Majority of Australians on jobseeker and parenting payments live in poverty, study finds

A report by Acoss and the University of NSW has found 60% of people on the jobseeker payment, 72% of people on the parenting payment and 34% of people on youth allowance live in poverty. Photograph: Ralf Geithe/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The majority of people on the jobseeker and parenting payments are living in poverty while about a third of single parents are also below the breadline, according to a new study.

A report from the University of New South Wales and the Australian Council of Social Service, to be released on Wednesday, provides further insight into the demographics of 3 million people, including 761,000 children, previously identified as living in poverty in the 2019-20 financial year.