Social Security (Actuarial Certificate-Life Expectancy Income Stream Guidelines) Determination 2003

Part 1 Preliminary

1.1 Name of Determination

This determination is the Social Security (Actuarial Certificate—Life Expectancy Income Stream Guidelines) Determination 2003.

1.2 Commencement

This determination commences on the date it is signed.

1.3 Definitions

In this determination:

Act means the Social Security Act 1991;

Centrelink means the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency established under the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997;

friendly society has the same meaning as in section 9 of the Act and includes an approved friendly society under section 29 of the Act;

high degree of probability means:

(a) a certification by an actuary that the fund has a probability of at least 70% of being able to pay the pension as required under the fund’s governing rules; or

(b) a certification by an actuary that the fund has a probability of at least 50% but less than 70% of being able to pay the pension as required under the fund’s governing rules but special circumstances arise that, in the actuary’s opinion, if those circumstances had not arisen the fund would, as at the valuation date, have been able to be certified as having a high degree of probability;

life insurance company has the same meaning as in subsection 10(1) of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993;

1.4 Purpose

The purpose of this determination is to set out the guidelines for the exercise of the Secretary’s discretion, under paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Act, to determine that a current actuarial certificate is in force in relation to an income stream and what constitutes a high probability or positive opinion that the provider of the income stream will be able to pay the income stream as required under the contract or governing rules in order for that income stream to be an asset-test exempt income stream.

Part 2 Guidelines

2.1 Asset-test exempt life expectancy or 15 year minimum term income stream—self managed superannuation fund

Provision of an actuarial certificate

(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (8), if a person is a member of a self managed superannuation fund then the person or the trustee of the fund must provide an actuarial certificate to Centrelink.

General requirements of the actuarial certificate

(2) The actuarial certificate required to be provided to Centrelink by the person or the trustee of the fund under subsection (1) must:

(a) be prepared in accordance with the Institute of Actuaries of Australia Guidance Note 465; and

(b) specify whether there is a high degree of probability, at the valuation date, of the fund meeting the income stream payments specified under the fund’s trust deed or governing rules.

Fund with less than 5 members

(3) An actuarial certificate that relates to a fund that has less than 5 members must, in addition to the requirements of subsection (2), specify an in force period of 12 months or less from the date of certification. A certificate that specifies an in force period of more than 12 months is deemed to only be in force for a period of 12 months from the date of certification.

In force period specified

(4) If the actuarial certificate provided in relation to the requirement under subsection (3) specifies an in force period of 12 months or less from the date of certification then that certificate will be considered to be in force during the period so specified.

Expiry of in force period

(5) If the in force period of 12 months or less from the date of certification of the actuarial certificate provided in relation to the requirement under subsection (3) expires then the certificate ceases to be in force from the first day after the expiry date, however, the fund will retain its asset-test exempt lifetime income stream status for a further period of 26 weeks because of the application of subsection 9B(1C) of the Act.

No in force period specified

(6) If the actuarial certificate provided in relation to the requirement under subsection (3) does not specify any in force period then that certificate will not be considered to be in force.

Annuity backed self managed superannuation fund

(7) An actuarial certificate is not required under subsection (1) if the income stream from the self managed superannuation fund is sourced from an annuity where that annuity is backed by the statutory fund of a life insurance company or the benefit fund of a friendly society, as the case may be.

Effect of an annuity backed self managed superannuation fund

(8) If a fund does not have to satisfy subsection (1) because the fund meets the requirements of subsection (7), then that fund is considered to have satisfied the requirements of paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Act.

2.2 Asset-test exempt life expectancy or 15 year minimum term income stream—small APRA fund

Provision of an actuarial certificate

(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (8), if a person is a member of a small APRA fund then the person or the trustee of the fund must provide an actuarial certificate to Centrelink.

General requirements of the actuarial certificate

(2) The actuarial certificate required to be provided to Centrelink by the person or the trustee of the fund under subsection (1) must:

(a) be prepared in accordance with the Institute of Actuaries of Australia Guidance Note 465; and

(b) specify whether there is a high degree of probability, at the valuation date, of the fund meeting the income stream payments specified under the fund’s trust deed or governing rules.

Fund with less than 5 members

In force period specified

Expiry of in force period

No in force period specified

(6) If the actuarial certificate provided in relation to the requirement under subsection (3) does not specify any in force period then that certificate will not be considered to be in force.

Annuity backed small APRA fund

(7) An actuarial certificate is not required under subsection (1) if the income stream from the small APRA fund is sourced from an annuity where that annuity is backed by the statutory fund of a life insurance company or the benefit fund of a friendly society, as the case may be.

Effect of an annuity backed small APRA fund

2.3 Application of paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Social Security Act 1991 following certification of a high degree of probability

If the actuarial certificate provided to Centrelink by the person or the trustee of the fund under subsection 2.1(1) or subsection 2.2(1) does certify that there is a high degree of probability that the fund will be able to pay the pension as required under the fund’s governing rules then paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Act is satisfied and the income stream is to be determined to be an asset-test exempt income stream—lifetime income stream.

2.4 Application of paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Social Security Act 1991 following non-certification of a high degree of probability

Actuarial certificate provided

(1) If the actuarial certificate provided to Centrelink by the person or the trustee of the fund under subsection 2.1(1) or subsection 2.2(1) does not certify that there is a high degree of probability that the fund will be able to pay the pension as required under the fund’s governing rules then paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Act is considered to be not satisfied and the income stream is to be determined to be an asset tested income stream (long term).

Actuarial certificate not provided

(2) If an actuarial certificate is not provided to Centrelink by the person or the trustee of the fund under subsection 2.1(1) or subsection 2.2(1) then paragraph 9B(1A)(b) of the Act is considered to be not satisfied and the income stream is to be determined to be an asset tested income stream (long term).