• Table of contents
• Abbreviations and acronyms
• Preface
• Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Context and challenges
• 3. Adequacy
• 4. Indexation
• 5. Payment design and administration
• 6. Concessions and services
• 7. Sustainability and targeting
• Appendix A: Number of pensioners
• Appendix B: Pension payments as at 1 January 2009
• Appendix C: Supplementary entitlements available in the income support system, January 2009
• Appendix D: One-off lump-sum payments provided since 2004–05
• Appendix E: Superannuation modelling
• Appendix F: Data sources and notes
• References
• Tables and Charts

Budget 2009-10 - Pension Review Report

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• Next: References

Appendix F: Data sources and notes

The Pension Review has drawn on many data sources for information. These include data and information gathered from Pension Review consultations, written submissions and focus groups, internal FaHCSIA research and administrative data, data from other government departments and various surveys. Wherever possible this report aims to ensure consistency across tables and charts and for administrative data supplied. However, diversity among data sources means that not all figures and definitions are the same throughout the report and that time periods identified in analysis may also vary. This appendix outlines the main data sources used throughout the report.

Administrative data

The Review draws extensively on administrative data collections within FaHCSIA as well as data from Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the Department of Health and Ageing.

These collections include both official statistics, including those published in annual reports and statistical publications, and internal analytical and research collections.

Administrative data collections only contain sufficient data to administer payments, and as such at times only limited data are available on the specific characteristics and circumstances or total resources available to income support recipients.

Data from the consultations

The Review received over 1,800 written submissions, conducted a series of public forums and held focus groups with pension recipients throughout Australia as part of the consultation process. Information and data collected from the consultations has been used to inform the review process and is cited throughout the report.

Payment data

Payment rate data have been drawn from:

A Guide to social security law (this also has historical rates).

A guide to Australian Government payments, a Centrelink publication.
Payment rate data in the report are generally for the period 1 January to 19 March 2009.

Internal models have also been used in payment calculations.

Survey data

Survey data are usually much broader in nature than administrative data. A number of household surveys are used throughout the report. There are some limitations that should be noted when considering survey data, including:

• As the surveys are sample surveys, estimates derived from them are subject to sampling error. This can mean that estimates for small populations cannot be derived accurately and that not all apparent differences between estimates, say for different population groups, are meaningful.
• Reliance on self-reporting may lead to inaccuracies. For example, many income support recipients do not know the name of the payment they receive or refer to it by a common or former name, or confuse payments where names are similar, such as Carer Allowance and Carer Payment.
• Household income is not always reported accurately, particularly at the bottom and the top of the income distribution
• Expenditure data are often collected over a relatively brief period and the actual spending of a household over this period may not be typical.

Definitions in surveys often differ from those used for income support payment purposes.

The main surveys used in this report are:

• The ABS Survey of Income and Housing, which collects extensive information on the characteristics, income and wealth of households. The survey is conducted every two years.
• The ABS Household Expenditure Survey, which is similar to the Survey of Income and Housing. The Household Expenditure Survey collects data on household expenditures and financial stress. This survey is used by the ABS as the basis of weighting the CPI and ALCI.
• Average Weekly Earnings. This is an employer based survey conducted quarterly. As data are collected in an aggregate form only average earnings can be derived.
• The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which provides statistics on the composition and distribution of wage and salary earners’ income, the hours they are paid for and whether their pay is set through awards, collective or individual agreements, or contracts. The survey is conducted every two years.
• The ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, which provides detailed data on people’s experience of ageing, disability and caring. The survey collects information on people aged 60 and over, people with disability and their carers. This survey provides information on the needs of these groups, the extent to which they are met, and the characteristics of those with unmet needs. The survey also provides information on participation in economic and community activities. Previously the survey was conducted every five years, but it is currently moving to a six-year cycle.
• The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, which is a longitudinal survey conducted by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research on behalf of FaHCSIA. HILDA is a household-based panel survey that collects information about subjective wellbeing, labour market and family dynamics. The survey began in 2001.

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• Next: References

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