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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
1998-99
The Parliament of
the
Commonwealth of
Australia
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Presented and read a first
time
Social
Security (Administration) Bill 1999
No.
, 1999
(Family and Community
Services)
A Bill for an Act to provide for
the administration of the social security law, and for related
purposes
ISBN: 0642 403600
Contents
A Bill for an Act to provide for the administration of
the social security law, and for related purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
This Act may be cited as the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on 20 March
2000.
(2) This Part and section 258 commence on the day on which this Act
receives the Royal Assent.
(3) Section 53 commences on 1 July 2000.
(1) Unless a contrary intention appears, an expression that is defined in
Schedule 1 has in this Act the meaning given in that Schedule.
(2) Unless a contrary intention appears, an expression that is used in the
1991 Act has the same meaning, when used in this Act, as in the 1991
Act.
(3) A reference in this Act to the social security law (other than the
reference in section 4) is a reference to this Act, the 1991 Act and any other
Act that is expressed to form part of the social security law.
(4) A reference in this Act to a provision of the social security law is a
reference to a provision of this Act, the 1991 Act or any other Act that is
expressed to form part of the social security law.
(5) To the extent that a provision of this Act relates to:
(a) a double orphan pension; or
(b) a family allowance;
a reference in the provision to a person includes a reference to an
approved care organisation.
This Act forms part of the social security law.
(1) If a provision of the social security law requires that a written
notice be given to a person, it is sufficient compliance with that provision if
the notice is given in a manner approved by the Secretary.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents a notice being given in accordance
with section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
If the social security law provides that a determination takes effect on
a day (the earlier day) before the day on which the determination
is made, the social security law has effect as if the determination had taken
effect on the earlier day.
The Secretary is, subject to any direction of the Minister, to have the
general administration of the social security law.
In administering the social security law, the Secretary is to have regard
to:
(a) the desirability of achieving the following results:
(i) the ready availability to members of the public of advice and
information services relating to income support generally and to the social
security payments that are available;
(ii) the ready availability of publications containing clear statements
about income support entitlements and procedural requirements;
(iii) the delivery of services under the law in a fair, courteous, prompt
and cost-efficient manner;
(iv) the development of a process of monitoring and evaluating delivery of
programs with an emphasis on the impact of programs on social security
recipients;
(v) the establishment of procedures to ensure that abuses of the social
security system are minimised; and
(b) the special needs of disadvantaged groups in the community;
and
(c) the need to be responsive to the interests of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander communities and to cultural and linguistic diversity;
and
(d) the importance of the system of review of decisions under the social
security law; and
(e) the need to ensure that social security recipients have adequate
information regarding the system of review of decisions under the social
security law; and
(f) the need to apply government policy in accordance with the law and
with due regard to relevant decisions of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and
the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.
(1) The Minister may prepare a written statement of the policy of the
Commonwealth Government in relation to the administration of the social security
law and may give a copy of the statement to:
(a) the Secretary; and
(b) the Executive Director of the Social Security Appeals
Tribunal.
(2) If the Minister gives a copy of a statement to the Secretary or the
Executive Director under subsection (1), the Minister must cause a copy of the
statement to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days
of that House after the Minister gives the copy under that subsection.
(3) In exercising powers under the social security law, an officer must
have regard to any statement a copy of which has been given to the Secretary
under subsection (1).
(4) In exercising powers under the social security law, the Executive
Director and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal must have regard to any
statement a copy of which has been given to the Executive Director under
subsection (1).
(1) The Secretary and the Executive Director of the Social Security
Appeals Tribunal may agree on administrative arrangements to further the
objectives of Part 4 of this Act.
(2) The Secretary and the Employment Secretary may agree on administrative
arrangements to further the objectives of Part 2.12 of the 1991 Act.
(3) Administrative arrangements agreed on under subsection (2) may provide
for officers of the Employment Department to perform functions or duties, or
exercise powers, under Part 2.12 of the 1991 Act.
(4) The Secretary and the Secretary to the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry may agree on administrative arrangements to further the
objectives of sections 26 and 27 of the 1991 Act.
(5) The Secretary and the Commissioner of Taxation may agree on
administrative arrangements to further the objectives of Part 2.17AA of the 1991
Act.
Subject to Subdivision B, a person who wants to be granted:
(a) a social security payment; or
(b) a concession card;
must make a claim for the payment or card in accordance with this
Division.
(1) Subject to subsection (3), if:
(a) a person is receiving an income support payment; and
(b) while receiving the payment, the person becomes qualified for another
income support payment (the other payment); and
(c) the Secretary determines that the person is to be transferred to the
other payment;
the person is taken, for the purposes of the social security law, to have
made a claim for the other payment on the day on which the person became
qualified for the other payment.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), if:
(a) a person who has been receiving an income support payment ceases to
receive the payment; and
(b) immediately after ceasing to receive that payment, the person becomes
qualified for another income support payment (the other payment);
and
(c) the Secretary determines that the person is to be transferred to the
other payment;
the person is taken, for the purposes of the social security law, to have
made a claim for the other payment on the day on which the person became
qualified for the other payment.
(3) The Secretary may only make a determination under subsection (1) or
(2) if the transfer is one that the Secretary could have determined should occur
apart from this section.
(1) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person in relation to
a claim for a social security payment; and
(b) the person is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the social security payment; and
(c) the Secretary gives the person a written notice acknowledging that the
Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the person lodges a claim for the social security payment within 14
days after the Department is contacted;
the person is taken to have made a claim for the social security payment on
the day on which the Department was contacted.
(2) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person in relation to
a claim for a social security payment, other than crisis payment or special
employment advance; and
(b) the person is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the social security payment; and
(c) the Secretary gives the person a written notice acknowledging that the
Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the person lodges a claim for the payment more than 14 days, but not
more than 13 weeks, after the Department is contacted; and
(e) the Secretary is satisfied that:
(i) throughout the period starting on the day on which the Department was
contacted and ending on the day on which the person lodged the claim, the person
was suffering from a medical condition; and
(ii) that medical condition, or circumstances related to that medical
condition, had a significant adverse effect on the person’s ability to
lodge the claim earlier;
the person is taken to have made a claim for the social security payment on
the day on which the Department was contacted.
(3) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person (the
claimant) in relation to a claim for a social security payment,
other than crisis payment or special employment advance; and
(b) the claimant is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the social security payment; and
(c) the Secretary gives the claimant a written notice acknowledging that
the Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the claimant lodges a claim for the payment more than 14 days, but not
more than 13 weeks, after the Department is contacted; and
(e) the Secretary is satisfied that:
(i) throughout the period starting on the day on which the Department was
contacted and ending on the day on which the claimant lodged the claim, the
claimant was caring for, or was the partner of, another person; and
(ii) throughout that period, the other person suffered from a medical
condition; and
(iii) the medical condition, or circumstances related to the medical
condition, from which the other person was suffering had a significant adverse
effect on the claimant’s ability to lodge the claim earlier;
the claimant is taken to have made a claim for the social security payment
on the day on which the Department was contacted.
(4) A reference in this section to the Department being contacted includes
a reference to the Department being contacted by post or telephone or by the
transmission of a message by the use of facsimile, computer equipment or other
electronic means.
(5) This section has effect subject to section 18.
(1) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person in relation to
a claim for a concession card; and
(b) the person is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the concession card; and
(c) the Secretary gives the person a written notice acknowledging that the
Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the person lodges a claim for the concession card within 14 days after
he or she contacts the Department;
the person is taken to have made a claim for the concession card on the day
on which the Department was contacted.
(2) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person in relation to
a claim for a concession card; and
(b) the person is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the concession card; and
(c) the Secretary gives the person a written notice acknowledging that the
Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the person lodges a claim for the concession card more than 14 days,
but not more than 13 weeks, after the Department is contacted; and
(e) the Secretary is satisfied that:
(i) throughout the period starting on the day on which the Department was
contacted and ending on the day on which the person lodged the claim, the person
was suffering from a medical condition; and
(ii) that medical condition, or circumstances related to that medical
condition, had a significant adverse effect on the person’s ability to
lodge the claim earlier;
the person is taken to have made a claim for the concession card on the day
on which the Department was contacted.
(3) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) the Department is contacted by or on behalf of a person (the
claimant) in relation to a claim for a concession card;
and
(b) the claimant is, on the day on which the Department is contacted,
qualified for the concession card; and
(c) the Secretary gives the claimant a written notice acknowledging that
the Department has been contacted in relation to the making of the claim;
and
(d) the claimant lodges a claim for the concession card more than 14 days,
but not more than 13 weeks, after the Department is contacted; and
(e) the Secretary is satisfied that:
(i) throughout the period starting on the day on which the Department was
contacted and ending on the day on which the claimant lodged the claim, the
claimant was caring for, or was the partner of, another person; and
(ii) throughout that period, the other person suffered from a medical
condition; and
(iii) the medical condition, or circumstances related to the medical
condition, from which the other person was suffering had a significant adverse
effect on the claimant’s ability to lodge the claim earlier;
the claimant is taken to have made a claim for the concession card on the
day on which the Department was contacted.
(4) A reference in this section to the Department being contacted includes
a reference to the Department being contacted by post or telephone or by the
transmission of a message by the use of facsimile, computer equipment or other
electronic means.
(5) This section has effect subject to section 18.
(1) For the purposes of the social security law, if:
(a) a person makes a claim for a social security payment: and
(b) the claim is an incorrect claim; and
(c) the person subsequently makes a claim for another social security
payment for which the person is qualified; and
(d) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable that this subsection
be applied;
the person is taken to have made a claim for that other social security
payment on the day on which he or she made the incorrect claim.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a claim made by a person is an
incorrect claim if:
(a) the claim is for a social security payment, other than a supplementary
payment; and
(b) when the claim was made, the person was not qualified for the payment
claimed but was qualified for another social security payment, other than a
supplementary payment.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a claim made by a person is an
incorrect claim if:
(a) the claim is for a supplementary payment: and
(b) when the claim was made, the person was not qualified for the payment
claimed but was qualified for another supplementary payment.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a claim made by a person is an
incorrect claim if:
(a) the claim is for a pension, allowance, benefit or other payment under
a law of the Commonwealth, other than this Act or the 1991 Act, or under a
program administered by the Commonwealth, that is similar in character to a
social security payment, other than a supplementary payment; and
(b) when the claim was made, the person was qualified for a social
security payment, other than a supplementary payment.
(5) In this section:
supplementary payment means:
(a) carer allowance; or
(b) double orphan pension; or
(c) education entry payment; or
(d) employment entry payment; or
(e) family allowance; or
(f) family tax payment; or
(g) maternity allowance; or
(h) maternity immunisation allowance; or
(i) mobility allowance; or
(j) pensioner education supplement.
(1) A person makes a claim for a social security payment or a concession
card:
(a) by lodging a written claim for the payment or card; or
(b) by making the claim in accordance with subsection (7).
(2) A written claim for the purpose of subsection (1) for one social
security payment or for a concession card must be in accordance with a form
approved by the Secretary.
(3) Two or more written claims by the same person may be combined in one
claim. Such a claim must be made in accordance with a form approved by the
Secretary for the purposes of this subsection.
(4) A written claim is lodged by being delivered:
(a) to a person apparently performing duties at a place approved for the
purpose by the Secretary; or
(b) to a person approved for the purpose by the Secretary; or
(c) in a manner, and to a place, approved for the purpose by the
Secretary.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), a place or person approved for the purposes
of subsection (4) must be a place or person in Australia.
(6) The Secretary may approve a place or person outside Australia for the
purposes of subsection (4) for the lodgment of claims made under a scheduled
international social security agreement.
(7) A person may make a claim in a manner approved by the Secretary for
the purposes of this subsection.
(8) The power of the Secretary to make an approval under subsection (7) is
not limited by any other provision of this section.
(1) A claim for pension bonus must be either:
(a) attached to a proper claim made by the person for age pension and
lodged together with that claim for age pension; or
(b) made in accordance with an invitation under subsection (3).
(2) A claim for pension bonus may be made even though it is
not certain whether the person will start to receive an age pension at or after
the time when the person makes the claim. The claim has effect as a claim that
is contingent on the person receiving an age pension.
(3) If:
(a) a person makes a claim for an age pension; and
(b) the claim is in accordance with a form that does not require the
claimant to disclose whether the claimant is registered as a member
of:
(i) the pension bonus scheme; or
(ii) the corresponding scheme under Part IIIAB of the Veterans’
Entitlements Act; and
(c) the person is, to the knowledge of the Secretary, registered as a
member of the pension bonus scheme; and
(d) a claim by the person for pension bonus is not attached to the claim
for age pension;
the Secretary must give the claimant a written notice inviting the claimant
to lodge a claim for pension bonus:
(e) within such period after the lodgment of the claim for age pension as
is specified in the notice; and
(f) at such place as in specified in the notice.
(4) If a claim for pension bonus is made in accordance with
an invitation under subsection (3), the person is taken to have claimed the
pension bonus at the same time as the person claimed age pension.
(1) A claim for special employment advance must specify the amount of
special employment advance sought.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), if a claim based on the effect of the
unreceived income on the claimant’s special employment advance qualifying
entitlement is lodged before the first day for which special employment advance
is not payable or is reduced as a result of the claimant, or the
claimant’s partner, having earned the income, the claim is taken to have
been made on that day.
(3) If:
(a) the claimant’s special employment advance qualifying entitlement
referred to in subsection (2) is an entitlement in respect of which the
Secretary has determined that this subsection applies; and
(b) the claim is lodged before the day referred to in subsection
(2);
the Secretary may treat the claim as having been made on a day earlier than
the day referred to in subsection (2) that the Secretary considers appropriate
having regard to the kind of entitlement concerned.
(4) A claim based on the need for financial assistance from the
Commonwealth to take up offered employment must set out:
(a) particulars (including the duration) of the employment; and
(b) the way in which the financial assistance is to be expended to enable
the claimant to take up the employment.
(1) A claim for maternity allowance must be made within 26 weeks after the
birth of the child to whom the claim relates.
(2) A claim for maternity immunisation allowance must be made before the
child to whom the claim relates:
(a) reaches the age of 2 years; or
(b) would have reached that age if the child had not died.
(3) If a claim referred to in subsection (1) or (2) is made after the time
fixed by that subsection, the claim is taken not to have been made.
An expression used in this Subdivision has the same meaning as it has in
Part 2.2A of the 1991 Act.
A claim for pension bonus must be made within the lodgment period fixed
by this Subdivision.
(1) If a person’s last bonus period is a full-year period, the
lodgment period for a claim by the person for pension bonus is the period of 13
weeks immediately following that bonus period. However, this rule does not apply
if:
(a) the person is an exempt partnered person for the purposes of section
24 at the end of the person’s last bonus period; or
(b) the person’s membership of the pension bonus scheme becomes
non-accruing immediately after the end of the person’s last bonus period;
or
(c) the person is a post-75 member of the pension bonus scheme and has a
post-75 work period (see subsection 26(2)).
(2) For the purposes of this section, if a person has accrued only one
full-year bonus period, that period is the person’s last bonus
period.
(1) If a person’s last bonus period is a part-year period, the
lodgment period for a claim by the person for pension bonus is:
(a) the period of 13 weeks beginning at the end of that bonus period;
or
(b) if the Secretary allows a longer period—that longer
period.
However, this subsection does not apply if:
(c) the person is an exempt partnered person (see subsection 24(2)) at the
end of the person’s last bonus period; or
(d) the person’s membership of the pension bonus scheme becomes
non-accruing immediately after the end of the person’s last bonus period;
or
(e) the person is a post-75 member of the pension bonus scheme and has a
post-75 work period (see subsection 26(2)).
(2) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to a person’s claim for pension bonus;
and
(b) the claim is lodged within a period allowed under paragraph
(1)(b);
Division 6 of Part 2.2A of the 1991 Act has effect, in relation to the
calculation of the amount of that pension bonus, as if the person had not
accrued the part-year bonus period.
(1) If a person is an exempt partnered person at the end of the
person’s last bonus period, the lodgment period applicable to the
person’s claim for pension bonus is the period:
(a) beginning at the end of that bonus period; and
(b) ending at:
(i) the time of the last occasion on which the person’s partner
could have lodged a claim for a pension bonus; or
(ii) the end of the period of 13 weeks after the person ceases to be a
member of the same couple (whether because of the death of the person’s
partner or for any other reason);
whichever comes first.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is an exempt partnered
person at a particular time if, at that time, the person is a member of a couple
and:
(a) the person’s partner is an accruing or non-accruing member of
the pension bonus scheme; or
(b) the person’s partner is an accruing or non-accruing member of
the corresponding scheme under Part IIIAB of the Veterans’ Entitlements
Act.
If a person’s membership of the pension bonus scheme becomes
non-accruing immediately after the end of the person’s last bonus period,
the lodgment period applicable to the person’s claim for pension bonus is
the period:
(a) beginning at the end of the person’s last bonus period;
and
(b) ending 13 weeks after the time when the person’s membership of
the scheme ceases to be non-accruing.
(1) If a post-75 member of the pension bonus scheme has a post-75 work
period, the lodgment period for a claim by the person for pension bonus is the
period of 13 weeks beginning at the end of the period nominated in the claim as
the person’s post-75 work period.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a post-75 member of the pension
bonus scheme has a post-75 work period if all of the following requirements are
satisfied:
(a) the person’s claim for pension bonus nominates a particular
period as the person’s post-75 work period;
(b) the nominated period begins immediately after the end of the
person’s last bonus period;
(c) if it were assumed that the person had been an accruing member of the
pension bonus scheme throughout each test period that is applicable to the
person, the person would have passed the work test for each test
period.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the test period or test periods
applicable to a person are worked out as follows:
(a) identify the extended period, which is that part of the
nominated period when the person was neither:
(i) subject to a compensation preclusion period or a carer preclusion
period; nor
(ii) covered by a declaration under section 92Q of the 1991 Act;
(b) if the extended period is 365 days or less—the extended period
is the only test period;
(c) if the extended period is longer than 365 days—each of the
following periods is a test period:
(i) the full-year period beginning at the start of the extended
period;
(ii) if 2 or more succeeding full-year periods are included in the
extended period—each of those full-year periods;
(iii) the period (if any) consisting of the remainder of the extended
period.
(4) In addition to its effect apart from this subsection, section 93B of
the 1991 Act also has the effect it would have if each reference in paragraph
93B(1)(a), (2)(a), (3)(a) or (4)(a) to an accruing member of the pension bonus
scheme were a reference to a post-75 member of the scheme.
