How much can I earn when receiving the Disability Support Pension?

Inclusive Employment Australia is replacing Disability Employment Services (DES) from 1 November 2025. Inclusive Employment Australia allows you to choose a provider who will help you find work, support you in your new role and build your career. It is a government-funded scheme designed to ensure every Australian has the opportunity to work, and is free-free for eligible participants.

If you’re looking for work, an Inclusive Employment Australia provider like Castle can help you get ready for work, link you to training, develop job skills, support you to write your resumé, practise interview skills, look for jobs that suit you, and support you to build a career and reach your goals in the long term.

If you already have a job and it is at risk due to disability, illness, medical condition or other barrier, an Inclusive Employment Australia provider can help you with on-the-job training, speaking with your boss and co-workers, ongoing support in your job, modifying your workplace, Auslan at work and other supports.

Jobseekers are generally eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia if they:

• Have a disability, injury or health condition
• Are over the age of 14 and under the Age Pension qualifying age
• Are at or above the minimum legal working age in their state or territory
• Are an Australian citizen, resident or eligible visa holder
• Are not studying full-time
• Have a valid Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) or Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) recommending IEA with a Future Work Capacity of zero to 30 hours per week (Castle can help to get an ESAt or JCA) when you sign up with us;
• Are not working at or above their assessed work capacity

For more information, visit jobaccess

The Inclusive Employment Australia program gives you flexibility and choice in the services that you receive including your preferred provider. You can either register with Castle directly or link up to us through Centrelink. You will have an opportunity to review providers in your local area and can choose the provider that best meets your needs.

We also encourage you to compare local providers on JobSearch to make sure you pick the best fit for you.

Yes! Inclusive Employment Australia allows you to change providers any time you like, no questions asked.

If you're unhappy with the services you are receiving or simply want to switch to a different provider, you can request to transfer by calling the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260.

Yes! If you are eligible, transferring is easy.

Workforce Australia supports a broad range of job seekers to find and keep work. Inclusive Employment Australia, on the other hand, provides specialised support for people with disability, injury or mental health conditions. To transfer, follow these steps:

Step 1 - Medical verification
Ask your GP, specialist or treating doctor to complete the 'Verification of medical condition' form (SU684)

Step 2 - Submit the form
Upload the completed form to your myGov online account, or submit it in person to Centrelink

Step 3 - ESAT appointment
Ask your employment consultant to book you in for an Employment Services Assessment (ESAT) at Centrelink to review your medical evidence and discuss your support needs.

Step 4 - Choose a provider
Once approved, ask Centrelink for a referral to Inclusive Employment Australia.
If you choose Castle, we’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your needs.

We focus on long-term support for both you and your employer to ensure you are successful in your job.

We will prepare you for work by listening to you and learning your employment goals. We work with you to make sure your journey is right for you. We will then connect you with the right type of work, with the right hours and the right employer. After starting your new job, we are there to provide you with ongoing support while you are at work. We not only want you to find a role - we support you to find a role that fits your goals, and we help you build your career.

What is an ESAt? (Centrelink Employment Services Assessment Explained)

An ESAT (Employment Services Assessment) is a Centrelink assessment that looks at how a disability, illness or injury affects your ability to work. It helps Centrelink understand your work capacity, identify barriers to employment, and decide which employment services or supports are right for you.

Barriers to work can include disability, injury, illnesses, and mental health conditions, that affect your ability to work in some way.

What is an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt)?

An ESAT is completed by a qualified health or allied health professional. The assessment looks at:

• barriers that make it hard to find or keep a job
• your current and future ability to work
• the level of support you may need
• which employment services provider best suits your needs

The goal of an ESAT is to make sure you’re connected with the right supports, not to test your motivation or job search activity.

When do you need an ESAt?

You may need an ESAT if you have a disability, illness or injury that affects your capacity to work and you:

• receive a payment with mutual obligation requirements and need your work capacity assessed
• receive the Disability Support Pension and need to confirm participation requirements
• want to access or volunteer with Inclusive Employment Australia
• have had a change in your medical circumstances since a previous assessment

If your condition changes, Centrelink may request a new ESAT to make sure your work capacity is assessed accurately.

What do you need to do before an ESAt?

Before your ESAT, Centrelink will ask you to provide medical evidence that:

• confirms you have a disability, illness or injury
• explains how your condition affects your ability to work

Once your medical evidence is received, Centrelink will book your assessment. Many ESATs are completed over the phone if that’s appropriate for your circumstances.

Your evidence should clearly explain functional impact, not just diagnosis.

What happens during an ESAt?

During your ESAT, Centrelink will talk with you about factors that affect your ability to work, including:

• your health condition or injury
• how it impacts your work capacity
• any rehabilitation, treatment or support you’ve had
• your past experiences finding or keeping a job

With your permission, Centrelink may also contact your treating health professional for additional information.

