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Social Security Act 1991

Authoritative Version
  • - C2022C00165
  • In force - Superseded Version
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Act No. 46 of 1991 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Social Security Legislation Amendment (Streamlined Participation Requirements and Other Measures) Act 2022
An Act to provide for the payment of certain pensions, benefits and allowances, and for related purposes
Administered by: Social Services; Education, Skills and Employment; Home Affairs; Prime Minister and Cabinet
Registered 11 May 2022
Start Date 08 Apr 2022
End Date 01 Jun 2022
Table of contents.

Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

Social Security Act 1991

No. 46, 1991

Compilation No. 197

Compilation date:                              8 April 2022

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 32, 2022

Registered:                                         11 May 2022

This compilation is in 5 volumes

Volume 1:       sections 1–660M

Volume 2:       sections 665A–1067L

Volume 3:       sections 1068–1263

                        Schedule 1A

Volume 4:       Endnotes 1–4

Volume 5:       Endnote 5

Each volume has its own contents

This compilation was rectified to take into account retrospective amendments made by Act No. 35, 2022. The original compilation is available in the rectification history on the Federal Register of Legislation.

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Social Security Act 1991 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 8 April 2022 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

  

  

  


Contents

Chapter 1—Introductory                                                                                      1

Part 1.1—Formal matters                                                                                                 1

1............................ Short title............................................................................ 1

2............................ Commencement.................................................................. 1

3............................ Application of the Criminal Code....................................... 1

3AA...................... Norfolk Island.................................................................... 1

Part 1.2—Definitions                                                                                                            2

3A......................... Power of Secretary to make determinations etc................... 2

3AB....................... References to Employment Secretary.................................. 2

3B.......................... Definitions—simplified outline........................................... 2

4............................ Family relationships definitions—couples......................... 3

5............................ Family relationships definitions—children....................... 11

5A......................... Single person sharing accommodation.............................. 21

5B.......................... Registered and active foster carers.................................... 24

5C.......................... Home educators................................................................ 25

5D......................... Distance educators............................................................ 25

5E.......................... Relatives (other than parents)............................................ 25

5F.......................... Secondary pupil child....................................................... 26

5G......................... Main supporter of secondary pupil child.......................... 27

6............................ Double orphan pension definitions.................................. 27

6A......................... Concession card definitions.............................................. 27

7............................ Australian residence definitions....................................... 29

8............................ Income test definitions...................................................... 37

9............................ Financial assets and income streams definitions............... 58

9A......................... Meaning of asset‑test exempt income stream—lifetime income streams  69

9B.......................... Meaning of asset‑test exempt income stream—life expectancy income streams      78

9BA....................... Meaning of asset‑test exempt income stream—market‑linked income streams        86

9C.......................... Family law affected income streams................................. 92

9D......................... Asset‑tested status of secondary FLA income streams..... 93

9E.......................... Asset‑tested income stream (lifetime)............................... 94

10.......................... Maintenance income definitions....................................... 95

10A....................... Definitions for carer allowance and seniors health card provisions          95

11.......................... Assets test definitions...................................................... 107

11A....................... Principal home definition for the purpose of the assets test 113

12.......................... Retirement villages definitions........................................ 120

12A....................... Granny flat definitions.................................................... 122

12B........................ Sale leaseback definitions............................................... 122

12C........................ Special residence and residents definitions.................... 124

13.......................... Rent definitions............................................................... 125

14.......................... Remote area definitions.................................................. 132

14A....................... Social security benefit liquid assets test definitions......... 133

16.......................... Industrial action definitions............................................ 137

16A....................... Seasonal work definitions............................................... 138

16B........................ Partial capacity to work................................................... 148

17.......................... Compensation recovery definitions................................ 150

18.......................... Parenting payment definitions......................................... 158

19.......................... Mobility allowance definitions........................................ 158

19A....................... Fares allowance definitions............................................. 159

19AA.................... Student start‑up loan definitions..................................... 160

19AB..................... Student Financial Supplement Scheme definitions.......... 162

19B........................ Financial hardship (Carer payment) liquid assets test definition               167

19C........................ Severe financial hardship definitions.............................. 168

19D....................... Severe financial hardship—crisis payment definition..... 174

19DA.................... Experiencing a personal financial crisis definition.......... 175