(1) If:
(a) claims for maternity allowance and maternity immunisation allowance
are made by a person at the same time in respect of the same child;
and
(b) the child is not a stillborn child; and
(c) maternity allowance is paid to the person in relation to the child;
and
(d) the person ceases to be qualified for family allowance in respect of
the child before the claim for maternity immunisation allowance has been
determined;
the claim for maternity immunisation allowance is taken not to have been
made.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1):
(a) prevents the claimant referred to in that subsection making another
claim for maternity immunisation allowance in respect of the same child;
or
(b) prevents any other person making a claim for maternity immunisation
allowance in respect of the same child.
A person cannot make a claim for a disability support pension unless the
person is under the pension age on the day on which the claim is
lodged.
(1) Subject to sections 30, 31 and 32, a claim for a social security
payment or a concession card may only be made by a person who:
(a) is an Australian resident; and
(b) is in Australia.
(2) Subject to sections 30, 31 and 32, a claim made at a time when the
claimant is not an Australian resident or is not in Australia is taken not to
have been made.
A claim for special benefit may only be made by a person who:
(a) is in Australia; and
(b) satisfies one of the following subparagraphs:
(i) the person is an Australian resident;
(ii) the person has a qualifying residence exemption for special
benefit;
(iii) the person holds a visa determined by the Minister to be a visa to
which this subparagraph applies.
(1) In its application to a claim for:
(a) double orphan pension; or
(b) family allowance; or
(c) family tax payment; or
(d) maternity allowance; or
(e) maternity immunisation allowance; or
(f) mobility allowance;
section 29 has effect as if:
(g) paragraph (1)(b) of that section were omitted; and
(h) the words “or is not in Australia” were omitted from
paragraph (2)(b).
(2) Section 29 does not apply to a claim for parenting payment
if:
(a) the claimant is an Australian resident; and
(b) the claimant, while outside Australia, has been receiving an income
support payment; and
(c) the income support payment has been cancelled or has ceased to be
payable; and
(d) the claim is made within 13 weeks after the income support payment was
cancelled or ceased to be payable, as the case may be.
(3) Section 29 does not apply to a claim made by an approved care
organisation.
(1) This section only has effect in relation to a claim for sickness
allowance.
(2) For the purposes of section 29, if:
(a) a person is temporarily absent from Australia; and
(b) the person is absent in order to seek medical treatment of a kind that
is not available in Australia;
the person is taken to be in Australia:
(c) if the period of absence does not exceed 13 weeks—during the
whole of that period; or
(d) if the period of absence exceeds 13 weeks—during the first 13
weeks of that period.
(1) A claimant for a social security payment or a concession card, or a
person acting on behalf of such a claimant, may withdraw a claim that has not
been determined.
(2) A claim that is withdrawn is taken not to have been made.
(1) A claim may be withdrawn orally or in writing or in any other manner
approved by the Secretary.
(2) If:
(a) a person claims both a pension bonus and an age pension; and
(b) the claim for an age pension is withdrawn;
the claim for a pension bonus is taken to have been withdrawn.
(3) If:
(a) a person claims both a pension bonus and an age pension; and
(b) the claim for an age pension is rejected as a direct or indirect
result of the operation of:
(i) Division 2 of Part 3.12 of the 1991 Act; or
(ii) Part 3.14 of that Act;
the claim for a pension bonus is taken to have been
withdrawn.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Secretary must, in accordance with the
social security law, determine a claim for a social security payment or a
concession card, either granting or rejecting the claim.
(2) If a person claims both a pension bonus and an age
pension, the Secretary must not determine the claim for pension bonus until the
claim for age pension has been granted.
(1) Subject to section 39, the Secretary must determine that a claim for a
social security payment is to be granted if the Secretary is satisfied
that:
(a) the claimant is qualified for the social security payment;
and
(b) the social security payment is payable.
(2) The Secretary must determine that a claim for a newstart allowance is
to be granted if the Secretary is satisfied that:
(a) the claimant is qualified, or is expected to be qualified, for the
allowance; and
(b) the allowance would be payable apart from:
(i) the application of a waiting period; or
(ii) the application of an activity test non-payment period; or
(iii) the application of an activity test breach rate reduction period
where the activity test breach rate reduction reduces the rate of newstart
allowance payable to the claimant to nil; or
(iv) the application of an administrative breach rate reduction period
where the administrative breach rate reduction reduces the rate of newstart
allowance payable to the person to nil; or
(v) the application of an income maintenance period where the rate of
newstart allowance payable to the person is nil.
(3) The Secretary must determine that a claim for a social security
payment to which this subsection applies is to be granted if the Secretary is
satisfied that:
(a) the person is qualified, or is expected to be qualified, for the
payment; and
(b) the payment would be payable if the person were not subject to a
seasonal work preclusion period.
(4) Subsection (3) applies to the following social security
payments:
(a) mature age allowance under Part 2.12A;
(b) mature age allowance under Part 2.12B;
(c) newstart allowance;
(d) parenting payment;
(e) partner allowance;
(f) widow allowance;
(g) youth allowance.
(5) If:
(a) a determination has been made under subsection (1) granting a claim
for a newstart allowance to a person who was qualified for the allowance under
subsection 593(1B) of the 1991 Act; and
(b) the person ceases to be qualified for the allowance under subsection
593(1B) of the 1991 Act but becomes qualified for the allowance under subsection
593(1) of that Act within 14 days after the person ceased to be qualified under
subsection 593(1B);
the Secretary may make a determination varying the first-mentioned
determination to give effect to any change in the person’s start
day.
(6) The Secretary must determine that a claim for youth allowance or
austudy payment is to be granted if the Secretary is satisfied that:
(a) the person is qualified, or is expected to be qualified, for the
allowance or payment; and
(b) the allowance or payment would be payable, apart from:
(i) the application of a waiting period; or
(ii) the application of an activity test non-payment period; or
(iii) the application of an activity test breach rate reduction period
where the activity test breach rate reduction reduces the rate of allowance or
payment payable to the claimant to nil; or
(iv) the application of an administrative breach rate reduction period
where the administrative breach rate reduction reduces the rate of allowance or
payment payable to the person to nil; or
(v) the application of an income maintenance period where the rate of
allowance or payment payable to the person is nil.
(7) The Secretary must make a determination granting a claim for a
concession card if the Secretary is satisfied that the claimant is qualified for
the card.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Secretary must refuse a claim for
special employment advance if:
(a) the claim is based on the effect of unreceived income on the
claimant’s special employment advance qualifying entitlement;
and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the income will be received within 2
days after the claim is made.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the Secretary considers that the
claimant’s financial needs are such that the claim should be
granted.
(3) In this section:
unreceived income has the same meaning as in subsection
1061EM(1) of the 1991 Act.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), if the Secretary does not make a
determination regarding a claim within the period of 13 weeks after the day on
which the claim was made, the Secretary is taken to have made, at the end of
that period, a determination rejecting the claim.
(2) If a person makes a claim for maternity immunisation allowance,
subsection (1) has effect in relation to the claim as if the period referred to
in that subsection were the period:
(a) starting immediately after the day on which the claim is lodged;
and
(b) ending at the earlier of the following times:
(i) the end of the period of 104 weeks starting immediately after the day
on which the claim is lodged;
(ii) the day on which the child concerned reaches the age of 2
years.
(3) If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a social security payment that is a
relevant social security payment for the purposes of subclause 4(1) of Schedule
2; and
(b) the person is not, on the day on which the claim is made, qualified
for the payment; and
(c) assuming the person does not sooner die, the person will, because of
the passage of time or the occurrence of an event, become qualified for the
payment within the period of 13 weeks after the day on which the claim is made;
and
(d) the person becomes so qualified within that period;
the claim is taken, for the purposes of subsection (1), to be made on the
day on which the person becomes qualified.
(4) If the Secretary asks a person who has made a claim for a social
security payment or a concession card or another person for information in
relation to the claim, the period that:
(a) begins on the day on which the Secretary asks for the information;
and
(b) ends on the day on which the information is given to the
Secretary;
is not counted for the purpose of subsection (1).
(1) The Secretary may make a determination rejecting a claim for a social
security payment if:
(a) the claimant has been given a notice under subsection 65(2);
and
(b) the Secretary is not satisfied that the claimant has taken reasonable
action to obtain a comparable foreign payment at the highest rate applicable to
the claimant within the period specified in the notice.
(2) The Secretary may make a determination rejecting a claim for a social
security payment if:
(a) the claimant has been given a notice under subsection 65(3);
and
(b) the Secretary is not satisfied that the claimant’s partner has
taken reasonable action to obtain a comparable foreign payment at the highest
rate applicable to the partner within the period specified in the
notice.
Unless another provision of the social security law provides otherwise, a
social security payment becomes payable to a person on the person’s start
day in relation to the social security payment.
For the purposes of the social security law, a person’s start day
in relation to a social security payment or a concession card is the day worked
out in accordance with Schedule 2.
(1) A social security periodic payment is to be paid:
(a) in arrears; and
(b) by instalments relating to such periods (not exceeding 14 days) as the
Secretary determines.
(2) Subject to sections 51 and 52, instalments of a social security
periodic payment are to be paid at such times as the Secretary
determines.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the amount that is to be paid to a person
as an instalment of a social security periodic payment in relation to a period
is the total of the amounts of the social security periodic payment (calculated
by reference to the daily rate of payment applicable to each day) payable to the
person for days in that period on which the social security periodic payment was
payable to the person.
(4) If:
(a) an amount (the added amount) of pharmaceutical allowance
is added to a person’s maximum basic rate in working out the amount of an
instalment of a social security payment; and
(b) apart from this subsection, the amount of the instalment would be less
than the person’s fortnightly PA rate;
the amount of the instalment is to be increased to the person’s
fortnightly PA rate.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), a person’s fortnightly PA
rate is worked out by dividing the added amount by 26.
(6) Each of the periods determined by the Secretary under subsection (1)
is an instalment period in relation to the social security periodic
payment.
(1) Subject to subsection (4) and section 44, instalments of a
person’s social security periodic payment are to be paid to that
person.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), if, by virtue of a determination under
subsection 45(2), a person’s special employment advance is to be paid by
instalments, the instalments are to be paid to that person.
(3) The Secretary may, in writing, direct that the whole or a part of the
instalments of a person’s social security periodic payment or special
employment advance are to be paid to someone else on behalf of the
person.
(4) If the Secretary gives a direction under subsection (3), the
instalments are to be paid in accordance with the direction.
(5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply in relation to instalments of
youth allowance to which section 44 applies.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), instalments of youth allowance of a person
who is under 18 years of age and is not independent are to be paid on behalf of
the person:
(a) if the person has only one living parent—to that parent;
or
(b) if the person has more than one living parent—to the parent
nominated in writing by the person to the Secretary.
(2) The Secretary may direct that the whole or a part of the instalments
of youth allowance of a person referred to in subsection (1) is to be
paid:
(a) to the person; or
(b) to someone other than the person’s parent on behalf of the
person.
(3) If the Secretary gives a direction under subsection (2), the
instalments are to be paid in accordance with the direction.
(1) Unless the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (2), a
person’s special employment advance is to be paid in accordance with
section 46.
(2) If the Secretary considers that it is appropriate for a person’s
special employment advance to be paid by instalments, the Secretary may
determine that the person’s special employment advance is to be so
paid.
(1) In this section:
lump sum benefit means:
(a) an advance payment under section 864A or Part 2.22 of the 1991 Act;
or
(b) crisis payment; or
(c) disaster relief payment; or
(d) education entry payment; or
(e) employment entry payment; or
(f) fares allowance; or
(g) maternity allowance; or
(h) maternity immunisation allowance; or
(i) special employment advance, except where the Secretary has made a
determination under subsection 45(2).
(2) Subject to subsection (4), a person’s lump sum benefit is to be
paid to the person.
(3) The Secretary may direct that the whole or a part of a person’s
lump sum benefit is to be paid to someone else on behalf of the
person.
(4) If the Secretary gives a direction under subsection (3), the lump sum
benefit is to be paid in accordance with the direction.
(1) Telephone allowance is to be paid by instalments.
(2) An instalment of telephone allowance is to be paid to a person on each
telephone allowance payday on which telephone allowance is payable to the
person.
(3) The amount of an instalment of telephone allowance is worked out by
dividing the amount of the annual rate of telephone allowance by 4.
(4) In this section:
telephone allowance payday, in relation to a person, means
the first day on which an instalment of a social security periodic payment would
normally be paid to the person on or after any of the following:
(a) 1 January;
(b) 20 March;
(c) 1 July;
(d) 20 September.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), fares allowance for a journey by a person
is to be paid as a reimbursement after the journey is made.
(2) If the journey has not been made, the fares allowance for the journey
is to be paid before the journey is made.
(1) Subject to subsection (4), if the person is or was receiving youth
allowance at the time of the making of the journey, fares allowance is to be
paid to the person to whom instalments of the youth allowance are or were being
paid under section 43 or 44.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), if the person is or was receiving austudy
payment at the time of the making of the journey, fares allowance is to be paid
to the person to whom instalments of the austudy payment are or were being paid
under section 43.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), if the person is or was receiving pensioner
education supplement at the time of the making of the journey, fares allowance
is to be paid to the person to whom instalments of the pensioner education
supplement are or were being paid under section 43.
(4) If the fares allowance is to be paid as referred to in subsection
48(2), it is to be paid, on behalf of the person, to the commercial operator who
provides the person’s means of travel.
(5) This section has effect subject to section 57.
(1) If:
(a) the Secretary determines:
(i) that a claim by a person who is in Australia for a social security
benefit or pension is to be granted; or
(ii) that a social security benefit or pension is payable to a person
under section 84; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that, if the person is required to wait
until the end of:
(i) the first instalment period in relation to the benefit or pension;
or
(ii) the first instalment period in relation to the benefit or pension
after the resumption of payment of the benefit or pension;
for payment of an instalment, the person will suffer severe financial
hardship;
the Secretary may determine that a specified amount is to be paid to the
person in advance.
(2) The amount paid under a determination under subsection (1) is not to
exceed the amount that, in the opinion of the Secretary, would be the total of
the amounts payable to the person for the first 14 days on which the benefit or
pension is payable to the person.
(3) An amount paid to a person under subsection (1) is taken to be an
advance payment of the instalment or instalments, or of that part of the
instalment or instalments, that relate to the days referred to in subsection
(2).
(1) This section applies to the following social security
payments:
(a) age pension;
(b) bereavement allowance;
(c) carer payment;
(d) disability support pension;
(e) mature age allowance payable under Part 2.12A of the 1991
Act;
(f) mature age partner allowance payable under Part 2.12A of the 1991
Act;
(g) pension PP (single) to which clause 105A of Schedule 1A to the 1991
Act applies;
(h) pensioner education supplement;
(i) widow B pension;
(j) wife pension.
(2) If a person who is receiving a social security payment to which this
section applies is outside Australia, instalments of the payment are to be paid
to the person at such times as the Secretary determines for the purposes of this
section.
(1) If:
(a) an age pension or a disability support pension is payable to a person;
and
(b) the person is receiving a veteran’s disability pension;
and
(c) the Secretary has made a determination, for the purposes of this
subsection, that instalments of age pension or disability support pension, as
the case may be, are to be paid to the person on the days on which instalments
of the veteran’s disability pension are paid to the person; and
(d) the determination has not been revoked;
instalments of age pension or disability support pension are to be paid to
the person in accordance with the determination.
(2) If:
(a) an age pension or a disability support pension is payable to a person;
and
(b) the person’s partner is receiving:
(i) an age pension and a veteran’s disability pension; or
(ii) a disability support pension and a veteran’s disability
pension; and
(c) the Secretary has made a determination, for the purposes of this
subsection, that instalments of age pension or disability support pension, as
the case may be, are to be paid to the person on the days on which instalments
of the veteran’s disability pension are paid to the person’s
partner; and
(d) the determination has not been revoked;
instalments of age pension or disability support pension are to be paid to
the person in accordance with the determination.
(3) If:
(a) a person is receiving a wife pension; and
(b) the person’s partner is receiving:
(i) an age pension and a veteran’s disability pension; or
(ii) a disability support pension and a veteran’s disability
pension; and
(c) the Secretary has made a determination, for the purposes of this
subsection, that instalments of wife pension are to be paid to the person on the
days on which instalments of the veteran’s disability pension are paid to
the person’s partner; and
(d) the determination has not been revoked;
instalments of wife pension are to be paid to the person in accordance with
the determination.
(1) In this section:
instalment means an instalment of a social security
payment.
(2) If the amount of an instalment would be:
(a) one or more whole dollars and a part of a cent; or
(b) one or more whole dollars and cents and a part of a cent;
the amount is to be increased or decreased to the nearest whole
cent.
(3) If the amount of an instalment would be:
(a) one or more whole dollars and 0.5 cent; or
(b) one or more whole dollars and cents and 0.5 cent;
the amount is to be increased by 0.5 cent.
(4) If, apart from this subsection, the amount of an instalment would be
less than $1.00, the amount is to be increased to $1.00.
(1) An amount (the relevant amount) that is to be paid to a
person under section 43, 44, 46, 47 or 49 is to be paid in the manner set out in
this section.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), the relevant amount is to be paid to the
credit of a bank account nominated and maintained by the person.
(3) The account may be an account that is maintained by the person either
alone or jointly or in common with another person.
(4) The Secretary may direct that the whole or a part of the relevant
amount be paid to the person in a different way from that provided for by
subsection (2). If the Secretary gives a direction, the relevant amount is to be
paid in accordance with the direction.
(5) If, at the end of the period of 28 days starting on the day on which
the Secretary requested the person to nominate an account for the purposes of
subsection (2) (the 28 day period):
(a) the person has not nominated an account for the purposes of subsection
(2); and
(b) the Secretary has not given, or has revoked, a direction under
subsection (4) in relation to the payment of the relevant amount to the
person;
the relevant amount ceases to be payable to the person.
(6) If the person nominates an account for the purposes of subsection (2)
after the end of the 28 day period, the relevant amount again becomes payable to
the person and is so payable:
(a) if the nomination is made within 13 weeks after the end of the 28 day
period—on and from the first day after the end of that period;
or
(b) if the nomination is not so made—on and from the day on which
the nomination is made.
(7) Subsection (6) does not apply at a time when, because of the operation
of another provision of the social security law, the relevant amount is not
payable to the person.
(1) This section applies to a person if:
(a) the person is under 18 years of age and is not independent;
and
(b) youth allowance has become payable to the person; and
(c) the person has more than one living parent; and
(d) at the end of the period of 28 days starting on the day on which youth
allowance became payable to the person:
(i) the person has not nominated a parent for the purposes of subsection
44(1); and
(ii) the Secretary has not given a direction under subsection 44(2) in
relation to payment of instalments of the person’s youth
allowance.
