80648 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

80648 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many distinct individuals, if any, have accessed (Special Disability Allowance) since October 2023; what is the total budget expenditure, if anything, on this initiative since October 2023, listed against the original budget allocation?

Hon Louise Upston: The Special Disability Allowance does not have its own Budget appropriation but sits under a wider appropriation called Disability Assistance. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Development is unable to provide a comparison of the actual spend against Budget. I refer the Member to the attached table, which provides the number of primary clients receiving Special Disability Allowance (SPDA) as at month ending October 2023 and November 2024.