Supported Wage System (SWS) 008-04030080

The Department of Social Services (DSS) assess eligibility for SWS. See the Resources page for a link to How to apply for the Supported Wage System | Job Access. Where required, Services Australia may assist DSS by confirming if a job seeker meets impairment criteria for Disability Support Pension (DSP).

Most people with an illness, injury or disability participate in the open workforce at full award rates of pay. Some people who are unable to obtain and/or maintain employment at full award rates due to the effects of a disability on their workplace productivity.

People can choose to access a reliable process of productivity-based wage assessment and workplace-specific assistance to help them gain or maintain jobs in the open workforce. For example, an eligible person who wants to participate in the SWS may be independently assessed as having a productivity level of 70%, compared to the productivity of co-workers who are performing the same (or similar) duties, and receiving a full award wage. The SWS - eligible worker and the employer can agree to ongoing employment with a rate of pay at 70% of the full award rate.

The SWS operates within the normal State and Federal industrial relations regulatory frameworks. SWS participants have the same employment conditions as their co-workers who receive a full award wage. The assessed percentage of productivity applies to the wage rate only. All other employment conditions - such as the length of annual and long service leave and access to training apply according to the appropriate award or enterprise agreement. Payment of these conditions is at the pro-rata award wage rate.

A person is eligible to participate in the SWS if:

• the job is covered by an award, industrial agreement or legislative provision which allows employment for pro-rata wages under the SWS, and
• the person is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident, and
• the person is at least 15 years of age, and
• the person has no outstanding workers compensation claim against the current employer, and
• the person meets impairment criteria for DSP, i.e. has a rating of 20 points or more under the Impairment Tables, or meets manifest eligibility criteria for DSP. Continuing Inability to Work (CITW) is not assessed

Assistance may also be available to employers.

• As part of the SWS application, employers can apply for a one-off $1,000 payment. It helps cover the cost of employing a person with disability in a new job. The payment is only available if the employee:
• gets no support from a government funded employment service, such as Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) or the NDIS
• is employed for at least 13 weeks, working at least 8 hours a week
• Funding may also be available for essential workplace modifications - or special or adaptive equipment that may assist people with disability, illness or injury in a job. This funding is separate to SWS and is available through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) administered by the DSS
• The Inclusive Employment Australia Wage Subsidy is a financial incentive of up to $10,000 that providers can use to encourage eligible employers to provide ongoing employment opportunities of at least 8 hours per week for eligible participants

Customers receiving Disability Support Pension (DSP), JobSeeker Payment (JSP), Youth Allowance (YA) (job seeker) or Parenting Payment (PP) and working 15 or more hours per week under SWS can qualify for the higher rate of MOB if they also meet the base qualifications for MOB.

DSP customers do not have participation requirements if they participate in SWS. When SWS stops, if the customer meets the DSP participation requirements criteria they may be required to attend DSP participation interviews and sign a DSP Participation Plan. They will also be required to include a compulsory activity in their Participation Plan.

More information on SWS is available by phoning DSS Assessment Team (free call from anywhere in Australia). The Resources page has a link to contact details.

A job seeker or their advocate seeking entry into the SWS should be directed to DSS in the first instance. DSS will seek assistance from Services Australia to confirm if a job seeker meets impairment criteria for DSP.