(2) Youth allowance is not payable to a person while this section applies
to the person.
(3) If a person to whom this section applies nominates a parent for the
purposes of subsection 44(1), this section ceases to apply to the
person.
If the Secretary is satisfied that an amount that would, apart from this
section, be paid on a particular day cannot reasonably be paid on that day, the
Secretary may direct that the amount be paid on an earlier day.
(1) If:
(a) an amount representing a social security payment (other than pension
bonus) is payable to a person; and
(b) the person dies; and
(c) another person applies to receive the amount; and
(d) the application is made:
(i) within 26 weeks after the death; or
(ii) within such further period as is allowed by the Secretary in the
special circumstances of the case;
the Secretary may pay the amount to the person who, in the
Secretary’s opinion, is best entitled to it.
(2) If the Secretary pays an amount of a social security payment under
subsection (1), the Commonwealth has no further liability to any person in
respect of that amount.
(1) This section sets out the only circumstances in which a
pension bonus will be payable after the death of the person concerned.
(2) If:
(a) a person claims a pension bonus; and
(b) the person dies; and
(c) at the time of the person’s death, the claim had been granted,
but the person had not received the bonus;
the bonus is payable to the legal personal representative of the
person.
(3) If:
(a) a person claims a pension bonus; and
(b) the person dies; and
(c) at the time of the person’s death, the claim had not been
determined;
then:
(d) the Secretary must determine the claim after the person’s death
as if the person had not died; and
(e) if the claim is granted—the bonus is payable to the legal
personal representative of the person.
(4) If:
(a) under paragraph (3)(d), the Secretary is required to determine a claim
for pension bonus after a person’s death; and
(b) at the time of the person’s death, the person’s claim for
age pension had not been determined;
then, for the purposes of the determination of the claim for pension bonus,
the following provisions have effect:
(c) the requirements of paragraph 92C(a) of the 1991 Act are taken to be
satisfied if:
(i) the person would have started to receive an age pension if he or she
had not died; and
(ii) that age pension would have been received otherwise than because of a
scheduled international social security agreement;
(d) Division 6 of Part 2.2A of the 1991 Act has effect as if:
(i) a reference in that Division to a particular rate were a reference to
the rate that would have been applicable to the person if the person had not
died; and
(ii) a reference in that Division to the date of grant of the age pension
were a reference to the date on which the age pension would have been granted if
the person had not died;
(e) this Act has effect as if subsections 17(2) and 34(2) were
omitted.
(5) If a pension bonus is paid under subsection (2) or (3),
the Commonwealth has no further liability to any person in respect of that
bonus.
(1) A social security payment is absolutely inalienable, whether by way
of, or in consequence of, sale, assignment, charge, execution, bankruptcy or
otherwise.
(2) This section has effect subject to:
(a) sections 60 and 239 of this Act; and
(b) sections 1231 and 1234A of the 1991 Act.
The Secretary may make deductions from instalments of a social security
payment payable to a person if the person asks the Secretary:
(a) to make the deductions; and
(b) to pay the amounts deducted to the Commissioner of Taxation.
(1) If:
(a) a person has an account with a financial institution; and
(b) either or both of the following subparagraphs apply:
(i) instalments of a social security payment payable to the person
(whether on the person’s own behalf or not) are being paid to the credit
of the account;
(ii) an advance payment of a social security payment payable to the person
(whether on the person’s own behalf or not) has been paid to the credit of
the account; and
(c) a court order in the nature of a garnishee order comes into force in
respect of the account;
the court order does not apply to the saved amount (if any) in the
account.
(2) The saved amount is worked out as follows:
Method statement
Step 1. Work out the total amount payable to the person in respect
of the social security payment that has been paid to the credit of the account
during the 4 week period immediately before the court order came into
force.
Step 2. Subtract from that amount the total amount withdrawn from
the account during the same 4 week period: the result is the saved
amount.
(3) This section applies to an account whether it is maintained by a
person:
(a) alone; or
(b) jointly with another person; or
(c) in common with another person.
(1) This section applies to a person if:
(a) either:
(i) the person is receiving, or has made a claim for, a social security
payment; or
(ii) the person is the holder of, or has made a claim for, a concession
card; and
(b) the person is not a person to whom section 63 applies.
(2) If the Secretary is of the opinion that a person to whom this section
applies should:
(a) attend an office of the Department; or
(b) contact the Department; or
(c) attend a particular place for a particular purpose; or
(d) give information to the Secretary;
the Secretary may give the person written notice that he or she is
required, within a specified time, to:
(e) attend that office; or
(f) contact the Department; or
(g) attend that place for that purpose; or
(h) give that information;
as the case may be.
(3) If:
(a) a person is receiving, or has made a claim for, a social security
payment; and
(b) the Secretary gives the person a notice under subsection (2);
and
(c) the requirement of the notice is reasonable; and
(d) the person does not comply with the requirement;
the following paragraphs have effect:
(e) if the person is receiving a newstart allowance or a youth allowance,
the allowance is not payable, and if, at a later time, a newstart allowance or
youth allowance becomes payable to the person, an administrative breach rate
reduction period applies to the person;
(f) in any other case, the payment that the person is receiving or has
claimed is not payable.
(4) If:
(a) a person is the holder of, or has made a claim for, a concession card;
and
(b) the Secretary gives the person a notice under subsection (2);
and
(c) the requirement of the notice is reasonable; and
(d) the person does not comply with the requirement;
the person ceases to be qualified, or is not qualified, as the case
requires, for a concession card.
(5) The Secretary may give a person a notice under subsection (2) by
sending the notice by prepaid post addressed to the person at the postal address
of the person last known to the Secretary. This subsection does not prevent the
Secretary from giving the person notice in any other way.
(6) The Secretary may determine:
(a) that a social security payment that was not payable because of
paragraph (3)(f) is payable to a person; or
(b) that an administrative breach rate reduction period does not apply to
a person under paragraph (3)(e);
if the Secretary is satisfied that the person had a reasonable excuse for
not complying with the requirement of the notice under subsection (2).
(7) The Secretary may determine that a person who, by virtue of subsection
(4), has ceased to be, or is not, qualified for a concession card is qualified
for such a card if the Secretary is satisfied that the person has a reasonable
excuse for not complying with the requirement of the notice under subsection
(2).
(8) A notice under subsection (2) must inform the person to whom it is
given of the effect of this section.
(1) This section applies to a person if:
(a) the person has made a claim for a disability support pension and the
claim has not been determined; or
(b) the person is receiving a disability support pension; or
(c) the person has made a claim for sickness allowance; or
(d) the person is receiving sickness allowance; or
(e) the person has made a claim for a newstart allowance but is
temporarily incapacitated for work because of sickness or the occurrence of an
accident; or
(f) the person is receiving a newstart allowance and is exempt from the
activity test under Subdivision BA of Division 1 of Part 2.12 of the 1991 Act;
or
(g) the person has made a claim for youth allowance and:
(i) is temporarily incapacitated for work; or
(ii) does not have the capacity to undertake the course of education as
part of which he or she is undertaking full-time study; or
(h) the person is receiving a youth allowance and has a temporary
incapacity exemption under section 542A of the 1991 Act.
(2) If:
(a) this section applies to a person; and
(b) the Secretary is of the opinion that the person should:
(i) attend an office of the Department; or
(ii) contact the Department; or
(iii) attend a particular place for a particular purpose; or
(iv) complete a questionnaire; or
(v) undergo a medical, psychiatric or psychological examination;
or
(vi) give information to the Secretary;
the Secretary may give the person written notice that the person is
required, within a specified time, to:
(c) attend that office; or
(d) contact the Department; or
(e) attend that place for that purpose; or
(f) complete that questionnaire; or
(g) undergo that examination and provide to the Secretary the report, in
the approved form, of the person who conducts the examination; or
(h) give that information to the Secretary;
as the case may be.
(3) The Secretary may give a person notice for the purposes of subsection
(2) by sending the notice by prepaid post addressed to the person at his or her
postal address last known to the Secretary. This subsection does not prevent the
Secretary from giving the person notice in any other way.
(4) If:
(a) the Secretary gives a person a notice under subsection (2);
and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable for this section to
apply to the person; and
(c) the person does not take reasonable steps to comply with the
requirement of the notice;
the following paragraphs have effect:
(d) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(a), a
disability support pension is not payable to the person;
(e) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(b), disability
support pension ceases to be payable to the person;
(f) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(c), sickness
allowance is not payable to the person;
(g) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(d), sickness
allowance ceases to be payable to the person;
(h) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(e), a newstart
allowance is not payable to the person;
(i) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(f), the person
ceases to be exempt from the activity test referred to in that
paragraph;
(j) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(g), youth
allowance is not payable to the person;
(k) if the person is a person referred to in paragraph (1)(h), the person
ceases to have the temporary incapacity exemption referred to in that
paragraph.
(5) A notice under subsection (2) must inform the person to whom it is
given of the effect of this section.
(1) Subject to subsection (3), a claim for sickness allowance must be
supported by the certificate of a medical practitioner which states:
(a) the medical practitioner’s diagnosis; and
(b) the medical practitioner’s prognosis; and
(c) that the person is incapacitated for work; and
(d) the period for which the person is incapacitated for work.
(2) A certificate for the purpose of subsection (1) must be in accordance
with a form approved by the Secretary.
(3) A person’s claim for sickness allowance need not be supported by
a medical certificate if the person is claiming to be qualified for sickness
allowance under section 667 of the 1991 Act.
(4) The Secretary may, in special circumstances, direct that subsection
(1) or (2) does not apply in relation to a claim.
(1) This section applies to the following social security
payments:
(a) age pension;
(b) bereavement allowance;
(c) carer payment:
(d) disability support pension;
(e) parenting payment;
(f) special needs age pension;
(g) special needs disability support pension;
(h) special needs widow B pension;
(i) special needs wife pension;
(j) widow allowance;
(k) widow B pension;
(l) wife pension.
(2) If:
(a) a person claims, or is receiving, a social security payment to which
this section applies; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the person may be entitled to a
comparable foreign payment from a CFP country if the person applied for the
payment;
the Secretary may give the person a notice that requires the person to take
reasonable action to obtain the payment at the highest rate applicable to the
person.
(3) If:
(a) a person claims, or is receiving, a social security payment to which
this section applies; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the person’s partner may be
entitled to a comparable foreign payment from a CFP country if the partner
applied for the payment;
the Secretary may give the person a notice that requires the partner to
take reasonable action to obtain the payment at the highest rate applicable to
the partner.
(4) A notice under subsection (2) or (3):
(a) must be given in writing; and
(b) may be given personally or by post or in any manner approved by the
Secretary; and
(c) must specify the period within which the reasonable action is to be
taken.
(5) The period specified under paragraph (4)(c) must not end earlier than
14 days after the day on which the notice is given.
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a person if:
(a) the person has made a claim for a social security payment;
and
(b) either:
(i) the claim has been granted; or
(ii) the claim has not been determined.
(2) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice in writing that requires the person to do either or both of the
following:
(a) inform the Department if:
(i) a specified event or change of circumstances occurs; or
(ii) the person becomes aware that a specified event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might affect the
payment to the person of the social security payment.
(3) Subsection (4) applies to a person if:
(a) the person has made a claim for a concession card; and
(b) either:
(i) the claim has been granted; or
(ii) the claim has not been determined.
(4) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice in writing that requires the person to do either or both of the
following:
(a) inform the Department if:
(i) a specified event or change of circumstances occurs; or
(ii) the person becomes aware that a specified event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might affect the
person’s qualification for the concession card.
(5) An event or change of circumstances is not to be specified in a notice
under this section unless the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances
might affect the payment of the social security payment or the person’s
qualification for the concession card, as the case requires.
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a person to whom a social security payment
is being paid.
(2) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice that requires the person to do either or both of the following:
(a) inform the Department if:
(i) a specified event or change of circumstances occurs; or
(ii) the person becomes aware that a specified event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might affect the
payment to the person of the social security payment.
(3) Subsection (4) applies to a person who is the holder of a concession
card.
(4) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice that requires the person to do either or both of the following:
(a) inform the Department if:
(i) a specified event or change of circumstances occurs; or
(ii) the person becomes aware that a specified event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might affect the
person’s qualification for the concession card.
(5) An event or change of circumstances is not to be specified in a notice
under this section unless the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances
might affect the payment of the social security payment or the person’s
qualification for the concession card, as the case requires.
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a person who is not receiving a social
security payment but to whom a social security payment has at any time been
paid.
(2) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice that requires the person to do either or both of the following:
(a) inform the Department whether a specified event or change of
circumstances has occurred;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might have
affected the payment to the person of the social security payment.
(3) Subsection (4) applies to a person who is not the holder of a
concession card but has at any time held such a card.
(4) The Secretary may give a person to whom this subsection applies a
notice that requires the person to do either or both of the following:
(a) inform the Department whether a specified event or change of
circumstances has occurred;
(b) give the Department a statement about a matter that might have
affected the person’s qualification for the concession card.
(5) An event or change of circumstances is not to be specified in a notice
under this section unless the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances
might have affected the payment of the social security payment or the
person’s qualification for the concession card, as the case
requires.
(6) A person is not required to comply with a notice under this section if
the notice requires the person to give information or a statement about an event
or change of circumstances that occurred, or a matter that arose, more than 13
weeks before the giving of the notice.
If a person is being paid a carer payment because he or she is providing
constant care for a care receiver (other than one to whom subsection 198(7) of
the 1991 Act applies) or care receivers, the Secretary may give a notice
to:
(a) any care receiver who is 16 or more; or
(b) a parent of any care receiver who is under 16;
that requires the care receiver or parent, as the case may be, to inform
the Department if:
(c) a specified event or change of circumstances occurs; or
(d) he or she becomes aware that a specified event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur.
The Secretary may give a person who is receiving family allowance or
family tax payment a notice that requires the person to inform the Department if
the person has changed or changes his or her address.
(1) A notice under this Subdivision:
(a) must be given in writing; and
(b) may be given personally or by post or in any other manner approved by
the Secretary; and
(c) must specify how the person is to give the information or statement to
the Department; and
(d) must specify the period within which the person is to give the
information or statement to the Department; and
(e) must specify that the notice is an information notice given under the
social security law.
(2) A notice under this Subdivision is not invalid merely because it fails
to comply with paragraph (1)(c) or (e).
(3) Subject to subsections (4), (5), (6) and (7), the period specified for
the purpose of paragraph (1)(d) must:
(a) in the case of a notice under section 66, 67 or 68 that requires the
giving of information about an event or change of circumstances consisting of
the receipt by the person of a compensation payment—be the period of 7
days after the day on which the person becomes aware that he or she has
received, or is to receive, a compensation payment; or
(b) in the case of a notice under section 66, 67 or 68 that requires the
giving of any other information, or a notice under section 69—be the
period of 14 days after:
(i) the day on which the event or change of circumstances occurs;
or
(ii) the day on which the person becomes aware that the event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur;
as the case may be; or
(c) in the case of a notice under section 66 or 67 that requires the
giving of a statement that relates to the payment of the social security payment
in respect of a period specified in the notice—end not earlier than 7 days
after the day on which the notice is given; or
(d) in the case of a notice under section 66, 67 or 68 that requires the
giving of a statement, not being a notice to which paragraph (c)
applies—end not earlier than 14 days after the day on which the notice is
given;
(e) in the case of a notice under section 70—be the period of 14
days after:
(i) the day on which the recipient of the notice changed or changes his or
her address; or
(ii) the day on which the notice is given;
whichever is the later.
(4) If the Secretary is satisfied that there are special circumstances
related to a person who is to be given a notice under this Subdivision (other
than a notice under section 70) that requires the giving of information about an
event or change of circumstances, the period to be specified for the purpose of
paragraph (1)(d) is such period as the Secretary directs in writing, being a
period that ends not less than 15 days, and not more than 28 days,
after:
(a) in the case of a notice under section 66 or 67:
(i) the day on which the event or change of circumstances occurs;
or
(ii) the day on which the person becomes aware that the event or change of
circumstances is likely to occur; or
(b) in the case of a notice under section 68—the day on which the
notice is given.
(5) If the Secretary is satisfied that, having regard to:
(a) special circumstances related to the person to whom a notice under
section 70 is to be given; or
(b) the likely circumstances of the person when the notice is
given;
it is desirable that the period specified in the notice for the purpose of
paragraph (1)(d) be extended, the period to be so specified is such period as
the Secretary directs in writing, being a period that ends not earlier than 15
days, and not later than 28 days, after:
(c) the day on which the recipient of the notice changed or changes his or
her address; or
(d) the day on which the notice is given;
whichever is the later.
(6) If a notice under section 66 or 67 specifies an event consisting of
the death of a person, the period to be specified under paragraph (1)(d) is a
period of 28 days after the day on which the event occurs.
(7) To the extent that a notice under section 66, 67 or 70 requires a
person to inform the Department of any proposal by the person to leave
Australia, subsection (3) does not apply to the notice.
(8) For the purposes of any provision of this Act, other than section 73
or a provision of Part 6, a person is taken to have failed to comply with a
notice under this Subdivision if the person, in response to the notice,
knowingly or recklessly gives information or a statement that is false or
misleading.
(9) Nothing in this section prevents the giving of more than one notice
under this Subdivision to the same person in relation to:
(a) a claim by the person for the same social security payment or
concession card; or
(b) the receipt by the person of the same social security payment;
or
(c) the holding by the person of the same concession card.
Sections 66 to 71 extend to:
(a) acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia, whether or not
in a foreign country; and
(b) all persons irrespective of their nationality or
citizenship.
A person must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply
with a notice under section 66, 67, 68 or 69 to the extent that the person is
capable of complying with the notice.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
(1) This section applies to a person in Australia who:
(a) has made a claim for a social security payment; or
(b) is receiving a social security payment.
(2) The Secretary may request, but not compel, a person to whom this
section applies:
(a) if the person has a tax file number—to give the Secretary a
written statement of the person’s tax file number; or
(b) if the person does not have a tax file number:
(i) to apply to the Commissioner of Taxation for a tax file number;
and
(ii) to give the Secretary a written statement of the person’s tax
file number after the Commissioner of Taxation has issued it.
(3) If:
(a) this section applies to a person; and
(b) the person is a member of a couple; and
(c) the person’s partner is in Australia;
the Secretary may request, but not compel, the person to give the Secretary
a written statement of the tax file number of the person’s
partner.
