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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  • In force - Superseded Version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 2—Pensions, benefits and allowances                               1

Part 2.13A—Education entry payment                                                                    1

Division 1—Recipients of pension PP (single)                                                  1

665A..................... Payment to recipient of pension PP (single)....................... 1

665B...................... Amount of section 665A payment...................................... 1

665C...................... Need for claim.................................................................... 1

Division 2—Recipients of disability support pension                                   2

665E...................... Payment to a disability support pensioner........................... 2

665F...................... Amount of section 665E payment....................................... 2

665G..................... Need for claim.................................................................... 2

Division 4—Special benefit recipients                                                                  3

665M..................... Payment to a special benefit recipient.................................. 3

665N..................... Amount of section 665M payment..................................... 3

665P...................... Need for claim.................................................................... 3

Division 6—Jobseeker payment recipients                                                       4

665U..................... Payment to recipient............................................................ 4

665V..................... Amount of section 665U payment...................................... 5

665W..................... Need for claim.................................................................... 5

Division 8A—Carer payment recipients                                                            6

665ZFA................. Payment to a carer payment recipient.................................. 6

665ZFB................. Amount of section 665ZFA payment................................. 6

665ZFC................. Need for claim.................................................................... 6

Division 12—Recipients of PP (partnered)                                                       7

665ZU................... Payment to recipient of PP (partnered)............................... 7

665ZV................... Amount of section 665ZU payment.................................... 8

665ZW.................. Need for claim.................................................................... 8

Division 12A—Recipients of youth allowance (other)                                9

665ZX................... Payment to recipient of youth allowance (other)................. 9

665ZXA................ Amount of section 665ZX payment.................................. 10

665ZXB................ Need for claim.................................................................. 10

665ZXC................ Cessation of Division....................................................... 10

Division 13—Protection of education entry payment                               11

665ZY................... Education entry payment to be absolutely inalienable....... 11

665ZZ.................... Effect of garnishee or attachment order............................. 11

Division 14—Education entry payment supplement                                  13

665ZZA................. Qualification for education entry payment supplement..... 13

665ZZB................. Amount of education entry payment supplement.............. 13

665ZZC................. Separate claim not needed................................................. 13

665ZZD................. Education entry payment supplement taken to be part of education entry payment for purposes of social security law....................................................................... 13

665ZZE................. Cessation of Division....................................................... 14

Part 2.15—Special benefit                                                                                               15

Division 1—Qualification for and payability of special benefit           15

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                               15

729........................ Qualification for special benefit........................................ 15

729A..................... Time limit on qualification for certain recipients of special benefit           22

729AA.................. Effect of industrial action on qualification conditions of certain claimants for special benefit  23

729B...................... Certain recipients of special benefit cease to be qualified for special benefit after 52 weeks    24

729C...................... Consequence of subsection 729B(2) determination.......... 24

730........................ Determination of period.................................................... 25

Subdivision B—Payability                                                                                     25

732........................ Special benefit not payable if benefit rate nil..................... 25

733........................ Assets test—benefit not payable if assets value limit exceeded                25

734........................ Value of assets of members of couples............................. 27

735........................ Multiple entitlement exclusion.......................................... 28

736........................ Secretary may require certain persons to attend courses or undertake work             29

737........................ Full‑time students............................................................. 30

738........................ Payments under certain education schemes....................... 31

739........................ SPB homeless person....................................................... 32

739A..................... Newly arrived resident’s waiting period........................... 32

739B...................... Secretary to act in accordance with guidelines.................. 35

739C...................... Guidelines for exercise of Secretary’s powers under subsection 739A(7)               35

Subdivision D—Situations where special benefit not payable to persons who are nominated visa holders (administrative breaches)                                                         35

745H..................... Situations where special benefit not payable for failure to comply with certain requirements  35

Subdivision F—Other situations where special benefit not payable to persons who are nominated visa holders 36

745M..................... Seasonal workers.............................................................. 36

745N..................... Move to area of lower employment prospects.................. 37

Division 4—Rate of special benefit                                                                      39

746........................ Rate of special benefit....................................................... 39

747........................ Approved program of work supplement for persons who are nominated visa holders            39

759........................ Effect of industrial action on rate of special benefit payable to persons who are nominated visa holders 40

Division 9—Bereavement payments                                                                   42

Subdivision AA—Death of partner                                                                      42

768A..................... Qualification for payments under this Subdivision........... 42

768B...................... Continued payment of partner’s pension or benefit.......... 43

768C...................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances....................... 43

768D..................... Adjustment of a person’s special benefit rate.................... 45

768E...................... Effect of death of person entitled to payments under this Subdivision     45

768F...................... Matters affecting payments under this Subdivision.......... 47

Part 2.16—Special needs pensions                                                                             49

Division 1A—Time limit on grant of special needs wife pension         49

771P...................... Special needs wife pension not to be granted after 30 June 1995             49

Division 1B—Time limit on grant of other special needs pensions     50

771PA................... Special needs pensions not to be granted after 20 September 2000          50

Division 1—Qualifications for and payability of special needs pensions               51

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                               51

772........................ Qualification for special needs age pension...................... 51

773........................ Qualification for special needs disability support pension 52

774........................ Qualification for special needs wife pension..................... 52

Subdivision B—Payability                                                                                     52

779........................ Special needs pension not payable if pension rate nil........ 52

783........................ Second special needs pension generally not payable after cancellation of initial pension         53

787........................ Multiple entitlement exclusion.......................................... 53

Division 5—Rate of special needs pension                                                       55

796........................ How to work out a person’s special needs pension rate... 55

Special Needs Proportional Rate Calculator                                                 56

