Extreme heat is a real concern for many Australians in the lead up summer, but it is especially concerning for those most vulnerable to its effects. Research conducted by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) shows that people who live in social housing, the majority of whom are Centrelink recipients, are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
According to an ACOSS report released earlier this year, people experiencing financial hardship and who are reliant on social security are struggling to keep their homes cool in summer and as such are suffering from heat-related illness. Alarmingly, 60 per cent of people surveyed find it increasingly difficult to pay their energy bills, with 26 per cent in or facing energy debt.
Furthermore, research by VCOSS has confirmed that six of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged local government areas are within the eight hottest areas of Melbourne. This means that if you live in a low socio-economic area, you’re more likely to also live in an area with higher urban heat.
This all echoes what Social Security Rights Victoria knows about the correlation between lower socio-economic indicators and climate disaster risk in regional areas – it’s another form of postcode injustice.
With the rising cost of living, including energy costs, many people may find themselves in financial distress this summer, either as a consequence of or exacerbated by heat-related illness. This in turn leads to an increased risk of experiencing social security legal issues.
According to disasterassist.gov.au, a “heat wave” disaster has never been declared in Australia. At the same time, the Australian NGO Sweltering Cities has observed that heat waves “cause more deaths than all other disasters combined”, and consider heatwaves to be environmental disasters.
In the absence of a disaster declaration, the social security system does not have a mechanism for activating the Disaster Payment or Disaster Allowance – payments that can be made available to people affected by other types of climate disaster such as bushfire or flood. We’re interested in hearing client stories in relation to the intersection between extreme heat and social security. If you have a story you’d like to tell us, please get in contact with us by emailing info@ssrv.org.au.