(4) If:
(a) this section applies to a person (the recipient) because
the person is receiving a social security payment; and
(b) the income of a person (other than the recipient) is required to be
taken into account for the purpose of working out the rate of the
recipient’s social security payment; and
(c) the person referred to in paragraph (b) is in Australia;
the Secretary may request, but not compel, the recipient to give the
Secretary a written statement of the tax file number or numbers of each person
who is a person referred to in paragraph (b).
(1) If the Secretary makes a request under subsection 74(2) of a person
who has made a claim for, or is receiving, a social security payment, the social
security payment is not payable to the person unless, within 28 days after the
request is made:
(a) the person satisfies the request; or
(b) the person satisfies subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
(2) A person satisfies this subsection if:
(a) the person has given the Secretary an employment declaration;
and
(b) the declaration states that the person:
(i) has a tax file number but does not know what it is; and
(ii) has asked the Commissioner of Taxation to inform the person of the
person’s tax file number; and
(c) the person has given the Secretary a document that authorises the
Commissioner of Taxation to tell the Secretary:
(i) whether the person has a tax file number; and
(ii) if the person has a tax file number—that number; and
(d) the Commissioner of Taxation has not told the Secretary that the
person has no tax file number.
(3) A person satisfies this subsection if:
(a) the person has given the Secretary an employment declaration;
and
(b) the declaration states that an application by the person for a tax
file number is pending; and
(c) the person has given the Secretary a document that authorises the
Commissioner of Taxation to tell the Secretary:
(i) if a tax file number is issued to the person—that number;
or
(ii) if the application is refused—that the application has been
refused; or
(iii) if the application is withdrawn—that the application has been
withdrawn; and
(d) the Commissioner has not told the Secretary that the person has not
applied for a tax file number, that an application by the person for a tax file
number has been refused or that the person has withdrawn an application for a
tax file number.
(1) If the Secretary makes a request under subsection 74(3) of a person
who has made a claim for, or is receiving, a social security payment, the social
security payment is not payable to the person unless, within 28 days after the
request is made:
(a) the person satisfies the request; or
(b) the person satisfies subsection (3) or (4) of this section;
or
(c) the Secretary exempts the person from the need to satisfy the
request.
(2) If the Secretary makes a request under subsection 74(4) of a person
who is receiving a social security payment, the social security payment is not
payable to the person unless, within 28 days after the request is
made:
(a) the person satisfies the request; or
(b) the person satisfies subsection (3) or (4) of this section;
or
(c) the Secretary exempts the person from the need to satisfy the
request.
(3) A person satisfies this subsection if:
(a) the person has given the Secretary a declaration by the related person
in accordance with a form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) the declaration states that the related person:
(i) has a tax file number but does not know what it is; and
(ii) has asked the Commissioner of Taxation to inform the related person
of his or her tax file number; and
(c) the person has given the Secretary a document in which the related
person authorises the Commissioner of Taxation to tell the Secretary:
(i) whether the related person has a tax file number; and
(ii) if the related person has a tax file number—that number;
and
(d) the Commissioner of Taxation has not told the Secretary that the
related person has no tax file number.
(4) A person satisfies this subsection if:
(a) the person has given the Secretary a declaration by the related person
in accordance with a form approved by the Secretary; and
(b) the declaration states that an application by the related person for a
tax file number is pending; and
(c) the person has given the Secretary a document in which the related
person authorises the Commissioner of Taxation to tell the Secretary:
(i) if a tax file number is issued to the related person—that
number; or
(ii) if the application is refused—that the application has been
refused; or
(iii) if the application is withdrawn—that the application has been
withdrawn; and
(d) the Commissioner of Taxation has not told the Secretary that an
application by the related person for a tax file number has been refused or
withdrawn.
(5) The Secretary may exempt a person from compliance with a request for a
statement of a related person’s tax file number if the Secretary is
satisfied that:
(a) the person does not know the related person’s tax file number;
and
(b) the person can obtain none of the following from the related
person:
(i) the related person’s tax file number;
(ii) a statement of the related person’s tax file number;
(iii) a declaration by the related person under paragraph (3)(a) or
(4)(a).
(6) In this section:
related person means:
(a) in relation to a person of whom a request has been made under
subsection 74(3)—the person’s partner; or
(b) in relation to a person of whom a request has been made under
subsection 74(4)—a person who is a person referred to in paragraph
74(4)(b).
If the Secretary is satisfied that the rate at which a social security
payment is being, or has been, paid is less than the rate provided for by the
social security law, the Secretary must:
(a) determine that the rate is to be increased to the rate provided for by
the social security law; and
(b) specify the last-mentioned rate in the determination.
(1) If the Secretary is satisfied that the rate at which a social security
payment is being, or has been, paid is more than the rate provided for by the
social security law, the Secretary is to:
(a) determine that the rate is to be reduced to the rate provided for by
the social security law; and
(b) specify the last-mentioned rate in the determination.
(2) Subsection (1) does not authorise the Secretary to make a
determination if:
(a) the rate at which a social security payment is payable to a person is
reduced by the operation of another provision of the social security law;
and
(b) the determination would take effect at or after the time at which the
reduction referred to in paragraph (a) would take effect.
(1) If the Secretary is satisfied that a social security payment is being,
or has been, paid to a person:
(a) who is not, or was not, qualified for the payment; or
(b) to whom the payment is not, or was not, payable;
the Secretary is to determine that the payment is to be cancelled or
suspended.
(2) Subsection (1) does not authorise the Secretary to make a
determination if:
(a) the payment of a social security payment to a person has been
cancelled or suspended by the operation of another provision of the social
security law; and
(b) the determination would take effect at or after the time at which the
cancellation or suspension referred to in paragraph (a) would take
effect.
(1) If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment (other than a
newstart allowance) has been given:
(i) a notice under section 67 that requires the person to give the
Department a statement; or
(ii) a notice embodying a requirement under Division 1 of Part 5;
and
(b) the person does not comply with the requirement of the
notice;
the Secretary may determine that the payment is to be cancelled or
suspended.
(2) If:
(a) a person and his or her partner (the partner) are each
receiving a social security payment; and
(b) the partner has been given:
(i) a notice under section 67 that requires the partner to give the
Department a statement; or
(ii) a notice embodying a requirement under Division 1 of Part 5;
and
(c) the notice relates to matters that might also affect the payment of
the person’s social security payment; and
(d) the partner does not comply with the requirement of the
notice;
the Secretary may determine that the person’s payment is to be
cancelled or suspended.
(3) If:
(a) a person who is receiving family allowance or family tax payment has
been given a notice under section 70; and
(b) the person has not informed the Department, in accordance with the
notice, that the person has changed his or her address; and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that mail from the Secretary or an officer
addressed to the person has been returned to the Secretary or officer because
the person has changed his or her address;
the Secretary may determine that the family allowance or family tax
payment, as the case may be, is to be suspended.
(4) The Secretary may make a determination under subsection (3) even if
the Secretary is not satisfied that:
(a) the person concerned has ceased to be qualified for family allowance
or family tax payment; or
(b) family allowance or family tax payment has ceased to be payable to the
person.
(5) Subsection (3) does not limit the Secretary’s power to suspend
or cancel a person’s family allowance or family tax payment under section
79.
(6) If:
(a) a person’s family allowance or family tax payment is suspended
under subsection (3); and
(b) the family allowance or family tax payment has been suspended for a
period of 52 weeks;
the family allowance or family tax payment, as the case may be, is
cancelled, by force of this subsection, on the day immediately after the end of
the last instalment period in respect of which the person received an instalment
of family allowance or family tax payment, as the case may be.
(1) If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment has been given a
notice under subsection 65(2); and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the person has not complied with the
requirement of the notice;
the Secretary may determine that the social security payment is to be
cancelled.
(2) If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment has been given a
notice under subsection 65(3); and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the person’s partner has not
complied with the requirement of the notice;
the Secretary may determine that the social security payment is to be
cancelled.
(1) If:
(a) payment of a social security payment is based upon data in a computer;
and
(b) the rate of the payment is increased or reduced, or the payment is
cancelled or suspended, because of the operation of a computer program used
under the control of the Secretary; and
(c) the program causes the change for a reason for which the Secretary
could make the change by determination;
the change is taken to have been made by the Secretary by determination for
that reason.
(2) A determination that is taken, by virtue of subsection (1), to have
been made is taken to have been made on the day on which the computer program
caused the change to be made.
(1) If:
(a) payment of a social security payment to a person is based upon data in
a computer; and
(b) because of the operation of a computer program used under the control
of the Secretary, a social security payment of a different kind becomes payable
to the person;
the Secretary is taken to have made a determination:
(c) that the payment referred to in paragraph (b) is to be payable to the
person; and
(d) that the payment referred to in paragraph (a) is to cease to be
payable to the person immediately before the day on which the payment referred
to in paragraph (b) is to become payable to the person.
(2) A determination that is taken, by virtue of subsection (1), to have
been made is taken to have been made on the day on which the payment referred to
in paragraph (1)(b) became payable because of the operation of the computer
program.
(1) If:
(a) a social security payment ceases to be payable to a person under
section 92 or the Secretary cancels or suspends a person’s social security
payment under section 79, 80 or 81; and
(b) the Secretary reconsiders the decision; and
(c) as a result of the reconsideration, the Secretary is satisfied that,
because of the decision:
(i) the person did not receive a social security payment that was payable
to the person; or
(ii) the person is not receiving a social security payment that is payable
to the person;
the Secretary is to determine that the social security payment was or is
payable to the person, as the case requires.
(2) The reconsideration referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may be a
reconsideration on an application under section 127 or a reconsideration on the
Secretary’s own initiative.
(1) If the Secretary is satisfied that a person to whom a concession card
has been granted is not qualified for the card, the Secretary is to determine
that the card is to be cancelled.
(2) Subsection (1) does not authorise the Secretary to make a
determination if:
(a) the card has been cancelled by the operation of another provision of
the social security law; and
(b) the determination would take effect at or after the time at which the
cancellation referred to in paragraph (a) would take effect.
If:
(a) a person who is the holder of a concession card has been
given:
(i) a notice under section 67 that requires the person to give the
Department a statement; or
(ii) a notice embodying a requirement under Division 1 of Part 5;
and
(b) the person does not comply with the requirement of the
notice;
the Secretary may determine that the person is to cease to be qualified for
the card.
If:
(a) a person is qualified for a concession card; and
(b) the person ceases to be qualified for the card because of the
operation of a computer program used under the control of the Secretary;
and
(c) the program causes the change for a reason for which the Secretary
could make the change by determination under section 86;
the change is taken to have been made by the Secretary by a determination
under section 86 made for that reason.
(1) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination under section 86 that a person is
to cease to be qualified for a concession card; and
(b) the Secretary reconsiders the decision; and
(c) as a result of the reconsideration, the Secretary is satisfied that,
because of the decision, the person was deprived of the concession card when he
or she was qualified for the card;
the Secretary is to determine that the person is qualified for the
card.
(2) The reconsideration referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may be a
reconsideration on an application under section 127 or a reconsideration without
any such application having been made.
(1) If:
(a) a person is receiving a social security pension or benefit (the
old payment); and
(b) either:
(i) a different kind of social security pension or benefit (the new
pension or benefit) becomes payable to the person; or
(ii) a service pension becomes payable to the person;
the old payment is cancelled, by force of this section, immediately before
the day on which the new pension or benefit or the service pension, as the case
may be, becomes payable to the person.
(2) In this section:
social security benefit does not include parenting
payment.
(1) If:
(a) a person who is a member of a couple is receiving parenting payment;
and
(b) a social security benefit (other than benefit (PP) partnered) becomes
payable to the person;
parenting payment is cancelled, by force of this section, immediately
before the day that is the person’s start day in relation to the benefit
referred to in paragraph (b).
(2) If:
(a) a person who is a member of a couple is receiving parenting payment;
and
(b) as a result of a social security pension or service pension becoming
payable to the person, the rate at which parenting payment is payable to the
person becomes nil;
parenting payment is cancelled by force of this section immediately before
the day on which the social security pension or the service pension, as the case
may be, becomes payable to the person.
If:
(a) a person who is a member of a couple is receiving parenting payment;
and
(b) as a result of a payment under the ABSTUDY scheme (the ABSTUDY
payment) that includes a dependent spouse allowance becoming payable to
the person’s partner, the rate at which parenting payment is payable to
the person becomes nil;
parenting payment is cancelled, by force of this section, immediately
before the day on which the ABSTUDY payment becomes payable to the
person’s partner.
If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment is given a notice
under subsection 67(2); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person informs the Department of the occurrence of the event or
change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance with the
notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of
circumstances:
(i) the person ceases to be qualified for the social security payment;
or
(ii) the payment would, but for this section, cease to be payable to the
person; and
(f) the social security payment is not cancelled before the end of the
instalment period for the person that is current when the event or change of
circumstances occurs;
the following paragraphs have effect:
(g) if the social security payment is cancelled during the instalment
period (the first period) following the instalment period in which
the event or change of circumstances occurs, the payment is payable to the
person until the end of the instalment period in which the event or change
occurs, and is then cancelled by force of this section;
(h) if the payment is not cancelled during the first period, the payment
is payable to the person until the end of the notification period, and is then
cancelled by force of this section.
If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment is given a notice
under subsection 67(2); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person does not inform the Department of the occurrence of the
event or change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance
with the notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of
circumstances:
(i) the person ceases to be qualified for the social security payment;
or
(ii) the social security payment ceases to be payable to the
person;
the social security payment ceases to be payable to the person on the day
on which the event or change of circumstances occurs.
(1) If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment is given a notice
under subsection 67(2) requiring the person to give the Department a statement;
and
(b) the notice relates to the payment of that social security payment in
respect of a period specified in the notice; and
(c) the person does not comply with the notice;
then, subject to subsection (2), the social security payment is cancelled
by force of this section on and from the first day in that period.
(2) If the Secretary is satisfied that, in the special circumstances of
the case, it is appropriate to do so, the Secretary may determine in writing
that subsection (1) does not apply to the person on and from a day specified in
the determination.
(3) The day specified under subsection (2) may be before or after the
making of the determination.
(1) If:
(a) a person ceases to be qualified for disability support pension because
the person obtains paid work that is for at least 30 hours per week;
and
(b) the person has, within the notification period referred to in section
92, informed the Secretary that the person has obtained that work;
the Secretary may determine:
(c) that section 92 does not apply to the person’s disability
support pension; and
(d) that the person’s disability support pension is to be
suspended.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person if:
(a) the Secretary gives written notice to the person that the person is no
longer qualified for disability support pension; and
(b) the Secretary’s notice is given before the person informs the
Secretary that the person has obtained work.
(3) If:
(a) disability support pension ceases to be payable to a person because
the rate of the pension is nil as a result of the income, or increased income,
earned by the person from his or her employment; and
(b) the person has informed the Secretary about the income or increased
income within the notification period referred to in section 92;
the Secretary may determine:
(c) that section 92 does not apply to the person’s disability
support pension; and
(d) that the person’s disability support pension is to be
suspended.
(4) If:
(a) the Secretary suspends a person’s disability support pension
under subsection (1) or (3); and
(b) the determination suspending the disability support pension continues
in effect throughout the period of 2 years from the date of effect of the
determination;
then, at the end of that period of 2 years, the determination granting the
person disability support pension is, by force of this section,
revoked.
(5) If:
(a) the Secretary suspends a person’s disability support pension
under subsection (1) or (3); and
(b) the person has a partner who is receiving:
(i) age pension; or
(ii) disability support pension; or
(iii) service pension;
then, for the period of the suspension, the partner is taken to be
partnered (partner getting neither pension nor benefit).
(6) If:
(a) the Secretary suspends a person’s disability support pension
under subsection (1) or (3); and
(b) the person has a partner who was, immediately before the suspension,
receiving wife pension or carer payment;
the Secretary must determine that the partner’s wife pension or carer
payment, as the case may be, is not to be cancelled but is to be
suspended.
(1) If:
(a) a person ceases to be qualified for disability support pension because
the person obtains paid work that is for at least 30 hours per week;
and
(b) disability support pension ceases to be payable to the person under
section 92; and
(c) within the period of 2 years after the pension ceases to be payable,
the person ceases to do work of the kind referred to in paragraph (a);
the Secretary may determine that the person is to be treated as
if:
(d) section 92 had not applied to the person’s disability support
pension; and
(e) the disability support pension had been suspended under section
95.
(2) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (1) in respect of
a person; and
(b) the person’s partner had ceased to be qualified for wife pension
or carer payment when the person ceased to be qualified for disability support
pension because the person obtained paid work;
the Secretary may determine that the partner is to be treated as if the
partner’s wife pension or carer payment, as the case may be, had not been
cancelled but had been suspended under section 95.
(3) If:
(a) disability support pension ceased to be payable to a person under
section 92 because the rate of the pension was nil as a result of the income, or
increased income, earned by the person from his or her employment; and
(b) within the period of 2 years after the pension ceased to be payable,
the income earned by the person from his or her employment is reduced to a rate
that would not preclude the person from receiving disability support
pension;
the Secretary may determine that the person is to be treated as
if:
(c) section 92 had not applied to the person’s disability support
pension; and
(d) the disability support pension had been suspended under section
95.
(4) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (3) in respect of
a person; and
(b) the person’s partner had ceased to be qualified for wife pension
or carer payment when disability support pension ceased to be payable to the
person for the reason mentioned in paragraph (3)(a);
the Secretary may determine that the partner is to be treated as if the
partner’s wife pension or carer payment, as the case may be, had not been
cancelled but had been suspended under section 95.
If:
(a) a person is receiving a social security payment; and
(b) the person’s partner starts to receive:
(i) a social security pension or benefit; or
(ii) a service pension; and
(c) the person’s social security payment rate is reduced because of
the partner’s receipt of the pension or benefit;
the social security payment becomes payable to the person at the reduced
rate on the day on which the partner starts to receive the pension or
benefit.
If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment is given a notice
under subsection 67(2); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person informs the Department of the occurrence of the event or
change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance with the
notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances, the
rate of the social security payment is to be reduced; and
(f) the person’s rate of payment is not reduced before the end of
the instalment period for the person that is current when the event or change of
circumstances occurs;
the following paragraphs have effect:
(g) if the person’s rate of payment is reduced during the instalment
period (the first period) following the instalment period in which
the event or change of circumstances occurs, the payment becomes payable to the
person at the reduced rate immediately after the end of the instalment period in
which the event or change occurs;
(h) if the person’s rate of payment is not reduced during the first
period, the payment becomes payable to the person at the reduced rate
immediately after the end of the notification period.
