Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government

Primary content

Social Security Act 1991

Authoritative Version
  • - C2023C00209
  • In force - Superseded Version
  • View Series
Act No. 46 of 1991 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Act 2023
An Act to provide for the payment of certain pensions, benefits and allowances, and for related purposes
Administered by: Prime Minister and Cabinet; Employment and Workplace Relations; Social Services; Home Affairs
Registered 22 Aug 2023
Start Date 10 Aug 2023
End Date 28 Sep 2023

Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

Social Security Act 1991

No. 46, 1991

Compilation No. 211

Compilation date:                              10 August 2023

Includes amendments up to:            Act No. 52, 2023

Registered:                                         22 August 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 10 August 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 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 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 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        87

9C.......................... Family law affected income streams................................. 93

9D......................... Asset‑tested status of secondary FLA income streams..... 94

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

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

10A....................... Definitions for carer allowance and seniors health card provisions          96

11.......................... Assets test definitions...................................................... 108

11A....................... Principal home definition for the purpose of the assets test 114

12.......................... Retirement villages definitions........................................ 121

12A....................... Granny flat definitions.................................................... 123

12B........................ Sale leaseback definitions............................................... 123

12C........................ Special residence and residents definitions.................... 125

13.......................... Rent definitions............................................................... 126

14.......................... Remote area definitions.................................................. 133

14A....................... Social security benefit liquid assets test definitions......... 134

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

16A....................... Seasonal work definitions............................................... 139

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..................................... 161

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

19B........................ Financial hardship (Carer payment) liquid assets test definition               168

19C........................ Severe financial hardship definitions.............................. 169

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

19DA.................... Experiencing a personal financial crisis definition.......... 176

19E........................ Exempt funeral investments............................................ 177

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

20A....................... Pension supplement rate definitions................................ 179

21.......................... Bereavement definitions.................................................. 182

23.......................... Dictionary....................................................................... 183

Part 1.3—Determinations having interpretative effect                               231

24.......................... Person may be treated as not being a member of a couple (subsection 4(2))            231

24A....................... Approved scholarship..................................................... 232

25.......................... Refugee visas.................................................................. 232

26.......................... Impairment Tables and rules for applying them.............. 233

27.......................... Application of Impairment Tables................................... 233

28.......................... Approved programs of work for income support payment 235

28A....................... Approval of programs of assistance............................... 236

28C........................ Declared program participants........................................ 236

29.......................... Approval of friendly societies......................................... 236

30.......................... Approval of mental hospitals.......................................... 236

31.......................... Approval of follow‑up rehabilitation programs.............. 237

32.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—non‑profit organisation  237

33.......................... Approval of sheltered employment—supported employment  238

35.......................... Approval of care organisation......................................... 238

35A....................... Personal Care Support.................................................... 239

35B........................ Declared overseas terrorist act........................................ 239

36.......................... Major disaster................................................................. 239

36A....................... Part 2.23B major disaster................................................ 240

37.......................... Dependent child—inmate of a mental hospital................ 241

38B........................ Notional continuous period of receipt of income support payments         242

38C........................ Adult Disability Assessment Tool.................................. 244

38E........................ Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) Determination 244

38F........................ Treating health professional............................................ 245

Part 1.3B—Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds               246

38L........................ Simplified outline of this Part......................................... 246

38M....................... Loss of social security payments and concessions for persons on security grounds                246

38N....................... Security notice from Home Affairs Minister.................. 247

38P........................ Notice from Foreign Affairs Minister............................. 248

38R........................ Copy of security notice to be given to Secretaries........... 248

38S........................ Period security notice is in force..................................... 249

38SA..................... Annual review of security notice.................................... 249

38T........................ Revoking a security notice.............................................. 249

38U....................... Notices may contain personal information...................... 250

38V....................... Decisions under Part not decisions of officers................ 250

38W....................... Notices not legislative instruments.................................. 250

Part 1.4—Miscellaneous                                                                                                 251

39.......................... Tables, calculators etc. form part of section.................... 251

40.......................... Activities that do not give rise to employment under certain industrial relations legislation     252

Chapter 2—Pensions, benefits and allowances                           254

Part 2.2—Age pension                                                                                                     254

Division 1—Qualification for and payability of age pension               254

Subdivision A—Qualification                                                                             254

43.......................... Qualification for age pension.......................................... 254

Subdivision B—Payability                                                                                   255

44.......................... Age pension not payable if pension rate nil.................... 255

47.......................... Multiple entitlement exclusion........................................ 256

47A....................... Exclusion of certain participants in ABSTUDY Scheme 258

Division 4—Rate of age pension                                                                         259

55.......................... How to work out a person’s age pension rate................. 259

Division 9—Bereavement payments                                                                 260

Subdivision A—Death of partner                                                                       260

82.......................... Qualification for payments under this Subdivision......... 260

83.......................... Continued payment of deceased partner’s previous entitlement               262

84.......................... Lump sum payable in some circumstances..................... 262

85.......................... Adjustment of person’s age pension rate........................ 264

86.......................... Effect of death of person entitled to payments under this Subdivision     265

87.......................... Matters affecting payment of benefits under this Subdivision  266

Subdivision C—Death of recipient                                                                     267

91.......................... Death of recipient............................................................ 267

Part 2.2A—Pension bonus                                                                                            269

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                        269

92A....................... Simplified outline............................................................ 269

92B........................ Definitions...................................................................... 270

Division 2—Qualification for pension bonus                                                271