Acknowledgements endorsements Background methodology executive Summary 11 Recommendations 22 Article — general obligations 38

Impairment Ratings Exclude Certain Disability Types

520. 
     The Federal Government has introduced changes to legislation that are designed to reduce the number of persons deemed eligible for the DSP and move them to a much lower payment for unemployment benefits. An Impairment table has been developed for this purpose that redefines disability. Impairment ratings are only given to people whose medical condition has been fully documented and diagnosed, and has also been investigated, treated and stabilised for two years. Government commissioned research anticipates that these changes will lead to a significantly lower number of approved DSP applications.⁵⁹²
     
521. 
     There are some key groups of people with disability for whom this process creates the risk of non-compliance:⁵⁹³
     
     1. 
        people with psychosocial disability;⁵⁹⁴
        
     2. 
        people who are seriously ill;
        
     3. 
        people with fluctuating or episodic conditions;
        
     4. 
        people who have undiagnosed conditions;
        
     5. 
        people with drug and alcohol dependence; and
        
     6. 
        people with two or more mild conditions which combine to have a serious impact.