If:
(a) a person who is receiving a social security payment is given a notice
under subsection 67(2); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person does not inform the Department of the occurrence of the
event or change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance
with the notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances, the
rate of the social security payment is to be reduced; and
(f) the person’s rate of payment is not reduced before the end of
the instalment period for the person that is current when the event or change of
circumstances occurs;
the social security payment becomes payable to the person at the reduced
rate on the day on which the event or change of circumstances occurs.
If:
(a) a person who is a member of a couple is receiving parenting payment;
and
(b) as a result of a social security pension or a service pension becoming
payable to the person, the rate at which parenting payment is payable to the
person is reduced;
parenting payment becomes payable to the person at the reduced rate on the
day on which the social security pension or the service pension, as the case may
be, becomes payable to the person.
If:
(a) a person who is a member of a couple is receiving parenting payment;
and
(b) as a result of a payment under the ABSTUDY scheme (the ABSTUDY
payment) that includes a dependent spouse allowance becoming payable to
the person’s partner, the rate at which parenting payment is payable to
the person is reduced;
parenting payment becomes payable to the person at the reduced rate on the
day on which the ABSTUDY payment becomes payable to the person’s
partner.
(1) If:
(a) a person is receiving a social security payment on the basis of data
in a computer; and
(b) the payment is cancelled, or the payment rate is reduced, by the
operation of a provision of the social security law; and
(c) the cancellation or reduction is given effect by the operation of a
computer program used under the control of the Secretary stopping payment or
reducing the rate of payment;
the Secretary is taken to have made a determination that the provision
referred to in paragraph (b) applies to the person’s social security
payment.
(2) A determination that is taken, by virtue of subsection (1), to have
been made is taken to have been made on the day on which the cancellation or
reduction took effect.
If:
(a) a person who is the holder of a concession card is given a notice
under subsection 67(4); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person informs the Department of the occurrence of the event or
change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance with the
notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances, the
person would, but for this section, cease to be qualified for the card;
and
(f) the person does not cease to hold the card before the end of the
notification period;
the person continues to be qualified for the card until the end of the
notification period, and then ceases to be so qualified.
If:
(a) a person who is the holder of a concession card is given a notice
under subsection 67(4); and
(b) the notice requires the person to inform the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances within a specified period (the
notification period); and
(c) the event or change of circumstances occurs; and
(d) the person does not inform the Department of the occurrence of the
event or change of circumstances within the notification period in accordance
with the notice; and
(e) because of the occurrence of the event or change of circumstances, the
person ceases to be qualified for the card;
the person ceases to be qualified for the card on the day on which the
event or change of circumstances occurs.
(1) If:
(a) a person is qualified for a concession card on the basis of data in a
computer; and
(b) the person ceases, by virtue of section 103 or 104, to be qualified
for the card; and
(c) the cessation is given effect by the operation of a computer program
under the control of the Secretary causing the person to be notified of the
cessation;
the Secretary is taken to have made a determination that the provision
referred to in paragraph (b) applies to the person’s concession
card.
(2) A determination that is taken, by virtue of subsection (1), to have
been made is taken to have been made on the day on which the cessation took
effect.
(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), a determination under section
36 takes effect on the day on which the determination is made or on such earlier
or later day as is specified in the determination.
(2) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made rejecting a
person’s claim for a social security payment or a concession card;
and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) within 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to the
Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision; and
(d) a decision that the claim be granted is made as a result of the
application for review;
the determination embodying the last-mentioned decision takes effect on the
day on which the determination embodying the original decision took
effect.
(3) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made rejecting a
person’s claim for a social security payment or concession card;
and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) more than 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to
the Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision;
and
(d) a decision that the claim be granted is made as a result of the
application for review;
the determination embodying the last-mentioned decision takes effect on the
day on which the application for review was made.
(4) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made rejecting a
person’s claim for a social security payment or concession card;
and
(b) no notice is given to the person informing the person of the original
decision; and
(c) the person applies to the Secretary, under section 127, for review of
the original decision; and
(d) a decision that the claim be granted is made as a result of the
application for review;
the determination embodying the last-mentioned decision takes effect on the
day on which the determination embodying the original decision took
effect.
(5) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made rejecting a
person’s claim for a social security payment or concession card;
and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) the Secretary reviews the decision under section 124 without any
application under section 127 for review of the decision having been made;
and
(d) as a result of the review, a decision that the claim be granted is
made more than 13 weeks after notice of the original decision was given to the
person;
the determination embodying the last-mentioned decision takes effect on the
day on which the determination embodying the original decision took
effect.
In this Subdivision:
favourable determination means a determination under section
77 or 84.
(1) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s social security payment; and
(b) a notice is given to the person informing the person of the original
decision; and
(c) within 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to the
Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision; and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
(2) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s social security payment; and
(b) a notice is given to the person informing the person of the original
decision; and
(c) more than 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to
the Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision;
and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
application for review was made.
(3) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s social security payment; and
(b) the person is not given notice of the original decision; and
(c) the person applies to the Secretary, under section 127, for review of
the original decision; and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
(4) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s social security payment; and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) the Secretary reviews the decision under section 124 without any
application under section 127 for review of the decision having been made;
and
(d) as a result of the review, the favourable determination is made within
13 weeks after notice of the original decision was given to the
person;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
(5) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s social security payment; and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) the Secretary reviews the decision under section 124 without any
application under section 127 for review of the decision having been made;
and
(d) as a result of the review, the favourable determination is made more
than 13 weeks after notice of the original decision was given to the
person;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the review
was begun by the Secretary.
(6) If the favourable determination is made to reverse the effect of a
determination that cancelled or suspended a social security pension because the
payment ceased to be payable under section 1218 of the 1991 Act, the favourable
determination takes effect on the day specified in the favourable determination.
The day specified must be a day on or after the day on which the cancellation or
suspension of the social security payment took effect.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (11) (inclusive), if a favourable
determination is made following a person having informed the Department of the
occurrence of an event or change of circumstances, the determination takes
effect:
(a) on the day on which the person so informed the Department;
or
(b) on the day on which the event or change occurred;
whichever is the later.
(2) If a favourable determination is made following a person having given
the Department a statement about a matter in accordance with a notice under
section 67 that relates to the payment of a social security payment in respect
of a period specified in the notice, the determination takes effect on the day
on which the matter arose.
(3) If:
(a) a person and his or her partner (the partner) are each
receiving a social security payment; and
(b) the partner has been given a notice under section 67 that requires the
partner to give the Department a statement; and
(c) the notice relates to the payment of the partner’s social
security payment in respect of a period specified in the notice; and
(d) the partner gives the Department a statement, in accordance with the
notice, about a matter that arose during the specified period; and
(e) following the giving of the statement, a favourable determination is
made in relation to the person’s social security payment;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the matter
arose.
(4) If:
(a) a favourable determination is made following the death of a
person’s partner (the partner); and
(b) the favourable determination is made because the person elects not to
receive bereavement payments; and
(c) within the bereavement period:
(i) the person notifies the Department, orally or in writing or in a
manner approved by the Secretary, of the partner’s death; or
(ii) the Secretary otherwise becomes aware of the death;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the partner
died.
(5) If:
(a) a favourable determination is made following the death of a
person’s partner (the partner); and
(b) immediately before the partner died, the partner:
(i) was not receiving a social security pension or a service pension;
and
(ii) was not a long-term social security recipient; and
(c) within the period of 4 weeks starting on the day after the day on
which the partner dies:
(i) the person notifies the Department, orally or in writing or in a
manner approved by the Secretary, of the partner’s death; or
(ii) the Secretary otherwise becomes aware of the death;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the partner
died.
(6) If:
(a) the favourable determination relates to family allowance or family tax
payment; and
(b) the favourable determination is made following the birth of a child;
and
(c) the recipient informed the Department of the birth of the child within
13 weeks after the birth;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the child was
born.
(7) If:
(a) the favourable determination relates to family allowance or family tax
payment; and
(b) as part of the process of the adoption of a child by the recipient of
the allowance or payment, the child is entrusted to the recipient’s care
by the appropriate authority; and
(c) the favourable determination is made because the child is an FA child
or FTP child of the recipient; and
(d) the recipient informed the Department of the circumstances in which
the child became an FA child or FTP child of the recipient within 13 weeks after
the day on which the child became such a child of the recipient;
the determination takes effect on the day referred to in paragraph
(d).
(8) If:
(a) a person (the youth allowance claimant) makes a claim
for youth allowance (the initial claim); and
(b) on the day on which the initial claim is made, the youth allowance
claimant is an FA child of another person; and
(c) the other person afterwards requests that his or her rate of family
allowance be increased on the ground that the youth allowance claimant is an FA
child of the other person; and
(d) a favourable determination is made as a result of the request;
and
(e) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable for this subsection
to apply to the other person;
the determination takes effect on a day specified in the determination (not
being a day before the day on which the initial claim was made).
(9) If:
(a) the favourable determination is made as a result of the Secretary
forming the opinion, for the purposes of subsection 5(12) of the 1991 Act, that
a young person will not, or would not, if an application were duly made, receive
payments under a prescribed educational scheme; and
(b) the Secretary is notified that the young person has been refused
payment under a prescribed educational scheme within 28 days after the person is
notified of that refusal;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the determination is
made or on such earlier or later day as is specified in the
determination.
(10) If:
(a) the favourable determination is made because, for the purposes of
subsection 5(11) of the 1991 Act, a young person is not qualified to receive a
payment under a prescribed educational scheme; and
(b) the young person, or another person or organisation, was previously in
receipt of a payment under a prescribed educational scheme in respect of the
young person but the payment has since ceased; and
(c) the Secretary was notified, within 28 days after the payment was
granted, that it was no longer being received;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the determination is
made or on such earlier or later day as is specified in the
determination.
(11) If:
(a) the favourable determination is made because, for the purposes of
subsection 5(11) of the 1991 Act, a young person is not qualified to receive
payments under any prescribed educational scheme; and
(b) no application has been made for payments in respect of that young
person under any prescribed educational scheme; and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable that no such
application has been made; and
(d) the young person ceased, within 13 weeks after becoming a prescribed
student child, to be a prescribed student child because the Secretary formed an
opinion for the purposes of paragraph 5(12)(c) of the 1991 Act;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the young person became
a prescribed student child.
(12) In this section:
appropriate authority, in relation to the adoption of a
child, means a person or agency that, under the law of the State, Territory or
country whose courts have jurisdiction in respect of the adoption, is authorised
to arrange the adoption of children.
If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination under section 77; and
(b) the determination is made because an amount has been indexed or
adjusted by the operation of Part 3.16 of the 1991 Act;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the amount was so
indexed or adjusted.
If the favourable determination is made following a person having given
the Department a statement about a matter in accordance with a notice under
section 67, the determination takes effect on the day on which the matter
arose.
If:
(a) a determination (the earlier determination) of a
person’s rate of family allowance is made; and
(b) in working out the rate of family allowance, regard is had to the
person’s income for a tax year; and
(c) the income to which regard was had included an amount of taxable
income assessed by the Commissioner; and
(d) the assessment is subsequently amended by:
(i) the Commissioner of Taxation; or
(ii) a tribunal; or
(iii) a court; and
(e) the person’s taxable income for that year according to the
assessment as amended is less than the person’s taxable income for that
year according to the assessment that was amended; and
(f) the Secretary makes a determination varying the person’s rate of
family allowance to give effect to the recalculation required by section 884 of
the 1991 Act;
the later determination takes effect:
(g) if the amendment of the assessment was made on application by the
person—on the day on which the earlier determination took effect;
or
(h) in any other case—on the day on which the person notifies the
Department or an officer of the amendment of the assessment.
(1) In the case of a favourable determination to which neither section
108, section 109 nor section 112 applies, the determination takes effect on the
day on which the determination is made or on such other day as is specified in
the determination.
(2) A day specified in a determination for the purpose of subsection (1)
may be:
(a) later than the day on which the determination is made; or
(b) not earlier than 13 weeks before the day on which the determination is
made.
In this Subdivision:
favourable determination means a determination under section
88.
(1) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s qualification for a concession card; and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) within 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to the
Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision; and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
(2) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s qualification for a concession card; and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) more than 13 weeks after the notice is given, the person applies to
the Secretary, under section 127, for review of the original decision;
and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
application for review was made.
(3) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s qualification for a concession card; and
(b) the person is not given any notice informing him or her of the
original decision; and
(c) the person applies to the Secretary, under section 127, for review of
the original decision; and
(d) the favourable determination is made as a result of the application
for review;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
(4) If:
(a) a decision (the original decision) is made in relation
to a person’s qualification for a concession card; and
(b) the person is given a notice informing him or her of the original
decision; and
(c) the Secretary reviews the decision under section 124 without any
application under section 127 for review of the decision having been
made;
(d) as a result of the review, the favourable decision is made more than
13 weeks after the notice of the original decision was given to the
person;
the favourable determination takes effect on the day on which the
determination embodying the original decision took effect.
In this Subdivision:
adverse determination means a determination under section 78,
79, 80 or 81.
(1) The day on which an adverse determination takes effect in relation to
a social security payment is worked out:
(a) in the case of family allowance—in accordance with this section
and section 118; and
(b) in the case of carer payment—in accordance with this section and
section 119; and
(c) in the case of any other social security payment—in accordance
with this section.
(2) If:
(a) an adverse determination is made following a person having informed
the Department of the occurrence of an event or change of circumstances;
and
(b) the person is not paid an instalment of the social security payment
after the occurrence of the event or change and before the determination is
made;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the event or change of
circumstances occurred.
(3) If:
(a) an adverse determination is made in relation to a person because of
point 1064-E3, 1066A-F2A, 1067G-H25, 1067L-D24, 1068-G8A, 1068A-E13 or 1068B-D21
of the 1991 Act; and
(b) a social security payment has been paid to the person or the
person’s partner when, because of the payment of arrears of periodic
compensation payments, the payment should have been cancelled or
suspended;
the determination takes effect on the first day of the periodic payments
period to which the arrears of periodic compensation payments relate.
(4) If:
(a) an adverse determination is made in relation to a person because of
point 1064-E3, 1066A-F2A, 1067G-H25, 1067L-D24, 1068-G8A, 1068A-E13 or 1068B-D21
of the 1991 Act; and
(b) the rate at which a social security payment was paid to the person or
the person’s partner was, because of the payment of arrears of periodic
compensation payments, higher than the rate at which the payment should have
been paid;
the determination takes effect on the first day of the periodic payments
period to which the arrears of periodic compensation payments relate.
(5) If the adverse determination is made following a person having given
the Department a statement about a matter in accordance with a notice under
section 67 that relates to the payment of the social security payment in respect
of a period specified in the notice, the determination takes effect on the day
on which the matter arose.
(6) If:
(a) a person and his or her partner (the partner) are each
receiving a social security payment; and
(b) the partner is given a notice under section 67 requiring the partner
to give the Department a statement; and
(c) the notice relates to the payment of the partner’s social
security payment in respect of a period specified in the notice; and
(d) the partner gives the Department a statement, in accordance with the
notice, about a matter that arose during the specified period; and
(e) following the giving of the statement, an adverse determination is
made in relation to the person’s social security payment;
the determination takes effect on the day on which the matter
arose.
(7) If:
(a) the person whose social security payment is affected by the adverse
determination has contravened a provision of this Act or a provision of the 1991
Act (other than an excluded provision); and
(b) the contravention causes a delay in the making of the
determination;
the adverse determination takes effect on such day (which may be earlier
than the day on which the determination is made) as is specified in the
determination.
(8) If:
(a) a person has made a false statement or misrepresentation;
and
(b) because of the false statement or misrepresentation, a social security
payment has been paid to a person when it should have been cancelled or
suspended;
the adverse determination takes effect on such day (which may be earlier
than the day on which the determination is made) as is specified in the
determination.
(9) If:
(a) a person has made a false statement or misrepresentation;
and
(b) because of the false statement or misrepresentation, the rate at which
a social security payment was paid to a person was higher than it should have
been;
the adverse determination takes effect on such day (which may be earlier
than the day on which the determination is made) as is specified in the
determination.
(10) If the adverse determination is made because, under section 1218 of
the 1991 Act, a social security payment ceases to be payable, the determination
takes effect on such day (which may be on or after the day on which the social
security payment ceases to be payable under that section) as is specified in the
determination.
(11) If:
(a) a person’s social security payment is suspended under section 80
or 81; and
(b) the payment is subsequently cancelled under section 79, 80 or
81;
the determination by which the payment is cancelled takes effect on the day
on which the payment was suspended.
(12) An adverse determination in relation to telephone allowance takes
effect:
(a) on the day on which it is made; or
(b) if a later day is specified in the determination, on that
day.
(13) In any other case, an adverse determination takes effect:
(a) on the day on which it is made; or
(b) if a later day is specified in the determination, on that
day.
(14) For the purposes of subsection (7), the excluded provisions
are:
(a) subsections 66(2), 67(2) and 68(2) of this Act to the extent that they
relate to the giving of a notice requiring a person to give a statement to the
Department; and
(b) sections 193, 194, 195 and 196 of this Act.
(1) If:
(a) a determination of a person’s rate of family allowance is made;
and
(b) in working out the rate of family allowance, regard is had to the
person’s income for a tax year; and
(c) the income to which regard is had includes an amount of taxable income
assessed by the Commissioner; and
(d) the assessment is subsequently amended by:
(i) the Commissioner of Taxation; or
(ii) a tribunal; or
(iii) a court; and
(e) the income for that year (including the taxable income according to
the assessment as amended) is more than 110% of the amount of the income on
which the earlier determination was based; and
(f) the Secretary makes a determination (the later
determination) varying the person’s rate of family allowance to
give effect to the recalculation required by section 884 of the 1991
Act;
the later determination takes effect on the day on which the earlier
determination took effect.
(2) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the earlier
determination) of a person’s rate of family allowance;
and
(b) in making the determination, the Secretary has regard to the
person’s income for a tax year; and
(c) the income to which regard is had includes an amount or amounts
estimated by the person; and
(d) the person’s income for the tax year is more than 110% of the
amount of the income on which the earlier determination was based; and
(e) the Secretary makes a determination (the later
determination) varying the person’s rate of family allowance, or
cancelling the person’s family allowance, to give effect to the
recalculation required by section 885 of the 1991 Act;
the later determination takes effect on the day on which the earlier
determination took effect.
(1) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the earlier
determination) that a person (the carer) is entitled to
carer payment because the carer is providing care for a care receiver or care
receivers; and
(b) the determination is based on an assessment of the taxable income of
the care receiver, or any of the care receivers, for a tax year; and
(c) the assessment is subsequently amended by the Commissioner of
Taxation, a tribunal or a court; and
(d) as a result of the amendment of the assessment, the taxable income of
the care receiver, or the sum of the taxable incomes of the care receivers, is
more than the income ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act; and
(e) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect on the day on which the earlier
determination took effect.
