11.1.1.30 Objectives of Income Management

Objectives

Income management is a key tool in supporting disengaged youth, long-term welfare payment recipients and people assessed as vulnerable, and is aimed at encouraging engagement, participation and responsibility. The key objectives are to:

• reduce immediate hardship and deprivation by directing welfare payments to the priority needs of recipients, their partner, children and any other dependents,
• help affected welfare payment recipients to budget so that they can meet their priority needs,
• reduce the amount of discretionary income available for alcohol, gambling, tobacco and pornography,
• reduce the likelihood that welfare payment recipients will be subject to harassment and abuse in relation to their welfare payments, and
• encourage socially responsible behaviour, particularly in the care and education of children.

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Last reviewed: 2 August 2010