19E........................ Exempt funeral investments............................................ 176

20.......................... Indexation and rate adjustment definitions..................... 177

20A....................... Pension supplement rate definitions................................ 178

21.......................... Bereavement definitions.................................................. 181

23.......................... Dictionary....................................................................... 182

Part 1.3—Determinations having interpretative effect                               230

24.......................... Person may be treated as not being a member of a couple (subsection 4(2))            230

24A....................... Approved scholarship..................................................... 231

25.......................... Refugee visas.................................................................. 231

26.......................... Impairment Tables and rules for applying them.............. 232

27.......................... Application of Impairment Tables................................... 232

28.......................... Approved programs of work for income support payment 234

28A....................... Approval of programs of assistance............................... 235

28C........................ Declared program participants........................................ 235

29.......................... Approval of friendly societies......................................... 235

30.......................... Approval of mental hospitals.......................................... 235

31.......................... Approval of follow‑up rehabilitation programs.............. 236

32.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—non‑profit organisation  236

33.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—supported employment  237

35.......................... Approval of care organisation......................................... 237

35A....................... Personal Care Support.................................................... 238

35B........................ Declared overseas terrorist act........................................ 238

36.......................... Major disaster................................................................. 238

36A....................... Part 2.23B major disaster................................................ 239

37.......................... Dependent child—inmate of a mental hospital................ 240

38B........................ Notional continuous period of receipt of income support payments         241

38C........................ Adult Disability Assessment Tool.................................. 243

38E........................ Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) Determination 243

38F........................ Treating health professional............................................ 244

Part 1.3B—Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds               245

38L........................ Simplified outline of this Part......................................... 245

38M....................... Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds                245

38N....................... Security notice from Home Affairs Minister.................. 246

38P........................ Notice from Foreign Affairs Minister............................. 247

38R........................ Copy of security notice to be given to Secretaries........... 247

38S........................ Period security notice is in force..................................... 248

38SA..................... Annual review of security notice.................................... 248

38T........................ Revoking a security notice.............................................. 248

38U....................... Notices may contain personal information...................... 249

38V....................... Decisions under Part not decisions of officers................ 249

38W....................... Notices not legislative instruments.................................. 249

Part 1.4—Miscellaneous                                                                                                 250

39.......................... Tables, calculators etc. form part of section.................... 250

40.......................... Activities that do not give rise to employment under certain industrial relations legislation     251

Chapter 2—Pensions, benefits and allowances                           253

Part 2.2—Age pension                                                                                                     253

Division 1—Qualification for and payability of age pension               253

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                             253

43.......................... Qualification for age pension.......................................... 253

Subdivision B—Payability                                                                                   254

44.......................... Age pension not payable if pension rate nil.................... 254

47.......................... Multiple entitlement exclusion........................................ 255

47A....................... Exclusion of certain participants in ABSTUDY Scheme 257

Division 4—Rate of age pension                                                                         258

55.......................... How to work out a person’s age pension rate................. 258

Division 9—Bereavement payments                                                                 259

Subdivision A—Death of partner                                                                       259

82.......................... Qualification for payments under this Subdivision......... 259

83.......................... Continued payment of deceased partner’s previous entitlement               261

84.......................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances..................... 261

85.......................... Adjustment of person’s age pension rate........................ 263

86.......................... Effect of death of person entitled to payments under this Subdivision     264

87.......................... Matters affecting payment of benefits under this Subdivision  265

Subdivision C—Death of recipient                                                                     266

91.......................... Death of recipient............................................................ 266

Part 2.2A—Pension bonus                                                                                            268

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                        268

92A....................... Simplified outline............................................................ 268

92B........................ Definitions...................................................................... 269

Division 2—Qualification for pension bonus                                                270

92C........................ Qualification for pension bonus...................................... 270

Division 3—Registration as a member of the pension bonus scheme 272

Subdivision A—Membership of the pension bonus scheme                         272

92D....................... Application for registration............................................. 272

92E........................ Form of application......................................................... 272

92F........................ Relevant information....................................................... 272

92G....................... Lodgment of application................................................. 273

92H....................... Timing of application and registration............................. 273

92J......................... Registration..................................................................... 274

92K........................ Duration of membership................................................. 275