(2) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the earlier
determination) that a person (the carer) is entitled to
carer payment because the carer is providing care for a care receiver or care
receivers; and
(b) in making the determination, the Secretary had regard to the taxable
income of the care receiver, or the sum of the taxable incomes of the care
receivers, for a tax year; and
(c) the taxable income of the care receiver or any of the care receivers
is or includes an amount estimated by:
(i) in the case of a care receiver who is a higher ADAT score
adult—the care receiver or the care receiver’s partner; or
(ii) in the case of a care receiver who is a profoundly disabled child or
a disabled child—the parent of the care receiver, the parent’s
partner (if the parent is a member of a couple) or the carer; or
(iii) in the case of a care receiver who is a lower ADAT score
adult—the carer or the care receiver’s partner; or
(iv) in the case of a care receiver who is a dependent child of a lower
ADAT score adult—the carer or the care receiver’s parent;
and
(d) the Commissioner of Taxation subsequently makes an assessment of that
taxable income; and
(e) as a result of the assessment, the taxable income of the care receiver
or the sum of the taxable incomes of the care receivers is more than the income
ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act; and
(f) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect on the day on which the earlier
determination took effect.
(3) If:
(a) on the basis of the taxable income for a tax year of a care receiver
who is a higher ADAT score adult, the Secretary makes a determination that a
person (the carer) is entitled to carer payment because the carer
is providing care for the care receiver; and
(b) the care receiver’s taxable income for a later tax year exceeds
the income ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act; and
(c) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer’s carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect:
(d) if the Secretary made the determination under section 79 after the
carer or care receiver informed the Department that the care receiver’s
taxable income exceeded the income ceiling—on the day on which the carer
or care receiver informed the Department; or
(e) if, when the Secretary made the determination under section 79, the
Department had not been informed by the carer or the care receiver that the care
receiver’s taxable income exceeded the income ceiling—on the day on
which the care receiver’s taxable income exceeded the income
ceiling.
(4) If:
(a) on the basis of the taxable income for a tax year of a care receiver
who is a profoundly disabled child, the Secretary makes a determination that a
person (the carer) is entitled to carer payment because the carer
is providing care for the care receiver; and
(b) the care receiver’s taxable income for a later tax year exceeds
the income ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act; and
(c) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer’s carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect:
(d) if the Secretary made the determination under section 79 after the
parent or carer of the disabled child informed the Department that the care
receiver’s taxable income exceeded the income ceiling—on the day on
which the parent or carer informed the Department; or
(e) if, when the Secretary made the determination under section 79, the
Department had not been informed by the parent or carer that the care
receiver’s taxable income exceeded the income ceiling—on the day on
which the care receiver’s taxable income exceeded the income
ceiling.
(5) If:
(a) on the basis of the sum of the taxable incomes for a tax year of care
receivers who are disabled children, the Secretary makes a determination that a
person (the carer) is entitled to carer payment because the carer
is providing care to the care receivers; and
(b) the sum of the taxable incomes of the care receivers for a later tax
year exceeds the income ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act;
and
(c) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer’s carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect:
(d) if the Secretary made the determination under section 79 after a
parent or carer of any of the disabled children informed the Department that the
sum of the taxable incomes exceeded the income ceiling—on the day on which
the parent or carer informed the Department; or
(e) if, when the Secretary made the determination under section 79, the
Department had not been informed by a parent or carer of any of the disabled
children that the sum of the taxable incomes exceeded the income
ceiling—on the day on which the sum of the taxable incomes of the care
receivers exceeded the income ceiling.
(6) If:
(a) on the basis of the sum of the taxable incomes for a tax year of care
receivers who are a lower ADAT score adult and a dependent child, the Secretary
makes a determination that a person (the carer) is entitled to
carer payment because the carer is providing care to the care receivers;
and
(b) the sum of the taxable incomes of the care receivers for a later tax
year exceeds the income ceiling under section 198A of the 1991 Act;
and
(c) the Secretary makes a determination under section 79 cancelling or
suspending the carer’s carer payment;
the adverse determination takes effect:
(d) if the Secretary made the determination under section 79 after the
carer, the lower ADAT score adult or a parent of the dependent child informed
the Department that the sum of the taxable incomes exceeded the income
ceiling—on the day on which the Department was so informed; or
(e) if, when the Secretary made the determination under section 79, the
Department had not been informed by the carer, the lower ADAT score adult or a
parent of the dependent child that the sum of the taxable incomes exceeded the
income ceiling—on the day on which the sum of the taxable incomes exceed
the income ceiling.
In this Subdivision:
adverse determination means a determination under section 85
or 86.
An adverse determination takes effect:
(a) on the day on which it is made; or
(b) if a later day is specified in the determination, on that
day.
(1) A determination that:
(a) a person’s claim for a social security payment is granted;
or
(b) a social security payment is payable to a person;
continues in effect until:
(c) a further determination in relation to the payment under section 79,
80 or 81 takes effect; or
(d) the payment ceases to be payable under section 89, 90, 91, 92 or
93.
(2) A determination that a person is qualified for a concession card
continues in effect until:
(a) a further determination under section 85 or 86 takes effect;
or
(b) the person ceases to be qualified under section 103 or 104.
(3) A determination of the rate of a social security payment continues in
effect until:
(a) a further determination in relation to the payment under section 77 or
78 takes effect; or
(b) the payment becomes payable at a lower rate under section 97, 98 or
99.
This Part applies as if a decision under:
(a) the 1947 Act; or
(b) the 1991 Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this
Part;
were a decision under the social security law.
(1) The Secretary may review:
(a) subject to subsection (2) and section 125, a decision of an officer
under the social security law; or
(b) a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child Support
(Assessment) Act 1989; or
(c) a decision of an officer under the Farm Household Support Act
1992; or
(d) a decision under section 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5DA, 5DB, 5E, 5EA or 5EB of
the Health Insurance Act 1973; or
(e) a decision under section 44-24 of the Aged Care Act 1997 by the
Secretary or by a person to whom the Secretary has sub-delegated power under
subsection 96-2(7) of that Act;
if the Secretary is satisfied that there is sufficient reason to review the
decision.
(2) The Secretary may review a decision:
(a) whether or not any person has applied for review of the decision;
and
(b) even though an application has been made to the Social Security
Appeals Tribunal or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the
decision.
(3) The Secretary may:
(a) affirm a decision; or
(b) vary a decision; or
(c) set a decision aside and substitute a new decision.
(4) If:
(a) the Secretary sets a decision aside under subsection (3);
and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that an event that did not occur would have
occurred if the decision had not been made;
the Secretary may, if satisfied that it is reasonable to do so, determine
that the event is taken to have occurred for the purposes of the social security
law.
(1) The Secretary may not, on an application under section 127, review a
decision made by the Secretary himself or herself.
(2) The Secretary may not review a decision made by the Employment
Secretary:
(a) approving an activity under the Community Service Program;
or
(b) declaring, under section 28 of the 1991 Act, a program of work to be
an approved program of work for unemployment payment.
(3) The Secretary may not review a decision made by the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or the Secretary to the Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under the Farm Household Support Act
1992.
(1) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a decision under subsection 124(4); and
(b) at the time when the Secretary makes the decision, a person has
applied to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision that
was reviewed by the Secretary;
the Secretary must give the Executive Director written notice of the
Secretary’s decision under subsection 124(4).
(2) If:
(a) the Secretary makes a decision under subsection 124(4); and
(b) at the time when the Secretary makes the decision, a person has
applied to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision that
was reviewed by the Secretary;
the Secretary must give the Registrar of the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal written notice of the Secretary’s decision under subsection
124(4).
(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4) and section 128, a person affected
by:
(a) a decision of an officer under the social security law; or
(b) a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child Support
(Assessment) Act 1989; or
(c) a decision of an officer under the Farm Household Support Act
1992; or
(d) a decision under section 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5DA, 5DB, 5E, 5EA or 5EB of
the Health Insurance Act 1973; or
(e) a decision under section 44-24 of the Aged Care Act 1997 by the
Secretary or by a person to whom the Secretary has sub-delegated power under
section 96-2(7) of that Act;
may apply to the Secretary for review of the decision.
(2) If an officer makes a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989 about a particular agreement:
(a) for the purposes of the application of this section to the
decision:
(i) both of the parties to the agreement are taken to be persons affected
by the decision; and
(ii) only one of the parties is entitled to apply for review of the
decision; and
(b) if a party applies for review of the decision, the Secretary
must:
(i) by notice in writing or in a manner approved by the Secretary, inform
the other party of the making of the application and give the other party such
of the information contained in the application as is reasonably necessary to
enable the party to make a submission in connection with the review;
and
(ii) give both parties a reasonable opportunity to make a submission in
connection with the review.
(3) If:
(a) an officer makes a decision under Part 3 in relation to pension bonus;
and
(b) notice is given to the person concerned;
the person is not entitled to make an application under subsection (1) for
review of the decision more than 13 weeks after the giving of the
notice.
(4) A person may not apply under subsection (1) for review of:
(a) a decision made by the Secretary himself or herself; or
(b) a decision under subparagraph (2)(b)(i) regarding the information to
be given to a person under that subparagraph; or
(c) a decision made by the Employment Secretary:
(i) under section 28 of the 1991 Act; or
(ii) approving a course of study or a labour market program; or
(iii) exempting a person from the application of a provision of the social
security law; or
(d) a decision made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry or the Secretary to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry under the Farm Household Support Act 1992; or
(e) a decision made by the Health Secretary under or in relation to the
social security law; or
(f) a decision made by the CEO himself or herself in the exercise of a
delegated power.
(5) A reference in this section to a decision of an officer under the
social security law includes a reference to a determination that the Secretary
is taken, by virtue of a provision of the social security law, to have
made.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an application under section 127 must be
made within 52 weeks after the applicant is notified of the decision to which
the application relates.
(2) The Secretary may extend the period referred to in subsection (1) in
relation to a particular application if there are special circumstances in
relation to that application.
(1) A person who has applied for review of a decision may withdraw the
application at any time before the review has been completed.
(2) If an application for review of a decision is withdrawn, the
application is taken never to have been made.
(3) An application may be withdrawn orally or in writing or in any other
manner approved by the Secretary.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if:
(a) an adverse decision is made in relation to a social security payment;
and
(b) the adverse decision:
(i) depends on the exercise of a discretion, or the holding of an opinion,
by a person; or
(ii) would result in the application of an activity test non-payment
period; and
(c) a person applies to the Secretary under section 127 for review of the
adverse decision;
the Secretary may declare that the payment of the social security payment
is to continue pending the determination of the review as if the adverse
decision had not been made.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a decision to which
section 132 or 133 applies.
(3) A declaration under subsection (1) must be by notice in
writing.
(4) While a declaration under subsection (1) is in force in relation to an
adverse decision, the social security law (other than this Part) applies as if
the adverse decision had not been made.
(5) A declaration under subsection (1) in relation to an adverse
decision:
(a) takes effect on the day on which it is made or on such earlier day (if
any) as is specified in the declaration; and
(b) ceases to have effect if:
(i) the application for review is withdrawn; or
(ii) a decision is made by the Secretary on the review of the adverse
decision; or
(iii) the declaration is revoked by the Secretary.
(6) A reference in subsection (1) to a person’s holding of an
opinion is a reference to the person’s holding that opinion, whether or
not the social security law expressly requires the opinion to be held before the
decision concerned is made.
(7) In this section:
adverse decision, in relation to a social security payment,
means:
(a) a decision to cancel or suspend the social security payment;
or
(b) a decision to reduce the rate of the social security
payment.
(1) The Minister, by determination in writing:
(a) is to determine guidelines for the exercise of the Secretary’s
power to make declarations under section 130 in relation to social security
payments to persons who are subject to an activity test non-payment period;
and
(b) may revoke or vary those guidelines.
(2) A determination under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument for
the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901.
(1) This section applies to a decision to give a notice
under section 544C of the 1991 Act because of a person’s failure to agree
to terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement proposed by the
Secretary.
(2) If:
(a) a person applies under section 127 for review of a decision to which
this section applies; and
(b) the person makes the application within 14 days after being notified
of the decision;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) payment of youth allowance is to be made, pending the determination of
the review, as if the Youth Allowance Activity Agreement had not been
required;
(d) if payment of the allowance had ceased for a period before the person
applied for the review—arrears of allowance are payable to the person for
the period in spite of section 117;
(e) the social security law (other than this Division) applies as if the
Youth Allowance Activity Agreement had not been required.
(3) Subsection (2) ceases to have effect if:
(a) the application for review is withdrawn; or
(b) the review of the decision is determined.
(1) This section applies to a decision to give a notice under section 607
of the 1991 Act because of a person’s failure to agree to terms of a
Newstart Activity Agreement proposed by the Secretary.
(2) If:
(a) a person applies under section 127 for review of a decision to which
this section applies; and
(b) the person makes the application within 14 days after being notified
of the decision;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) payment of newstart allowance is to continue, pending the
determination of the review, as if the Newstart Activity Agreement had not been
required;
(d) if payment of the allowance had ceased for a period before the person
applied for the review—arrears of allowance are payable to the person for
the period despite section 117;
(e) the social security law (other than this Division) has effect as if
the Newstart Activity Agreement had not been required.
(3) Subsection (2) ceases to have effect if the application for review is
withdrawn.
(4) Subsection (2) ceases to have effect when the review of the decision
is determined.
(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4) and 125(1), if a person applies
under section 127 for review of a decision, the Secretary, the CEO or an
authorised review officer must:
(a) review the decision; and
(b) do one of the following:
(i) affirm the decision;
(ii) vary the decision;
(iii) set the decision aside and substitute a new decision.
(2) In the case of an application for review of a decision made by an
officer of the Employment Department as a delegate of the Secretary, the
reference in subsection (1) to an authorised review officer is to be read as a
reference to an authorised review officer who is an officer of that
Department.
(3) An authorised review officer may not review a decision relating to the
exercise of the Secretary’s power under section 1285A of the 1991
Act.
(4) In varying or substituting a decision, an authorised review officer
may not exercise the Secretary’s power under subsection 1218A(2) of the
1991 Act.
(5) If:
(a) a person sets aside a decision under subsection (1); and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that an event that did not occur would have
occurred if the decision had not been made;
the Secretary may, if satisfied that it is reasonable to do so, determine
that the event is taken to have occurred for the purposes of the social security
law.
If a person makes a decision under subsection 134(1) (the review
decision), the person must:
(a) give the applicant written notice of the review decision;
and
(b) if the review decision relates to a decision made under subsection
91A(3) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 in relation to a
particular agreement—give written notice of the review decision to the
other party to the agreement.
(1) This section has effect if:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the first
determination) that:
(i) a social security payment is granted or is payable to a person;
or
(ii) a social security payment is payable to a person at a particular
rate; and
(b) the Secretary makes a determination (the second
determination):
(i) cancelling the social security payment; or
(ii) reducing the rate at which the social security payment is payable;
and
(c) notice of the second determination is given to the person;
and
(d) the person applies under section 127 for review of the second
determination; and
(e) the application is made more than 13 weeks after notice of the second
determination was given; and
(f) a decision (the review decision) is made by the
Secretary, an authorised review officer, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal or
the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and
(g) the review decision, or the effect of the review decision,
is:
(i) to set aside the second determination; or
(ii) to affirm a decision setting aside the second
determination.
(2) This section has effect if:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the first
determination) that:
(i) a social security payment is granted or is payable to a person;
or
(ii) a social security payment is payable to a person at a particular
rate; and
(b) the Secretary makes a determination (the second
determination):
(i) cancelling the social security payment; or
(ii) reducing the rate at which the social security payment is payable;
and
(c) notice of the second determination is given to the person;
and
(d) the Secretary reviews the second determination under section 124
without any application under section 127 for review of the decision having been
made; and
(e) the decision of the Secretary on the review is to set aside the second
determination; and
(f) the decision on the review is made more than 13 weeks after notice of
the second determination was given.
(3) This section has effect if:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the first
determination) that:
(i) a person’s claim for a concession card is granted; or
(ii) a person is qualified for a concession card; and
(b) the Secretary makes a determination (the second
determination) cancelling the concession card; and
(c) notice of the second determination is given to the person;
and
(d) the person applies under section 127 for review of the second
determination; and
(e) the application is made more than 13 weeks after notice of the second
determination was given; and
(f) a decision (the review decision) is made by the
Secretary, an authorised review officer, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal or
the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and
(g) the review decision, or the effect of the review decision,
is:
(i) to set aside the second determination; or
(ii) to affirm a decision setting aside the second
determination.
(4) This section has effect if:
(a) the Secretary makes a determination (the first
determination) that:
(i) a person’s claim for a concession card is granted; or
(ii) a person is qualified for a concession card; and
(b) the Secretary makes a determination (the second
determination) cancelling the concession card; and
(c) notice of the second determination is given to the person;
and
(d) the Secretary reviews the second determination under section 124
without any application under section 127 for review of the declaration having
been made; and
(e) the decision of the Secretary on the review is to set aside the second
determination; and
(f) the decision is made more than 13 weeks after notice of the second
determination was given.
(5) If this section has effect:
(a) the second determination does not become void from the time when it
was made; and
(b) the mere setting aside of the second determination does not of itself
revive the first determination.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a person is taken to have applied
for review of a determination (the primary determination)
if:
(a) the person applies for review of another determination or decision;
and
(b) a review of the primary determination is necessary to resolve the
issues raised by the review of that other determination or decision.
(1) If a person (the decision-maker) gives another person
notice under section 135, the notice must include:
(a) a statement to the effect that the other person may, subject to the
social security law, apply to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal for review of
the decision-maker’s decision; and
(b) a statement about the decision-maker’s decision that:
(i) sets out the reasons for the decision; and
(ii) sets out the findings by the decision-maker on material questions of
fact; and
(iii) refers to the evidence or other material on which those findings
were based; and
(c) a statement to the effect that, if the other person is dissatisfied
with the decision of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal, application may,
subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, be made to the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision of the Social
Security Appeals Tribunal.
(2) A contravention of subsection (1) in relation to notice of a decision
does not affect the validity of the decision.
(1) The Social Security Appeals Tribunal continued in existence by the
1991 Act is further continued in existence by this Act.
(2) Provisions relating to the constitution and membership, and the
organisation of the business of, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal, together
with certain saving provisions, are to be found in Schedule 3.
