The impact of long-term welfare reliance

WHY SOME REMAIN ON WELFARE:

YOUNG PARENTS

* 4370 at risk of dependency will remain on welfare for long periods because they will have more kids.

* Of those, about 70 per cent will be on income support in 10 years.

* Most of the young mothers had a parent who also received benefits at some stage in their life

* They'll cost taxpayer $2.4 billion over their lifetimes.

* Individually they'll cost $441,000 per person over a lifetime.

YOUNG STUDENTS

* 6600 at risk on average will access income support in 37 years over their lifetime.

* About 45 per cent of graduates who moved directly to unemployment payments will be on welfare in 10 years' time, costing an average $304,000 per person.

* About 594 students will continue to seek welfare each year for the rest of their lives.

YOUNG CARERS

* 11,200 aged 24 and under at risk of long-term welfare reliance.

* Over 60 per cent will be receiving income support payments in 10 years.

* About 50 per cent will be receiving income support payments in 20 years.

* Government expects to spend $109 billion on future welfare payments for all people currently receiving Carer Payment over their lifetime.

* Young carers are expected to have a higher average future lifetime cost at $464,000 per person.

Source: Australian Priority Investment Approach to Welfare.