Module A—Overall rate calculation process                                                    56

Module B—Australian working life residence                                                 57

Module C—Residence factor                                                                                 59

Division 10—Bereavement payments                                                                60

Subdivision A—Death of partner                                                                         60

822........................ Qualification for payments under this Subdivision........... 60

823........................ Continued payment of deceased partner’s previous entitlement               62

824........................ Lump sum payable in some circumstances....................... 63

825........................ Adjustment of rate of person’s special needs pension...... 64

826........................ Effect of death of person entitled to payments under this Subdivision     65

827........................ Matters affecting payment of benefits under this Subdivision  66

Subdivision C—Death of recipient                                                                       67

830........................ Death of recipient.............................................................. 67

Part 2.17—Economic security strategy payment                                              69

900........................ Qualification for economic security strategy payment....... 69

901........................ Amount of economic security strategy payment—general 70

902........................ Amount of economic security strategy payment—person receiving carer allowance               71

Part 2.18—Training and learning bonus                                                               73

910........................ Qualification for training and learning bonus.................... 73

911........................ Amount of training and learning bonus............................ 74

Part 2.18A—Clean energy payments                                                                       76

Division 1—Clean energy advances                                                                   76

Subdivision A—Qualifying for clean energy advances                                 76

914........................ Recipients of certain social security payments.................. 76

914A..................... Recipients of austudy, youth allowance, some disability support pensions and some special benefits     77

914B...................... Disregard nil rate in certain circumstances........................ 79

914C...................... Limits on qualifying for multiple advances....................... 79

Subdivision B—Amount of a clean energy advance                                       80

914D..................... Amount of a clean energy advance................................... 80

914E...................... Clean energy advance daily rate....................................... 80

914F...................... Number of advance days.................................................. 85

Subdivision C—Top‑up payments of clean energy advance                         85

914G..................... Top‑up payments of clean energy advance....................... 85

Division 2—Quarterly energy supplement                                                      87

915........................ When quarterly energy supplement is payable.................. 87

915A..................... Electing to receive quarterly energy supplement............... 87

915B...................... Rate of quarterly energy supplement................................. 88

Division 4—Essential medical equipment payment                                     89

917A..................... Definitions........................................................................ 89

917B...................... Qualification for essential medical equipment payment..... 89

917C...................... The medical needs requirement......................................... 91

917D..................... The concession card requirement...................................... 92

917E...................... The energy account requirement....................................... 92

917F...................... Availability of payments................................................... 93

917G..................... Amount of payment.......................................................... 94

917H..................... Non‑receipt of social security payment............................. 94

Division 5—Multiple qualification exclusions                                                95

918........................ Multiple qualification exclusions...................................... 95

Part 2.19—Carer allowance                                                                                          96

Division 1—Interpretation                                                                                       96

952........................ Carer allowance definitions............................................... 96

Division 2—Qualification for and payability of carer allowance       97

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                               97

953........................ Qualification for carer allowance—caring for either 1 or 2 disabled children           97

953A..................... Remaining qualified for carer allowance after child turns 16 99

954........................ Qualification for carer allowance—caring for a disabled adult in a private home of both the adult and the carer........................................................................................ 100

954A..................... Qualification for carer allowance—caring for a disabled adult in a private home not shared by the adult and carer................................................................................ 101

954B...................... Qualification for carer allowance—receiving carer payment for caring for child or children    103

955........................ Qualification for carer allowance—hospitalisation.......... 103

956........................ Absence from Australia.................................................. 104

957........................ Effect of cessation of care etc. on carer allowance.......... 105

957A..................... Carer allowance income test............................................ 106

957B...................... Adjusted taxable income................................................. 108

957C...................... Accepted estimates.......................................................... 111

957D..................... Income from long‑term financial assets.......................... 112

Subdivision B—Limitations on payability                                                      113

958........................ Carer allowance not payable if allowance rate nil............ 113

964........................ Carer allowance not payable to 2 people for the same care receiver or care receivers unless declaration made........................................................................................ 114

965........................ Carer allowance not payable to more than one member of a couple         114

966........................ Newly arrived resident’s waiting period......................... 115

967........................ Duration of newly arrived resident’s waiting period....... 116

Division 5—Rate of carer allowance                                                               118

974........................ Rate of carer allowance................................................... 118

Division 6—Multiple qualification for carer allowance for same care receiver or receivers   120

981........................ Secretary may make declaration where 2 people are qualified for carer allowance for the same care receiver or care receivers.................................................................. 120

Division 10—Bereavement payments (death of disabled child or adult)               121

Subdivision A—Death of disabled child                                                           121

992J....................... Continued carer allowance during bereavement rate continuation period where disabled child dies         121

992K...................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances..................... 121

Subdivision B—Death of disabled child (special short‑term assistance)  122

992L...................... Continuation of qualification for carer allowance for 4 weeks in some cases where recipient’s disabled child dies................................................................................. 122

Subdivision BA—Death of disabled adult                                                        123

992LA................... Continued carer allowance during bereavement rate continuation period where disabled adult dies         123

992LB................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances..................... 124

Subdivision C—Death of recipient                                                                     125

992M..................... Death of recipient............................................................ 125

Part 2.19AA—Child disability assistance                                                            127

992MA.................. Child disability assistance definitions............................. 127

992MB.................. Qualification for child disability assistance..................... 127

992MC.................. Eligible care receivers..................................................... 128

992MD.................. Amount of child disability assistance.............................. 128

Part 2.19A—One‑off payments to carers eligible for carer allowance 129

Division 1—One‑off payment to carers eligible for carer allowance 129