(1) This Division applies to:
(a) all decisions of an officer under the social security law, including a
decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in force;
and
(b) a decision under section 544B of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
it relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in
force; and
(c) a decision under section 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5DA, 5DB, 5E, 5EA or 5EB of
the Health Insurance Act 1973; and
(d) all decisions of an officer under the Farm Household Support Act
1992; and
(e) all decisions of an officer under subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989; and
(f) all decisions under section 44-24 of the Aged Care Act 1997 by
the Secretary, or by a person to whom the Secretary has sub-delegated power
under subsection 96-2(7) of that Act.
(2) A reference in this section to a decision of an officer under the
social security law includes a reference to a determination that the Secretary
is taken, by virtue of a provision of the social security law, to have
made.
In carrying out its functions under this Act, the SSAT must pursue the
objective of providing a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical,
informal and quick.
(1) Subject to sections 142 and 144, if:
(a) a decision has been reviewed by the Secretary, the CEO or an
authorised review officer under section 124; and
(b) the decision has been affirmed, varied or set aside;
a person whose interests are affected by the decision of the Secretary, the
CEO or the authorised review officer may apply to the SSAT for review of that
decision.
(2) Subject to sections 142 and 144, if a decision has been made by the
Secretary himself or herself or by the CEO himself or herself, a person whose
interests are affected by the decision may apply to the SSAT for review of the
decision.
(3) If an officer makes a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989 about a particular agreement, then, for the
purposes of the application of subsection (1) or (2) of this section to the
decision, both of the parties to the agreement are taken to be persons whose
interests are affected by the decision.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), the decision made by the
Secretary, the CEO or the authorised review officer is taken to be:
(a) if the Secretary, the CEO or the authorised review officer affirms a
decision—that decision as affirmed; and
(b) if the Secretary, the CEO or the authorised review officer varies a
decision—that decision as varied; and
(c) if the Secretary, the CEO or the authorised review officer sets a
decision aside and substitutes a new decision—the new decision.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (2), if:
(a) an application has been made under subsection 127(1) for review of a
decision made by the Secretary himself or herself or the CEO himself or herself;
and
(b) before the application under subsection 127(1) was made, the Secretary
or CEO had reviewed the decision under section 124;
the decision made by the Secretary or CEO is taken to be:
(c) if the Secretary or CEO had affirmed or varied the decision—that
decision as affirmed or varied; and
(d) if the Secretary or CEO had set the decision aside and substituted a
new decision—the new decision.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an application to the SSAT for review of a
decision by the Secretary, the CEO or an authorised review officer must be made
within 28 days after the applicant is notified of the decision.
(2) The Executive Director may extend the period fixed by subsection (1)
in a particular case if the Executive Director is satisfied that special
circumstances exist in relation to that case.
(1) The SSAT may only review a decision under section 544B of the 1991 Act
(to the extent to which it relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity
Agreement that is in force) if the application is expressed to be an application
for review of that decision.
(2) The SSAT may only review a decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act
(to the extent to which it relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement
that is in force) if the application is expressed to be an application for
review of that decision.
The SSAT cannot review any of the following decisions:
(a) a decision of an RAS authority to refuse to certify a person as a
financial hardship farmer under section 26 of the 1991 Act;
(b) a decision of an RAS authority to refuse to certify an asset as an
unrealisable asset of a financial hardship farmer under section 27 of the 1991
Act;
(c) a decision of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or
the Secretary to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under the
Farm Household Support Act 1992;
(d) a decision under section 36 of the 1991 Act;
(e) a decision under a provision dealing with the approval by the
Employment Secretary of a course, labour market program, program of work for
unemployment payment or rehabilitation program;
(f) a decision under section 16 of this Act;
(g) a decision under section 57 or 58 to pay an amount to a person;
(h) a decision to make a payment under section 74 of this Act;
(i) a decision, under subsection 58(3) of this Act, to grant a claim for a
pension bonus after the claimant has died;
(j) a decision under subsection 7A(2) or paragraph 15(b) of the Farm
Household Support Act 1992;
(k) a decision to give a notice under Subdivision B of Division 6 of Part
3 of this Act;
(l) a decision under subparagraph 127(2)(b)(i) regarding the information
that is to be given to a person under that paragraph;
(m) a decision under section 130 or 145 of this Act;
(n) a decision under section 193, 194, 195 or 196 of this Act;
(o) a decision under section 239 of this Act;
(p) a decision of the Secretary:
(i) determining, under subsection 1100(2) of the 1991 Act, that it is not
appropriate for that subsection to apply in respect of a payment or a class or
kind of payments; or
(ii) determining, in accordance with section 1100 of the 1991 Act, that a
rate of exchange is appropriate for the calculation of the value in Australian
currency of an amount (the foreign amount) received by a person in
a foreign currency if that rate does not differ by more than 5% from the rate of
exchange that was applied when the person received Australian currency for the
foreign amount;
(q) a decision under subsection 1218A(2) of the 1991 Act;
(r) a decision under the Family Allowance Rate Calculator in section 1069
of the 1991 Act that is made by a disallowable instrument;
(s) a decision relating to the Secretary’s power under section 183
of this Act to settle proceedings before the AAT.
(1) If:
(a) an adverse decision is made in relation to a social security payment;
and
(b) the adverse decision:
(i) depends on the exercise of a discretion by a person or the holding of
an opinion by a person; or
(ii) would result in the application of an activity test non-payment
period; and
(c) a person applies to the SSAT under subsection 141(1) or (2) for review
of the adverse decision;
the Secretary may declare that payment of the social security payment is to
continue, pending the determination of the review, as if the adverse decision
had not been made.
(2) A declaration must be by notice in writing.
(3) While a declaration under subsection (1) is in force in relation to an
adverse decision, the social security law (other than this Division) applies as
if the adverse decision had not been made.
(4) A declaration under subsection (1) in relation to an adverse
decision:
(a) takes effect on the day on which the declaration is made or on such
earlier day (if any) as is specified in the declaration; and
(b) ceases to have effect if:
(i) the application to the SSAT for review of the adverse decision is
withdrawn; or
(ii) the review of the adverse decision is determined by the SSAT;
or
(iii) the declaration is revoked by the Secretary.
(5) A reference in subsection (1) to a person’s holding of an
opinion is a reference to the person’s holding that opinion, whether or
not the social security law expressly requires the opinion to be held before the
decision concerned is made.
(6) In this section:
adverse decision, in relation to a social security payment,
means:
(a) a decision to cancel or suspend the social security payment;
or
(b) a decision to reduce the rate of the social security
payment.
(1) The Minister, by determination in writing:
(a) is to set guidelines for the exercise of the Secretary’s power
to make declarations under subsection 145(1) that would result in the
application of an activity test non-payment period; and
(b) may revoke or vary those guidelines.
(2) A determination under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument for
the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901.
(1) If:
(a) a decision has been made, whether before or after the commencement of
this paragraph, to give a notice under section 544C of the 1991 Act because of a
person’s failure to agree to terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement
proposed by the Secretary; and
(b) a person applies to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal under section
141 for review of the decision; and
(c) the person makes the application within 14 days after being notified
of the decision;
the following provisions have effect:
(d) payment of the youth allowance is to be made, pending the
determination of the review, as if the Agreement had not been
required;
(e) if payment of the allowance had ceased for a period before the person
applied for the review—arrears of allowance are payable to the person for
the period, in spite of section 117;
(f) the social security law (other than this Division) has effect as if
the Agreement had not been required.
(2) Subsection (1) ceases to have effect if:
(a) the application for review is withdrawn; or
(b) the review of the decision is determined.
(1) If:
(a) a decision has been made, whether before or after the commencement of
this paragraph, to give a notice under section 607 of the 1991 Act because of a
person’s failure to agree to terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement
proposed by the Secretary; and
(b) a person applies to the SSAT under subsection 141(1) for review of the
decision; and
(c) the person makes the application within 14 days after being notified
of the decision;
the following provisions have effect:
(d) payment of the newstart allowance is to be made, pending the
determination of the review, as if the agreement had not been
required;
(e) if payment of the allowance had ceased for a period before the person
applied for the review—arrears of allowance are payable to the person for
the period, in spite of section 117;
(f) the social security law (other than this Division) has effect as if
the agreement had not been required.
(2) Subsection (1) ceases to have effect if:
(a) the application for review is withdrawn; or
(b) the review of the decision is determined.
(1) If a person applies to the SSAT for review of a decision (other than a
decision referred to in subsection (5)), the SSAT must:
(a) affirm the decision; or
(b) vary the decision; or
(c) set the decision aside and:
(i) substitute a new decision; or
(ii) send the matter back to the Secretary or the CEO, as the case
requires, for reconsideration in accordance with any directions or
recommendations of the SSAT.
(2) If the SSAT sets a decision aside and substitutes for it a decision
that a person is entitled to a social security payment (other than pension
bonus), the SSAT must:
(a) assess the rate at which the social security payment is to be paid to
the person; or
(b) ask the Secretary or the CEO, as the case requires, to assess the rate
at which the social security payment is to be paid to the person.
(3) If the SSAT sets a decision aside and substitutes for it a decision
that a person is entitled to a pension bonus, the SSAT must:
(a) assess the amount of the pension bonus that is to be paid to the
person; or
(b) ask the Secretary to assess the amount of the pension bonus that is to
be paid to the person.
(4) If:
(a) the SSAT sets a decision aside under subsection (1); and
(b) the Secretary or the SSAT (as the case may be), is satisfied that an
event that did not occur would have occurred if the decision had not been
made;
the Secretary or the SSAT, as the case requires, may, if satisfied that it
is reasonable to do so, direct that the event is to be taken, for the purposes
of the social security law, to have occurred.
(5) This section does not apply to:
(a) a decision under section 544B of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
it relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in
force; or
(b) a decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in
force.
If a person applies to the SSAT for review of:
(a) a decision under section 525B of the 1991 Act as previously in force
to the extent to which it related to the terms of a Job Search Activity
Agreement that was previously in force; or
(b) a decision under section 544B of that Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in force;
or
(c) a decision under section 606 of that Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in
force;
the SSAT must:
(d) affirm the decision; or
(e) set aside the decision and send the matter back to the Secretary or
the CEO, as the case requires, for reconsideration in accordance with any
recommendations of the Tribunal.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the SSAT may, for the purpose of reviewing
a decision under the social security law, exercise all the powers and
discretions that are conferred by the social security law on the
Secretary.
(2) The reference in subsection (1) to powers and discretions conferred by
the social security law does not include a reference to a power or discretion
conferred by:
(a) a provision dealing with the form and place of lodgment of a claim;
or
(b) a provision dealing with the manner of payment of a social security
payment; or
(c) section 1233 of the 1991 Act; or
(d) a provision dealing with the giving of a notice requiring information;
or
(e) section 1100 of the 1991 Act; or
(f) section 1218A of the 1991 Act; or
(g) section 130 or 145 of this Act; or
(h) a provision dealing with the imposition of requirements before the
grant of a social security payment; or
(i) a provision dealing with the deduction of amounts from payments of a
social security payment for tax purposes.
(3) The SSAT may, for the purpose of reviewing a decision under the
Health Insurance Act 1973, exercise all the powers and discretions
conferred by that Act on the Secretary.
(4) Nothing in this section applies in relation to the review
of:
(a) a decision under section 544B of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
it relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in
force; or
(b) a decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in
force.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a decision of the SSAT comes into
operation immediately on the giving of the decision.
(2) The SSAT may specify in a decision that the decision is not to come
into operation until a later day specified in the decision and, if it does so,
the decision comes into operation on that later day.
(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), if the SSAT:
(a) varies a decision under review; or
(b) sets aside a decision under review and substitutes a new
decision;
the decision as varied or the new decision (as the case may be) has effect,
or is to be taken to have had effect, on and from the day on which the decision
under review has or had effect.
(4) If:
(a) a person is given written notice of a decision under the social
security law; and
(b) the person applies to the SSAT more than 13 weeks after the notice was
given for review of the decision; and
(c) the SSAT varies the decision or sets the decision aside and
substitutes a new decision; and
(d) the effect of the decision of the SSAT is:
(i) to grant the person’s claim for a social security payment or a
concession card; or
(ii) to direct the making of a payment of a social security payment to the
person or the issue of a concession card to the person, as the case may be;
or
(iii) to increase the rate of the person’s social security
payment;
the social security law has effect as if the decision under review had
taken effect on the day on which the application was made to the SSAT for review
of that decision.
(5) The SSAT may declare:
(a) that subsection (3) does not apply to a decision by the SSAT on a
review; and
(b) that subsections (1) and (2) apply instead.
(6) This section does not apply to:
(a) a decision under section 544B of that Act to the extent to which it
relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in force;
or
(b) a decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
the decision relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in
force.
(1) This section applies to:
(a) a decision under section 544B of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
it relates to the terms of a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement that is in
force; and
(b) a decision under section 606 of the 1991 Act to the extent to which
the decision relates to the terms of a Newstart Activity Agreement that is in
force.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a decision by the SSAT in relation to a
decision to which this section applies comes into operation immediately on the
giving of the decision.
(3) The SSAT may specify in a decision that the decision is not to come
into operation until a later day specified in the decision and, if it does so,
the decision comes into operation on that later day.
(1) A person may apply to the SSAT for review of a decision by:
(a) sending or delivering a written application to:
(i) an office of the SSAT; or
(ii) an office of the Department; or
(iii) if the decision was made by the CEO or an employee of the
Agency—an office of the Agency; or
(b) going to an office of the SSAT and making an oral application;
or
(c) contacting an office of the SSAT by telephone and making an oral
application.
(2) If a person makes an oral application in accordance with paragraph
(1)(b) or (c), the person receiving the oral application must make a written
record of the details of the oral application and note on the record the day on
which the application is made.
(3) If a written record of an oral application is made in accordance with
subsection (2), Division 3 has effect as if the written record were a written
application.
(4) An application may include a statement of the reasons for seeking a
review of the decision.
(1) If an officer varies a decision after an application has been made to
the SSAT for review of the decision but before determination of the review, the
application for review is to be treated as if it were an application for review
of the decision as varied.
(2) If an officer sets a decision aside and substitutes a new decision
after an application has been made to the SSAT for review of the original
decision but before the determination of the review, the application for review
is to be treated as if it were an application for review of the new
decision.
(3) If:
(a) a person applies to the SSAT for review of a decision; and
(b) before determination of the review, an officer varies the decision or
sets it aside and substitutes a new decision;
the person may either:
(c) proceed with the application for review of the decision as varied or
the new decision, as the case may be; or
(d) withdraw the application under section 172.
(1) The parties to a review by the SSAT are:
(a) the applicant; and
(b) the Secretary; and
(c) if the relevant decision was made by the CEO or an employee of the
Agency in the exercise of a delegated power—the CEO; and
(d) any other person who has been made a party to the review under
subsection (4) or (5).
(2) If a person has applied under section 141 for review of a decision,
any other person whose interests are affected by the decision may apply to the
Executive Director to be made a party to the review.
(3) An application under subsection (2) must be in writing.
(4) The Executive Director may order that a person who has applied under
subsection (2) be made a party to the review.
(5) If one of the parties to an agreement applies to the SSAT for review
of a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act
1989 about the agreement, the Executive Director must order that the other
party to the agreement be made a party to the review. This requirement does not
apply if the other party to the agreement has given the Executive Director a
written notice waiving his or her rights under section 141 and this subsection
in relation to the review.
(1) If an application under section 141 is sent or delivered to an office
of the Department or the Agency, the Secretary must send the application to the
Executive Director as soon as practicable and, in any case, not later than 7
days after the application is received at the office of the Department or the
Agency, as the case may be.
(2) If:
(a) an application under section 141 is sent or delivered to an office of
the SSAT; or
(b) the Secretary sends such an application to the Executive Director in
accordance with subsection (1);
the Executive Director must give the applicant and the Secretary written
notice that the application has been received.
(3) Within 28 days after receiving notice of the making of an application
from the Executive Director, the Secretary must send to the Executive
Director:
(a) a statement about the decision under review that:
(i) sets out the findings of fact made by the person who made the
decision; and
(ii) refers to the evidence on which those findings were based;
and
(iii) gives the reasons for the decision; and
(b) the original or a copy of every document or part of a document
that:
(i) is in the possession, or under the control, of the Secretary;
and
(ii) relates to the applicant; and
(iii) is relevant to the review of the decision.
(4) If the Executive Director asks the Secretary to send the statement and
documents referred to in subsection (3) by a day earlier than the day fixed by
that subsection, the Secretary must take reasonable steps to comply with the
Executive Director’s request.
(5) If:
(a) after the end of the period referred to in subsection (3) but before
the determination of the review, the Secretary obtains possession of a document;
and
(b) the Secretary considers that the document or a part of the document is
relevant to the review; and
(c) a copy of the document or the part of the document has not been sent
to the Executive Director in accordance with subsection (3);
the Secretary must send a copy of the document or the part of the document
to an office of the SSAT as soon as practicable after obtaining possession of
the document.
(1) The Executive Director must give each party (other than the Secretary)
a copy of the statement referred to in paragraph 157(3)(a).
(2) The Executive Director may make an order directing a person who has
received a copy of a statement in accordance with subsection (1):
(a) not to disclose information in the statement; or
(b) not to disclose information in the statement except in the
circumstances or for the purposes specified in the order.
(3) An order under subsection (2) must be made by written notice given to
the person to whom it is directed.
(4) A person must not contravene an order under subsection (2).
(1) If an application is made to the SSAT for review of a decision, the
Executive Director must fix a day, time and place for the hearing of the
application.
(2) If a declaration under section 145 is in force in relation to a
decision, the Executive Director must take reasonable steps to ensure that the
decision is reviewed as quickly as possible.
(3) The Executive Director must give the applicant and any other parties
to the review written notice of the day, time and place fixed for the hearing of
the application.
(4) The notice under subsection (3) must be given a reasonable time before
the day fixed for the hearing.
(1) If:
(a) an application has been made to the SSAT for review of a decision;
and
(b) the Executive Director is satisfied that the interests of a person who
is not a party to the review are affected by the decision;
the Executive Director must take reasonable steps to give the person
written notice that an application has been made to the SSAT for review of the
decision.
(2) The notice under subsection (1):
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) must include notification of the person’s right under section
156 to apply to the Executive Director to be added as a party to the review;
and
(c) may be given at any time before the determination of the
review.
(3) The Executive Director must give each party to the review a copy of
the notice.
(4) If an officer makes a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989 about a particular agreement, then, for the
purposes of subsection (1) of this section, both of the parties to the agreement
are taken to be persons whose interests are affected by the decision.
