Social Security Act 1991

No. 46, 1991

Compilation No. 206

Compilation date:                              1 January 2023

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 62, 2022

Registered:                                         16 January 2023

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

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 1 January 2023 (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If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.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 3—General provisions relating to payability and rates     4

Part 3.6—Benefit Rate Calculator B                                                                          4

1068...................... Rate of jobseeker payment.................................................. 4

Benefit Rate Calculator B                                                                                          4

Module A—Overall rate calculation process                                                  4

Module B—Maximum basic rate                                                                            4

Module BA—Pension supplement                                                                          4

Module C—Energy supplement                                                                              4

Module D—Pharmaceutical allowance                                                               4

Module G—Income test                                                                                               4

Module J—Remote area allowance                                                                      4

Part 3.6A—Parenting Payment Rate Calculator                                               4

1068A................... Rate of parenting payment—pension PP (single)............... 4

Pension PP (Single) Rate Calculator                                                                    4

Module A—Overall rate calculation process                                                  4

Module B—Maximum basic rate                                                                            4

Module BA—Pension supplement                                                                          4

Module BB—Energy supplement                                                                           4

Module C—Pharmaceutical allowance                                                               4

Module E—Ordinary income test                                                                          4

Module F—Remote area allowance                                                                      4

1068B.................... Rate of parenting payment—PP (partnered)....................... 4

Benefit PP (Partnered) Rate Calculator                                                             4

Module A—Overall rate calculation process                                                  4

Module C—Maximum basic rate                                                                           4

Module D—Income test                                                                                               4

Module DA—Pension supplement                                                                          4

Module DB—Energy supplement                                                                           4

Module E—Pharmaceutical allowance                                                               4

Module G—Remote area allowance                                                                     4

Part 3.7—Rent assistance                                                                                                  4

Division 1—Operation of this Part                                                                        4

1070...................... When this Part applies........................................................ 4

1070A................... Effect of this Part................................................................ 4

Division 2—Qualification for rent assistance                                                  4

1070B.................... Qualification—general rule................................................. 4

1070C.................... Common requirements (about aged care residence, home ownership and rent)       4

1070D................... Specific requirement (carer payments and certain age and disability support pensions)           4

1070E.................... Specific requirement (certain parenting payments).............. 4

1070F.................... Specific requirement (certain disability support pensions).. 4

1070G................... Specific requirement (youth allowance).............................. 4

1070H................... Specific requirement (austudy payment and jobseeker payment)             4

1070J..................... Specific requirement (certain parenting payments).............. 4

Division 3—Rate of rent assistance                                                                      4

1070K.................... Rate depends on social security payment and family situation 4

1070L.................... Rate for carer payments and certain age and disability support pensions 4

1070M................... Rate for certain parenting payments.................................... 4

1070N................... Rate for disability support pension (person aged under 18) 4

1070P.................... Rate for disability support pension (person aged between 18 and 21)     4

1070Q................... Rate for youth allowance, austudy payment and jobseeker payment        4

1070R.................... Rate for certain parenting payments.................................... 4

Division 4—Certain concepts used in this Part                                               4

1070S.................... Division has effect for purposes of Part............................. 4

1070T.................... Rent threshold amount........................................................ 4

1070U................... Fortnightly rent................................................................... 4

1070V................... Rent paid by a member of certain couples........................... 4

1070W................... Partner with a rent increased pension.................................. 4

1070X................... Partner with a rent increased benefit................................... 4

Part 3.9—Seniors Health Card Income Test Calculator                                4

1071...................... Seniors Health Card Income Test Calculator...................... 4

Seniors Health Card Income Test Calculator                                                 4

Part 3.9A—Health Care Card Income Test Calculator                                 4

1071A................... Health care card income test................................................ 4

Health Care Card Income Test Calculator                                                      4

Part 3.10—General provisions relating to the ordinary income test       4

Division 1—Ordinary income concept and treatment of certain income amounts          4

1072...................... General meaning of ordinary income.................................. 4

1072A................... Treatment of certain lump sum payments............................ 4

1073...................... Certain amounts taken to be received over 12 months........ 4

Division 1AAA—Work bonus                                                                                  4

1073AA................ Work bonus........................................................................ 4

1073AAA............. Meaning of gainful work.................................................... 4

1073AB................. Unused concession balance................................................ 4

1073AC................. Temporary increase to unused concession balances............ 4

Division 1AA—Employment income attribution rules                                4

1073A................... Attribution of employment income paid in respect of a particular period or periods                4

1073B.................... Attribution of employment income paid monthly................ 4

1073BA................. Attribution of employment income paid not in respect of a particular period           4

