Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Act 2022
No. 43, 2022
An Act to amend the law relating to social security and veterans’ entitlements, and for related purposes
[Assented to 28 October 2022]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title
This Act is the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Act 2022.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedules
Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1—Amendments
Social Security Act 1991
1 Point 1071‑12 (table item 1, column 3)
Omit “$50,000”, substitute “$90,000”.
2 Point 1071‑12 (table item 2, column 3)
Omit “$40,000”, substitute “$72,000”.
3 Point 1071‑12 (table items 3 to 5, column 3)
Omit “$50,000”, substitute “$90,000”.
4 Point 1071‑12 (note)
Repeal the note, substitute:
Note: The amounts in column 3 are indexed annually on 20 September in line with CPI increases (see sections 1190 to 1194). However, indexation of these amounts is modified for 2023 (see subsection 1192(5BB)).
5 After subsection 1192(5B)
Insert:
(5BB) For the purposes of working out the indexed amount for the seniors health card income limit on 20 September 2023, the current figure for the seniors health card income limit immediately before that day is taken to be:
(a) for an amount covered by column 3 of item 1, 3, 4 or 5 of the table in point 1071‑12—$90,000; or
(b) for an amount covered by column 3 of item 2 of the table in point 1071‑12—$72,000.
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
6 Point 118ZZA‑11 (table item 1, column 3)
Omit “$50,000”, substitute “$90,000”.
7 Point 118ZZA‑11 (table item 2, column 3)
Omit “$40,000”, substitute “$72,000”.
8 Point 118ZZA‑11 (table items 3 and 4, column 3)
Omit “$50,000”, substitute “$90,000”.
9 Point 118ZZA‑11 (note 4)
Repeal the note, substitute:
Note 4: The amounts in column 3 are to be indexed annually on 20 September in line with CPI increases (see section 198FAA).
11 Application of amendments
(1) The amendments of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule apply in relation to working out whether a person qualifies for a seniors health card on a day occurring on or after the day this item commences.
(2) The amendments of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 made by this Schedule apply in relation to working out whether a person is eligible for a seniors health card on a day occurring on or after the day this item commences.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 27 July 2022
Senate on 5 September 2022]