Firstly under the Social Security Act of 1991 the government is required to provide basic income to those who may not earn enough to provide for themselves. The legal system also recognises the SED in relation to health Care. Medicare, is the Australian public health care system; providing free treatment in public hospitals and paying fees of doctors up to the level of the government recommended fee. SED people are often issued a Health Care Card, which entitles them to more free treatment, transport concessions and also rebates. Another area recognised by the legal system is that of housing. The NSW Department of Housing provides low-rent housing to people who can't afford their own home. The department has also established Rentstart, which helps SED people to establish or maintain a private rental agreement. Centrelink also provides rent assistance to some people. Legal aid is a major source of recognition by the government of SED people. It allows low-income earners to gain legal representation when needed and is available to people who earn under a certain amount. Other provisions for SED people are enforced by various state and commonwealth funded departments. These include free education for school children, financial assistance for those entering tertiary education, concessions for public transport, advance payments of up to $500 through centre link and financial assistance with electricity and water bills etc. .
The legal system has responded to the disadvantages encountered by the SED through the social security system. The social security system is very extensive and complicated, and is very successful in accounting for a wide range of SED people. Provided that people meet the eligibility requirements they can receive regular payments such as the Age Pension, the Disability Support Pension and so on. The legal system has responded to people who receive very low incomes and who are single-parent-families, sick, disabled, "invalid", elderly, unemployed and homeless.