What is the outcome of the ESAt and how is it used?

After your Employment Services Assessment (ESAT), Centrelink prepares a report that explains how your health condition affects your ability to work.

Your ESAT looks at:

• barriers that make it hard to find or keep a job
• your current work capacity
• your future work capacity with the right supports or adjustments
• what types of employment services or supports may help you

Centrelink uses this information to decide what services or requirements apply to you. This can include:

• whether you’re connected with an employment services provider
• what your mutual obligation requirements are, based on your capacity
• whether participation requirements apply if you receive the Disability Support Pension and are under 35

If you’re working with an employment services provider, your ESAT helps them tailor support to your situation and focus on work that is realistic and sustainable for you.

What happens after your ESAt and how Castle can help

Your ESAT is used to make sure you’re connected with the right services, not to penalise you.

If Centrelink believes an employment services provider can help you, they’ll let you know:

• what providers are available in your area
• what type of service best suits your needs
• how to get connected

Not all providers offer the same supports, and availability can vary by location.

At Castle, we help people understand their ESAT results and what they mean in practical terms. We support people to:

• access Inclusive Employment Australia or other appropriate services
• understand reduced‑capacity and flexible work pathways
• navigate Centrelink requirements with confidence
• find support that matches their abilities, goals and health needs

For more information see the ESAt Centrelink website

If you live with a disability, injury, health condition or mental health condition that affects your capacity to work in some way we can support you to find and keep a job.

You simply need your treating medical practitioner (GP, specialist) to complete Centrelink's medical verification form to:

• confirm details of the main medical conditions affecting your capacity to work
• assess how these conditions affect your capacity to work or take part in other activities
• recommend assistance which could help you into work or maintain employment

Castle provides individualised Inclusive Employment Australia support for job seekers with a range of health conditions, including but not limited to:

• disabilities
  - vision loss
  - hearing loss
  - cerebral palsy
  - Autism Spectrum Disorder
  - intellectual disability
• mental health conditions
  - anxiety
  - depression
  - psychological conditions
  - bipolar
  - ADHD
• chronic illnesses and diseases
  - diabetes
  - cystic fibrosis
  - cancer
• injuries
  - brain injury
  - back and limb injuries
  - arthritis
• many more

Castle can connect with specialist partners to address the specific personal circumstances of each job seeker, including GPs, mental health services, Occupational Therapists, physiotherapists and medical specialists.

If you have a health condition that is impacting your ability to find and/or maintain employment, you're most likely eligible for our services.

For more information see the Guide to the List of Recognised Disabilities | Department of Social Services, Australian Government (dss.gov.au)

No, you don't need an NDIS plan to access Inclusive Employment Australia, but if you do, then you're already eligible!

You may be eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia if you are living with disability, injury or health condition that affects your ability to work, are of working age and are not studying full-time.

Please note that Inclusive Employment Australia is a government-funded initiative that is fee-free for eligible participants. Even if you have an NDIS Plan, Inclusive Employment Australia does not draw from your funding.

Visit Job Access for full eligibility details Eligibility | Job Access

You can register directly with Castle, or ask to be referred to us at Centrelink.

'Mental health condition’, ‘mental illness’, 'psychosocial disability' and other terms, are used to describe a range of disorders that can affect thoughts, emotions and behaviours, that vary in both severity and duration. These conditions can include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance use, schizophrenia and many others.

While some people may not be significantly impacted in their daily lives, others may face severe challenges in functioning within the community, at home, and in the workplace. When a mental health condition severely affects a person's daily life, self-care and community participation, it may be considered a 'psychosocial disability'.

Whilst labels like 'disability' may not be relevant to some people's experience, it is important to understand the distinctions with which conditions can unlock vital financial support schemes.

Inclusive Employment Australia

If you live with anxiety, depression or another mental health condition you may be eligible for the Inclusive Employment Australia program. You don't necessarily need to be diagnosed with a 'psychosocial disability', only that your mental health condition affects your capacity to work in some way. This can be verified by a treating medical practitioner through this Centrelink form.

NDIS Services

If a person's mental health condition is considered a 'psychosocial disability', they may be eligible for NDIS support, however, a diagnosis of a condition in itself is not enough. Download the Psychosocial Disability Access Factsheet 2: Impairment and psychosocial disability in the NDIS here https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/how-ndis-works/psychosocial-disability/applying-ndis-people-psychosocial-disability

You can earn an income and still keep the Disability Support Pension.

There are rules and income limits depending on your circumstances. Check out this usefuly guide: How much can I work when on a Centrelink Disability Support Pension? | Castle