92L........................ Cancellation of membership............................................ 275

92M....................... Application for registration is not to be treated as a claim 275

Subdivision B—Classification of membership of the pension bonus scheme  276

92N....................... Accruing membership..................................................... 276

92P........................ Non‑accruing membership—preclusion periods............. 276

92Q....................... Non‑accruing membership—Secretary’s discretion........ 277

92R........................ Continuity of accruing membership is not broken by a period of non‑accruing membership   278

92S........................ Post‑75 membership....................................................... 278

Division 4—Accrual of bonus periods                                                             279

92T........................ Accrual of bonus periods................................................ 279

Division 5—Passing the work test                                                                      281

Subdivision A—The work test                                                                             281

92U....................... Work test—full‑year period............................................ 281

92V....................... Work test—part‑year period........................................... 282

92W....................... Secretary’s discretion to treat gainful work outside Australia as gainful work in Australia     283

Subdivision B—Gainful work                                                                             284

92X....................... Gainful work—basic rule............................................... 284

92Y....................... Secretary’s discretion to treat activity as gainful work.... 284

92Z........................ Irregular, infrequent and minor absences from a workplace count as gainful work 284

93.......................... Management of family financial investments does not count as gainful work          285

93A....................... Domestic duties in relation to a person’s place of residence do not count as gainful work      286

93B........................ Evidentiary certificate...................................................... 287

Subdivision C—Record‑keeping requirements                                               289

93C........................ Record‑keeping requirements......................................... 289

Division 6—Amount of pension bonus                                                             292

93D....................... How to calculate the amount of pension bonus............... 292

93E........................ Qualifying bonus periods............................................... 292

93F........................ Overall qualifying period................................................ 293

93G....................... Pension multiple............................................................. 293

93H....................... Annual pension rate........................................................ 294

93J......................... Amount of pension bonus.............................................. 295

93K........................ Top up of pension bonus for increased rate of age pension 298

93L........................ Top up of pension bonus in specified circumstances...... 299

Division 11—Preclusion periods                                                                         300

93U....................... Disposal preclusion period—disposals before 1 July 2002 300

93UA.................... Disposal preclusion period—disposals on or after 1 July 2002               301

93V....................... Compensation preclusion period..................................... 301

93W....................... Carer preclusion period................................................... 301

Division 12—Pension bonus bereavement payment                                 303

93WA.................... Qualification for pension bonus bereavement payment... 303

93WB.................... Amount of pension bonus bereavement payment........... 303

93WC.................... Definition of PBBP employment income......................... 303

Part 2.3—Disability support pension                                                                     305

Division 1—Qualification for and payability of disability support pension         305

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                             305

94.......................... Qualification for disability support pension.................... 305

94A....................... Participation requirements............................................... 311

94B........................ Participation plans........................................................... 311

94C........................ Illness or accident........................................................... 312

94D....................... Pre‑natal and post‑natal relief.......................................... 313

94E........................ Supported employment................................................... 313

94F........................ Special circumstances..................................................... 313

95.......................... Qualification for disability support pension—permanent blindness         314

96.......................... Continuation of disability support pension..................... 315

Subdivision B—Payability                                                                                   316

98.......................... Disability support pension not payable if pension rate nil 316

103........................ Multiple entitlement exclusion........................................ 316

103A..................... Exclusion of certain participants in ABSTUDY Scheme 318

104........................ Seasonal workers—preclusion period............................ 319

Division 5—Rate of disability support pension                                           321

117........................ How to work out a person’s disability support pension rate 321

118........................ Approved program of work supplement......................... 321

119........................ Approved program of work supplement not payable in certain circumstances         321

120........................ Effect of participation in an approved program of work for income support payment             322

Division 10—Bereavement payments                                                              323

Subdivision A—Death of partner                                                                       323

146F...................... Qualification for payments under this Subdivision......... 323

146G..................... Continued payment of deceased partner’s previous entitlement               325

146H..................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances..................... 326

146J....................... Adjustment of person’s disability support pension rate.. 327

146K...................... Effect of death of person entitled to payments under this Subdivision     328

146L...................... Matters affecting payment of benefits under this Subdivision  329

Subdivision C—Death of recipient                                                                     330

146Q..................... Death of recipient................................................