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Do Australians want to see a Universal Credit Program implemented?

In an Australian context, a Universal Credit Program (UCP) would involve Australians receiving a single monthly payment, replacing unemployment, caring payments, disability support and rental assistance. The payment would vary depending on earnings in the previous month. Recipients would need to set out the work-related actions they will take in a 'Claimant Commitment’ with sanctions or fines applied to those who aren’t deemed to be meeting their commitments.

55 %

Just over half of all Australians (55%) would be in favour of implementing a UCP.

82 %

The majority of Australians (82%) stated they were in favour of continuing to pay some income support to people on low wages (in-work benefits).

88 %

Almost 9 in 10 (88%) Australians are in favour of variation in the work-related requirements based on disability, ill-health, and caring responsibilities.

69 %

69 per cent of Australians stated they were in favour of Sanctions or fines applied to those who aren’t deemed to be meeting their commitments.

Universal Credit Program (ANU Poll October 2021)
Can you please indicate your level of support for each of the options
Sources & Methodology
Variable description strongly against, against, in favour, strongly in favour.
Variable time span 2021
Published by ANU Poll
Publisher Link http://dx.doi.org/10.26193/XHORAI
Data Source Biddle, Nicholas; Edwards, Ben; Gray, Matthew; McEachern, Steven, 2019, "ANU Poll 2018: Data Governance", doi:10.26193/XHORAI, ADA Dataverse, V3
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Some people have suggested simplifying the social security system through a UCP. 55 per cent of Australians are in favour of a UCP being implemented in Australia.

Just over half of all Australians would be in favour of implementing a UCP (55%); replacing all benefits received by those of working age with a single payment (65%), and varying a person’s payment based on their earnings in the previous month (55%). The majority of Australians stated they were in favour of continuing to pay some income support to people on low wages (in-work benefits) (82%); variation in the work-related requirements based on disability, ill-health, and caring responsibilities (88%). Most Australians (88%) were against paying income support recipients monthly rather than fortnightly. 73% of Australians were in favour of a ‘Claimant Commitment’ where recipients set out the details of the work-related actions they will take, and 69% stated they were in favour of Sanctions or fines applied to those who aren’t deemed to be meeting their commitments.