1073BB................. Anti‑avoidance.................................................................... 4

1073BC................. Exclusion of certain payments............................................ 4

1073BD................. Daily attribution of employment income for amounts not elsewhere covered in this Division 4

1073C.................... Fortnightly or yearly expression of attributed employment income          4

Division 1AB—Working credit accrual and depletion rules and their consequences    4

1073D................... To whom do working credit accrual and depletion rules apply?               4

1073E.................... Opening balance................................................................. 4

1073F.................... Working out accruals and depletions of working credit for social security beneficiaries          4

1073G................... Working out the effect of a working credit depletion on the fortnightly rate of ordinary income for a social security beneficiary............................................................. 4

1073H................... Working out accruals and depletions of working credit for social security pensioners            4

1073I..................... Working out the effect of a working credit depletion on the yearly rate of ordinary income for a social security pensioner............................................................................ 4

1073J..................... Working credit balance prevents loss of qualification in certain cases      4

Division 1A—Business income                                                                                 4

1074...................... Ordinary income from a business—treatment of trading stock                4

1075...................... Permissible reductions of business income......................... 4

Division 1B—Income from financial assets (including income streams (short term) and certain income streams (long term))                                                                            4

1076...................... Deemed income from financial assets—persons other than members of couples     4

1077...................... Deemed income from financial assets—members of pensioner couples  4

1078...................... Deemed income from financial assets—members of non‑pensioner couples           4

1081...................... Deeming threshold.............................................................. 4

1082...................... Below threshold rate, above threshold rate......................... 4

1083...................... Actual return on financial assets not treated as ordinary income              4

1084...................... Certain money and financial investments not taken into account              4

1084A................... Valuation and revaluation of certain financial investments.. 4

Division 1C—Income from income streams not covered by Division 1B             4

Subdivision B—Income streams that are not family law affected income streams      4

1097A................... Scope of Subdivision.......................................................... 4

1098...................... Income from asset‑test exempt income stream.................... 4

1099...................... Income—income stream not a defined benefit income stream  4

1099A................... Income—income stream is a defined benefit income stream 4

1099AA................ Income from market‑linked asset‑test exempt income stream.. 4

1099B.................... Income from asset‑tested income stream (long term).......... 4

1099C.................... Income—asset‑tested income stream (long term) that is not a defined benefit income stream  4

1099D................... Income—asset‑tested income stream (long term) that is a defined benefit income stream        4

1099DAA............. Income from certain low‑payment asset‑tested income streams               4

1099DAB.............. Income—asset‑tested income stream (lifetime)................... 4

Subdivision C—Family law affected income streams                                      4

1099DA................ Scope of Subdivision.......................................................... 4

1099DB................. Income from asset‑test exempt income streams.................. 4

1099DC................. Income from asset‑tested income stream (long term).......... 4

1099DCA.............. Income from asset‑tested income stream (lifetime)............. 4

1099DD................ Decision‑making principles................................................ 4

Division 1D—Aged care accommodation bonds: certain transactions before 6 November 1997           4

1099E.................... Scope of Division............................................................... 4

1099F.................... Exempt bond amount does not count as income................. 4

1099G................... Person’s ordinary income reduced using financial asset rules  4

1099H................... Meaning of exempt bond amount....................................... 4

Division 1E—Refunds to charge exempt residents                                       4

1099J..................... Scope of Division............................................................... 4

1099K.................... Refunded amount does not count as income....................... 4

1099L.................... Person’s ordinary income reduced using financial asset rules  4

1099M................... Application of Division...................................................... 4

Division 2—Conversion of foreign currency amounts                               4

1100...................... How value of a payment received in a foreign currency is to be determined            4

1100A................... Determining value of a payment originally denominated in a foreign currency but made in Australian currency............................................................................................ 4

Division 3—Disposal of ordinary income                                                          4

1106...................... Disposal of ordinary income............................................... 4

1107...................... Amount of disposition........................................................ 4

1108...................... Disposal of ordinary income—individuals......................... 4

1109...................... Disposal of ordinary income—members of couples........... 4

1111...................... Dispositions more than 5 years old to be disregarded......... 4

Part 3.12—General provisions relating to the assets test                               4

Division 1—Value of person’s assets                                                                    4

1118...................... Certain assets to be disregarded in calculating the value of a person’s assets           4

1118A................... Value of superannuation investments determined by Minister to be disregarded     4

1118AA................ Value of assets reduced by amounts received from Mark Fitzpatrick Trust             4

1118AB................. Value of person’s assets reduced: certain transactions to do with aged care accommodation bonds        4

1118AC................. Value of person’s assets reduced: refunds to charge exempt residents    4

1119...................... Value of asset‑teste