Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Economic costs of informal care for people with chronic diseases in the community: Lost income, extra welfare payments, and reduced taxes in Australia in 2015–2030

  • Deborah Schofield
  • , Rupendra N. Shrestha
  • , Melanie J.B. Zeppel
  • , Michelle M. Cunich
  • , Robert Tanton
  • , Jacob Lennert Veerman
  • , Simon J. Kelly
  • , Megan E. Passey

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We estimated the economic costs of informal care in the community from 2015 to 2030, using an Australian microsimulation model, Care&WorkMOD. The model was based on data from three Surveys of Disability, Ageing, and Carers (SDACs) for the Australian population aged 15–64 years old. Estimated national income lost was AU$3.58 billion in 2015, increasing to $5.33 billion in 2030 (49% increase). Lost tax payments were estimated at AU$0.99 billion in 2015, increasing to AU$1.44 billion in 2030 (45% increase), and additional welfare payments were expected to rise from $1.45 billion in 2015 to AU$1.94 in 2030 (34% increase). There are substantial economic costs both to informal carers and the government due to carers being out of the labour-force to provide informal care for people with chronic diseases. Health and social policies supporting carers to remain in the labour force may allow governments to make substantial savings, while improving the economic situation of carers.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)493-501
    Number of pages9
    JournalHealth and Social Care in the Community
    Volume27
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2019

    UN SDGs

    This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
      SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Economic costs of informal care for people with chronic diseases in the community: Lost income, extra welfare payments, and reduced taxes in Australia in 2015–2030'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this