Social Security Act 1991

No. 46, 1991

Compilation No. 198

Compilation date:                              2 June 2022

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 32, 2022

Registered:                                         24 June 2022

This compilation is in 5 volumes

Volume 1:       sections 1–661F

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 includes commenced amendments made by Act No. 123, 2021

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 2 June 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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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)............................... 93

10.......................... Maintenance income definitions....................................... 94

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.................................................. 131

14A....................... Social security benefit liquid assets test definitions......... 132

16.......................... Industrial action definitions............................................ 136

16A....................... Seasonal work definitions............................................... 137

16B........................ Partial capacity to work................................................... 147

17.......................... Compensation recovery definitions................................ 149

18.......................... Parenting payment definitions......................................... 157

19.......................... Mobility allowance definitions........................................ 157

19A....................... Fares allowance definitions............................................. 158

19AA.................... Student start‑up loan definitions..................................... 159

19AB..................... Student Financial Supplement Scheme definitions.......... 161

19B........................ Financial hardship (Carer payment) liquid assets test definition               166

19C........................ Severe financial hardship definitions.............................. 167

19D....................... Severe financial hardship—crisis payment definition..... 173

19DA.................... Experiencing a personal financial crisis definition.......... 174

19E........................ Exempt funeral investments............................................ 175

20.......................... Indexation and rate adjustment definitions..................... 176

20A....................... Pension supplement rate definitions................................ 177

21.......................... Bereavement definitions.................................................. 180

23.......................... Dictionary....................................................................... 181

Part 1.3—Determinations having interpretative effect                               229

24.......................... Person may be treated as not being a member of a couple (subsection 4(2))            229

24A....................... Approved scholarship..................................................... 230

25.......................... Refugee visas.................................................................. 230

26.......................... Impairment Tables and rules for applying them.............. 231

27.......................... Application of Impairment Tables................................... 231

28.......................... Approved programs of work for income support payment 233

28A....................... Approval of programs of assistance............................... 234

28C........................ Declared program participants........................................ 234

29.......................... Approval of friendly societies......................................... 234

30.......................... Approval of mental hospitals.......................................... 234

31.......................... Approval of follow‑up rehabilitation programs.............. 235

32.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—non‑profit organisation  235

33.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—supported employment  236

35.......................... Approval of care organisation......................................... 236

35A....................... Personal Care Support.................................................... 237

35B........................ Declared overseas terrorist act........................................ 237

36.......................... Major disaster................................................................. 237

36A....................... Part 2.23B major disaster................................................ 238

37.......................... Dependent child—inmate of a mental hospital................ 239

38B........................ Notional continuous period of receipt of income support payments         240

38C........................ Adult Disability Assessment Tool.................................. 242

38E........................ Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) Determination 242

38F........................ Treating health professional............................................ 243

Part 1.3B—Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds               244

38L........................ Simplified outline of this Part......................................... 244

38M....................... Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds                244

38N....................... Security notice from Home Affairs Minister.................. 245

38P........................ Notice from Foreign Affairs Minister............................. 246

38R........................ Copy of security notice to be given to Secretaries........... 246

38S........................ Period security notice is in force..................................... 247

38SA..................... Annual review of security notice.................................... 247

38T........................ Revoking a security n