By Samantha Goerling

102.5 ABC Perth

Topic: Cost of Living

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 7:12 am

Trish Owens wants to work more hours but fears losing her home if she does.

In short:

A new study found that income limits for social housing have not changed much in over a decade, despite a cost-of-living crisis.

This means people like Trish Owens cannot work more hours because they fear exceeding the income limit.

What's next?

Shelter WA wants the income limit to be lifted, but Housing Minister John Carey has not made any promises.

Trish Owens wants to work more hours, but earning too much could mean she loses her government-provided house.

Ms. Owens has been living in social housing in Perth for twenty years and feels stuck because of Western Australia's strict income eligibility limit.

She says there is a 'glass ceiling' that she always hits.

Western Australia's income limit is lower than other states.

Trish Owens has been homeless before as a single mother.

Housing Minister John Carey says income limits ensure social housing goes to those who need it most.

However, a new report by Shelter WA found that income limits have been 'effectively stagnant' for over a decade.

Income 'juggle'

Ms. Owens limits her work hours to avoid exceeding the $551 per week earnings cap.

She does not want to be homeless again, having experienced it as a single mother with mental health challenges.

It's a difficult situation, and Ms. Owens says she has to 'dance' around her income and rent reviews.

The income cap for a single person in social housing in Western Australia is lower than in other states.

Ms. Owens could not afford a private rental in the current market.

Turning down work

A Shelter WA report found that many people in social housing manage their work hours because of income limits.

Almost nine out of ten people surveyed limited their work hours, and nearly half turned down work to stay under the threshold.

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell says the situation is 'really frustrating'.

Many people are ready and willing to work but fear losing their home if they take on extra hours.

The eligibility caps also affect people on the waitlist, which has 23,395 applications.

This is a problem, according to Ms. Snell.

If people on the waitlist take on work, they risk losing their place on the list.

Work or home conundrum

Ms. Snell says there should be no disincentive for people to work.

When people enter social housing, they should not be penalized for working.

Kath Snell lived in social housing as a child, and her parents were able to work and save money.

As a child, Ms. Snell lived in social housing, but her parents could work and save.

That is not possible in Western Australia now.

People should not have to choose between working and having a home.

Record high housing demand

The report recommends raising Western Australia's income eligibility limit and indexing it to inflation or a commonwealth payment rate.

However, the report did not analyze the impact of raising the cap on social housing demand, which is at record highs.

Demand for social housing in Western Australia is very high.

Raising the cap to match the real cost of renting would require significant investment in affordable housing.

Victoria increased income caps in 2023-24 and saw only a temporary increase in applications.

Minister Carey understands that housing pressures are pushing more people to seek public housing.

He pointed to a recently announced overhaul of the waitlist and state government investment in new social homes.

Since 2021, more than 4,000 new social homes have been delivered.

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