A government report has found social welfare is one of the biggest drivers of the economic recovery, and it could help people through the recession and help them build wealth.
Its been a slow recovery but the impact on the economy has been staggering, with some countries spending a quarter of their GDP on social assistance.
“It is not a great recession and there is a lot of pent-up demand for social assistance,” said Andrew Purnell, from the Australian Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
He said the report showed that, despite the recession, there were still plenty of people waiting for their benefits.
Purnell said social welfare was a good way to help build wealth and that it was one of those areas where people could find a good fit.
A recent survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found the average person with children was earning just over $100,000 a year, but had a combined annual income of $1.8m.
There were many benefits available to people with children, including tax relief and the right to buy property.
Social welfare, he said, was a key element of economic security for the nation.
“People need social security to be able to live a decent life, to get a good education, to be supported in a healthy way,” he said.
The report said people with disabilities had the highest income at $4,534 a year.
People with children had the lowest income at just $1,938.
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