New figures suggest as many as one-in-four Australians with a disability are living below the poverty line.

The figures from the nation's peak welfare advocate, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), blames poor job opportunities and inadequate welfare payments for people with disabilities.

It says more than 620,000 Australians with a disability are struggling.

ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie says a national commitment is desperately needed.

"We're deeply shocked about the figures," she said.

"It absolutely backs up all the stories of personal experience of people with disability and those that are out there in the community supporting them.

"We have a growing gap between the rich and people who are in poverty in Australia.

"Our poverty rate is increasing at the same time as we are peaking as one of the wealthiest countries in the world."

Ms Goldie says people with disabilities are being locked out of the workforce.

She says the public sector alone has shown a 2.9 per cent drop in employment levels over the past two decades.

National Welfare Rights Network spokesman Gerard Thomas says the lack of job opportunities must be addressed.

"Unless the government and employment providers step up to the plate, we are going to see just a significant increase in numbers of people living in poverty," he said.

Mr Thomas says the Federal Government should lead the way by setting employment targets within the public service.

People Living With Disabilities Association president Craig Wallace says it is a complex problem requiring state and federal government commitments.

"This goes beyond the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We need action on jobs. We need quotas and goals for employment," he said.

"We need work on community attitudes of employers.

"We need work to break down the infrastructure barriers and the blockages that are stopping people getting to work, things such as ramps, physical access, transport."