacity Assessment.

Key Point 2: The Impairment Tables

The Impairment Tables are 15 tables that assign points based on functional limitations across different body systems and conditions. To qualify for DSP, you generally need 20 points or more on a single Impairment Table, OR a total of 20 points across multiple tables (if you have one condition that scores 5 or more on its own table).

How the Impairment Tables work

• Each table covers a different body system or condition type (musculoskeletal, psychiatric, intellectual, cardiovascular, etc.)
• Points are assigned based on functional impact — what you can and can't do, not the diagnosis itself
• Higher points = greater functional limitation
• The 20-point threshold is the minimum to qualify on impairment grounds
• A combination of conditions can sometimes meet the threshold even where no single condition does

Common Impairment Tables

Your specialist's report should specifically address the criteria in the relevant table. A general "this person has back pain" letter is significantly weaker than a structured report addressing each criterion in Table 1. Many DSP rejections happen because the medical evidence doesn't speak the language of the Impairment Tables — the underlying condition may well qualify, but the evidence presented doesn't show it clearly enough.

Key Point 3: Income and Assets Tests for Mixed-Age Couples

DSP uses the same income and assets test thresholds as the Age Pension for couples. Combined household income and combined household assets are assessed, and the same homeowner / non-homeowner thresholds apply. Your partner's Age Pension is treated as income in the combined assessment.

Assets test (couple combined)

Income test (couple combined)

The principal home is exempt from the assets test, regardless of value. Super in accumulation phase held by the under-Age-Pension-age partner is generally not assessed; super in pension phase is assessed via deeming. See Income Test Explained and Assets Test Explained for full detail.

What Medical Evidence Do You Need?

Strong medical evidence is the single biggest predictor of DSP success. The bar is high — Centrelink has very specific requirements that mirror the Impairment Tables.

Required documentation

• Diagnosis — clear diagnosis from a specialist in the relevant field (not just a GP letter for most conditions)
• Treatment history — evidence of ongoing treatment and that your condition is "fully treated and stabilised"
• Functional capacity reports — detailed reports on what you can and cannot do in daily life
• Work capacity — specific information about your ability to perform work tasks
• Prognosis — medical opinion on whether your condition will improve in the next 2 years
• Specialist reports — typically required, not just GP reports

How to Apply for DSP

The DSP application process is significantly more involved than other Centrelink payments. Plan ahead — gather your medical evidence before you submit:

1. Gather comprehensive medical evidence — start collecting specialist reports, treatment records, and functional assessments well before you apply.
2. Consider getting help — disability advocates, social workers, or legal services can significantly improve your chances of success, especially for complex cases.
3. Submit your claim online — log into myGov, "Make a claim", then "Disability Support Pension".
4. Complete medical forms — your doctors will need to complete specific Centrelink medical forms. Make sure they understand the Impairment Tables criteria.
5. Attend assessments — you'll likely need to attend a Job Capacity Assessment and may be sent to a Centrelink-appointed doctor for additional assessment.
6. Provide additional information — Services Australia will request more details if needed. Respond quickly to avoid delays.
7. Wait for decision — processing times vary. You may be able to claim another payment (e.g. JobSeeker) while your DSP claim is assessed.
8. Request a review if rejected — don't give up after a first rejection. Internal review and AAT appeal paths are well-established.

For the full document checklist and form-by-form detail, see the Step-by-Step Application Guide.

What If Your Application Is Rejected?

DSP rejection rates are higher than most Centrelink payments — partly because of the high evidentiary bar, partly because applicants often submit before their condition is fully stabilised. A rejection is not the end of the road.

Your options after rejection

• Request an explanation — call Services Australia and ask exactly why you were rejected and what specific criteria you didn't meet
• Gather more evidence — get additional specialist reports that specifically address the gaps identified in your rejection
• Request an internal review — within 13 weeks of the decision, you can ask Services Australia to review the decision with fresh eyes
• Apply to the AAT — if the internal review is also rejected, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, independent of Services Australia
• Seek professional help — disability advocates and welfare rights lawyers specialise in DSP appeals and often achieve success where individuals don't

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to Next

DSP is the right payment if your impairment genuinely prevents working 15+ hours per week and your condition is stabilised. The rate matches Age Pension exactly for adults — meaningful financial support that doesn't have JobSeeker's mutual obligation requirements. The hard part isn't whether you qualify in principle; it's gathering medical evidence that speaks the language of the Impairment Tables. If you're considering DSP, start with your specialist and ask them to write a report against the relevant Impairment Table criteria. If you've been rejected, the review path is real and many cases are overturned. For broader options when DSP isn't the right fit, see the Younger Partner Options Hub.

Last reviewed: 10 May 2026 · All figures pulled live from the RC Data Engine. For previous indexation periods, see the Centrelink Rates & Thresholds reference page.