(1) Subject to section 162, a party to a review of a decision may make
oral or written submissions to the SSAT or both oral and written
submissions.
(2) The Secretary or CEO may make written submissions to the
SSAT.
(3) A party to a review of a decision may have another person make
submissions to the SSAT on behalf of the party.
(4) The Executive Director may determine that submissions to the SSAT by a
party or a party’s representative are to be made by telephone or by means
of other electronic communications equipment.
(5) Without limiting subsection (4), the Executive Director may make a
determination under subsection (4) in relation to an application if:
(a) the application is urgent; or
(b) the party lives in a remote area and unreasonable expense would be
incurred if the party or the party’s representative had to travel to the
place at which the hearing is to be held; or
(c) the party has failed to attend the hearing and has not indicated that
he or she intends to attend the hearing; or
(d) the applicant is unable to attend the hearing because of illness or
infirmity.
(6) If a party is not proficient in English, the Executive Director may
give directions in relation to the use of an interpreter in connection with the
hearing of the review.
(7) A reference in this section to a party does not include a reference to
the Secretary or the CEO.
(1) The Executive Director may direct that a hearing be conducted without
oral submissions from the parties if the Executive Director considers that the
review hearing could be determined fairly on the basis of written submissions by
the parties.
(2) If the Executive Director gives a direction under subsection (1), the
Executive Director must give each of the parties to the review written
notice:
(a) informing the party of the direction; and
(b) inviting the party to submit written submissions; and
(c) specifying the address to which the written submissions are to be
delivered; and
(d) specifying the time within which the written submissions are to be
delivered.
(3) The time specified under paragraph (2)(d) must be such as to allow a
reasonable period for the parties to make written submissions.
(4) Despite subsection (1), the SSAT, as constituted for the hearing, may,
if it thinks necessary after considering the written submissions made by the
parties, make an order permitting the parties to make oral submissions to the
SSAT at the hearing of the review.
(5) A reference in subsection (4) to a party does not include a reference
to the Secretary or the CEO.
(1) If a party to a review has informed the Executive Director that the
party does not intend to make oral submissions to the SSAT, the SSAT may proceed
to hear the application for review without oral submissions from the
party.
(2) If:
(a) the Executive Director has determined that oral submissions to the
SSAT by a party or a party’s representative are to be made by telephone or
by means of other electronic communications equipment; and
(b) on the day fixed for the hearing the presiding member has been unable
to contact the party or the party’s representative, as the case may, after
taking reasonable steps to do so;
the Executive Director may authorise the SSAT to proceed to hear the
application without oral submissions from the party or the party’s
representative, as the case may be.
(3) If:
(a) the Executive Director has not determined that oral submissions to the
SSAT by a party or a party’s representative are to be made by telephone or
by means of other electronic communications equipment; and
(b) the party or the party’s representative, as the case may be,
does not attend the hearing at the time fixed for the hearing;
the Executive Director may authorise the SSAT to proceed to hear the
application without oral submissions from the party or the party’s
representative, as the case may be.
(4) If the Executive Director gives an authorisation under subsection (2)
or (3), the SSAT may proceed to hear the application in accordance with the
authorisation.
(5) The Executive Director may revoke an authorisation under subsection
(2) or (3).
The SSAT may take evidence on oath or affirmation for the purposes of a
review of a decision.
(1) The Executive Director may ask the Secretary to provide the SSAT with
information or a document that the Secretary has and that is relevant to the
review of a decision.
(2) The Secretary must comply with a request under subsection (1) as soon
as practicable and, in any event, not later than 14 days after the request is
made.
(1) The Executive Director may ask the Secretary to exercise the
Secretary’s powers under section 193 if the Executive Director is
satisfied that a person has information, or has custody or control of a
document, that is relevant to the review of a decision.
(2) The Secretary must comply with a request under subsection (1) as soon
as practicable and, in any event, within 7 days after the request is
made.
(1) The SSAT, in reviewing a decision:
(a) is not bound by legal technicalities, legal forms or rules of
evidence; and
(b) is to act as speedily as a proper consideration of the review allows;
and
(c) in determining what a proper consideration of the review requires,
must have regard to the objective laid down by section 140.
(2) The SSAT may inform itself on any matter relevant to a review of a
decision in any manner it considers appropriate.
(1) The hearing of a review is to be in private
(2) The Executive Director may give directions, in writing or otherwise,
as to the persons who may be present at any hearing of a review.
(3) In giving directions under subsection (2), the Executive Director must
have regard to the wishes of the parties and the need to protect their
privacy.
(1) If an applicant for review of a decision provides to the SSAT evidence
that was not available to the original decision-maker or to a person who
reviewed the decision, the SSAT may:
(a) refer the decision to the Secretary for review; and
(b) may adjourn the hearing.
(2) The SSAT may determine a review without referring the decision under
subsection (1) if the SSAT is satisfied that the applicant had reasonable
grounds for not providing the information to the original decision-maker or to a
person who reviewed the decision.
(1) The Executive Director may make an order directing a person who is
present at the hearing of a review:
(a) not to disclose information obtained by the person in the course of
the hearing; or
(b) not to disclose information obtained by the person in the course of
the hearing except in the circumstances, or for the purposes, specified in the
order.
(2) A person must not contravene an order under subsection (1).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(1) The SSAT may adjourn the hearing of a review of a decision from time
to time.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the SSAT may refuse to adjourn the
hearing of a review if:
(a) the hearing has already been adjourned on 2 or more occasions;
or
(b) the SSAT is satisfied that to grant an adjournment would be
inconsistent with the pursuit of the objective laid down by section 140;
or
(c) a declaration under section 130 or 145 is in force in relation to the
decision under review.
(1) An applicant for review of a decision may withdraw the application at
any time.
(2) An applicant may withdraw an application by:
(a) sending by any means, or delivering, written notice of withdrawal of
the application to an office of the SSAT or an office of the Department;
or
(b) going to an office of the SSAT and orally withdrawing the application;
or
(c) contacting an office of the SSAT by telephone and orally withdrawing
the application.
(3) If a person withdraws an application in accordance with paragraph
(2)(b) or (c), the person who receives the oral withdrawal must make a written
record of the day on which the withdrawal was made.
(4) If a person withdraws an application by sending or delivering written
notice of withdrawal to an office of the Department, the Secretary must send
notice of the withdrawal to the Executive Director as soon as practicable and,
in any event, not later than 7 days after the notice of withdrawal is received
at the office of the Department.
(1) If:
(a) a person makes an application to the SSAT for review of a decision;
and
(b) the Executive Director is satisfied:
(i) after having communicated with the person; or
(ii) after having made reasonable attempts to communicate with the person
and having failed to do so;
that the person does not intend to proceed with the
application;
the Executive Director may dismiss the application.
(2) If the Executive Director dismisses an application under subsection
(1), the application is taken to have been withdrawn at the time at which the
application was dismissed.
(1) If the Executive Director is one of the members who constitute the
SSAT for the purposes of the review of a decision, the Executive Director is to
preside at the hearing of the review.
(2) If:
(a) the members who constitute the SSAT for the purposes of the review of
a decision include one Director; and
(b) the Executive Director is not one of those members;
the Director is to preside at the hearing of the review.
(3) In any other case in which the SSAT is constituted by 2 or more
members for the purposes of the review of a decision, the Executive Director
must designate one of those members as the member who is to preside at the
hearing of the review.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a question arising before the SSAT on a
review is to be decided according to the opinion of a majority of the members
constituting the SSAT for the purposes of the review.
(2) If, on a question arising on a review, the opinions of the members of
the SSAT are equally divided, the question is to be decided according to the
opinion of the member presiding.
(1) The Executive Director:
(a) may give general directions as to the procedure to be followed by the
SSAT in connection with the review of decisions under the social security law,
the Farm Household Support Act 1992 or subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989; and
(b) may give directions as to the procedure to be followed by the SSAT in
connection with a particular review.
(2) A direction under subsection (1) must not be inconsistent with any
provision of the social security law.
(3) A direction under paragraph (1)(b) may be given before or after the
hearing of the particular review has commenced.
(4) The presiding member of the SSAT as constituted for the purposes of a
particular review may give directions as to the procedure to be followed on the
hearing of the review.
(5) A direction under subsection (4) must not be inconsistent
with:
(a) any provision of the social security law; or
(b) any provision of the Farm Household Support Act 1992;
or
(c) subsection 91A(3) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989;
or
(d) a direction under subsection (1) of this section.
(6) A direction under subsection (4) may be given before or after the
hearing of the particular review has commenced.
(7) Directions under this section must have due regard to the objective
laid down by section 140.
(1) Subject to subsection (4), a party to a review must bear any expenses
incurred by the party in connection with the review.
(2) The SSAT may determine that the Commonwealth is to pay the reasonable
costs that are:
(a) incurred by a party for travel and accommodation in connection with
the review; and
(b) specified in the determination.
(3) If the SSAT arranges for the provision of a medical service in
relation to a party to a review, the SSAT may determine that the Commonwealth is
to pay the costs of the provision of the service.
(4) If the SSAT makes a determination under subsection (2) or (3), the
costs to which the determination relates are payable by the
Commonwealth.
(1) When the SSAT makes its decision on a review, the SSAT must:
(a) prepare a written statement that:
(i) sets out the decision of the SSAT on the review; and
(ii) sets out the reasons for the decision; and
(iii) sets out the findings on any material questions of fact;
and
(iv) refers to evidence or other material on which the findings of fact
are based; and
(b) give each party to the review a copy of the statement referred to in
paragraph (a) within 14 days after the making of the decision in relation to the
review; and
(c) if a person gave the Executive Director a notice under subsection
156(5) in connection with the review—give that person a copy of the
statement referred to in paragraph (a) within 14 days after the making of the
decision in relation to the review; and
(d) return to the Secretary any document that the Secretary has provided
to the SSAT in connection with the review; and
(e) give the Secretary a copy of any other document that contains evidence
or material on which the findings of fact are based.
(2) When the SSAT determines a review, the Executive Director must give
each party to the review (other than the Secretary) a written notice that
includes a statement to the effect that, if the person is dissatisfied with the
decision of the SSAT, application may, subject to the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal Act 1975, be made to the AAT for review of the decision.
(3) A failure to comply with subsection (2) in relation to a decision of
the SSAT does not affect the validity of the decision.
(1) Unless a contrary intention appears, the provisions of this Division
apply to:
(a) all decisions of an officer under the social security law, the Farm
Household Support Act 1992 or subsection 91A(3) of the Child Support
(Assessment) Act 1989; and
(b) all decisions under section 44-24 of the Aged Care Act 1997 by
the Secretary or by a person to whom the Secretary has sub-delegated power under
subsection 96-2(7) of that Act.
(2) This Division applies as if a decision under the 1991 Act, as in force
immediately before the commencement of this Part, were a decision under the
social security law.
(1) If:
(a) a decision has been reviewed by the SSAT; and
(b) the decision has been affirmed, varied or set aside by the
SSAT;
application may be made to the AAT for review of the decision of the
SSAT.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the decision made by the SSAT is
taken to be:
(a) where the SSAT affirms a decision—that decision as affirmed;
and
(b) where the SSAT varies a decision—that decision as varied;
and
(c) where the SSAT sets a decision aside and substitutes a new
decision—the new decision; and
(d) where the SSAT sets a decision aside and sends the matter back to the
Secretary for reconsideration in accordance with any directions or
recommendations of the SSAT—the directions or recommendations of the
SSAT.
(3) Subsection (1) has effect subject to section 29 of the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.
(4) If:
(a) the AAT sets aside a decision of the SSAT; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that an event that did not occur would have
occurred if the decision had not been made;
the Secretary may, if satisfied that it is reasonable to do so, direct that
the event is to be taken, for the purposes of the social security law, to have
occurred .
(5) If an officer makes a decision under subsection 91A(3) of the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989 about a particular agreement, then, for the
purposes of the application of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act
1975 to, or to a matter arising out of, the decision, both of the parties to
the agreement are taken to be persons whose interests are affected by the
decision.
(1) If an officer varies a decision after an application has been made to
the AAT for review of that decision but before the determination of the
application, the application is to be treated as if:
(a) the decision as varied had been affirmed by the SSAT; and
(b) the application were an application for review of the decision as
varied.
(2) If an officer sets a decision aside and substitutes a new decision
after an application has been made to the AAT for review of the original
decision but before the determination of the application, the application is to
be treated as if:
(a) the SSAT had set aside the original decision and substituted the new
decision; and
(b) the application were an application for review of the new
decision.
(3) If:
(a) a person applies to the AAT for review of a decision; and
(b) before determination of the application, an officer varies the
decision or sets the decision aside and substitutes a new decision;
the applicant may, instead of proceeding with the application under
subsection (1) or (2), withdraw the application.
The AAT may only review a decision that has been reviewed by the
SSAT.
(1) The Secretary may agree with other parties to proceedings before the
AAT that relate to the recovery of a debt that the proceedings be settled. The
agreement must be in writing.
(2) If proceedings are settled and the Secretary gives the AAT a copy of
the agreement to settle the proceedings, the application for review of the
decision the subject of the proceedings is taken to have been
dismissed.
In this Subdivision:
AAT Act means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act
1975.
The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review of a
decision as if the reference in subsection 29(11) of the AAT Act to the person
who made the decision were a reference to each person who was a party to the
review of the decision by the SSAT (other than the party who made the
application under section 180).
The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review as if
the reference in paragraph 30(1)(b) of the AAT Act to the person who made the
decision were a reference to each party to the review of the decision by the
SSAT.
(1) The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review as
if references in section 37 of the AAT Act to the person who made the decision
the subject of the application were references to:
(a) if the original decision was made by the CEO or an employee of the
Agency—the CEO; or
(b) in any other case—the Secretary.
(2) If a person applies to the AAT under section 180 for review of a
decision, the Secretary is to be taken to have complied with the
Secretary’s obligations under paragraph 37(1)(a) of the AAT Act in
relation to the decision if the Secretary gives the AAT the prescribed number of
copies of the statement prepared by the SSAT under paragraph
178(1)(a).
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit the powers of the AAT under section 38
of the AAT Act.
(4) If:
(a) a person applies under section 180 for review of a decision;
and
(b) the original decision was made by the CEO or an employee of the
Agency;
subsection (2) applies as if references to the Secretary were references to
the CEO.
(5) In this section:
original decision means the decision that was reviewed by the
SSAT.
The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review as if
references in section 38 of the AAT Act to the person who lodges a statement
referred to in paragraph 37(1)(a) of that Act with the AAT were references to
the Executive Director.
(1) The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review of
a decision as if references in subsection 41(4) of the AAT Act to the person who
made the decision were references to each party to the review by the
SSAT.
(2) The AAT Act applies to an application under section 180 for review of
a decision as if references in section 41 of the AAT Act to the decision to
which the relevant proceeding relates were references to:
(a) if the SSAT affirmed the original decision—the original
decision; or
(b) if the SSAT varied the original decision:
(i) the original decision as varied by the SSAT; and
(ii) the original decision; or
(c) if the SSAT set aside the original decision and substituted a new
decision:
(i) the new decision; and
(ii) the original decision; or
(d) if the SSAT set aside the original decision and sent the matter back
to the Secretary for reconsideration in accordance with any directions or
recommendations of the SSAT:
(i) any decision made as a result of that reconsideration; and
(ii) the original decision.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the original decision is the
decision that was reviewed by the SSAT.
The AAT Act applies to the review of a decision on an application under
section 180 as if the reference in subsection 42A(2) of the AAT Act to the
person who made the decision were a reference to the Secretary.
The AAT Act applies to the review of a decision on an application under
section 180 as if the reference in subsection 43(1) of the AAT Act to all powers
and discretions conferred on the person who made the decision excluded the
Secretary’s power under subsection 1218A(2) of the 1991 Act.
(1) This Division:
(a) binds the Crown in each of its capacities; and
(b) extends to:
(i) acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia, whether or not
in a foreign country; and
(ii) all persons, irrespective of their nationality or
citizenship.
(2) This Division does not require a person to give information or produce
a document to the extent that in doing so the person would contravene a law of
the Commonwealth (other than a law of a Territory).
The Secretary may require a person to give information, or produce a
document that is in the person’s custody or under the person’s
control, to the Department if the Secretary considers that the information or
document may be relevant to one or more of the following:
(a) the question whether a person who has made a claim for a social
security payment is or was qualified for the payment;
(b) the question whether a social security payment is payable to a person
who is receiving the payment;
(c) the question whether a social security payment was payable to a person
who has received the payment;
(d) the rate of social security payment that is or was applicable to a
person;
(e) the administration of an agreement between Australia and a foreign
country on social security matters;
(f) the question whether a person who has been granted a concession card
is or was qualified for the card;
(g) the question whether a person who has applied for financial supplement
is eligible for the supplement;
(h) the question whether a person who has obtained a financial supplement
is or was eligible for the supplement;
(i) the determination of the maximum amount of financial supplement that a
person is eligible for.
The Secretary may require a person who owes a debt to the Commonwealth
under or as a result of the social security law or the Farm Household Support
Act 1992:
(a) either to:
(i) give to the Department information that is relevant to the
person’s financial situation; or
(ii) produce to the Department a document that is in the person’s
custody or under the person’s control and is relevant to the
person’s financial situation; and
(b) if the person’s address changes—to inform the Department
of the new address within 14 days after the change.
If the Secretary believes that a person may have information or a
document:
(a) that would help the Department locate another person (the
debtor) who owes a debt to the Commonwealth under or as a result
of the social security law or the Farm Household Support Act 1992;
or
(b) that is relevant to the debtor’s financial situation;
the Secretary may require the person to give the information, or produce
the document, to the Department.
(1) The Secretary may require a person to give information about a class
of persons to the Department for any or all of the following purposes:
(a) to detect cases in which amounts of social security payment under the
social security law have been paid when they should not have been
paid;
(b) to detect cases in which concession cards have been granted to persons
to whom they should not have been granted;
(c) to verify the qualification of persons who have made claims for social
security payments under the social security law for those payments;
(d) to verify the eligibility of persons who have applied for financial
supplement.
(2) The information that the Secretary may require about each person in
the class of persons is all or any of the following information (but no other
information):
(a) full name and any previous name;
(b) address;
(c) sex;
(d) marital status;
(e) date of birth;
(f) date of death;
(g) dates of entries into and departures from Australia;
(h) any payments received by the person from the person given the notice,
within the period of 52 weeks before the giving of the notice, and the account
number of the account into which any of those payments were paid;
(i) in relation to a course of study being undertaken by the
person:
(i) the name of the educational institution that the person is
attending;
(ii) the name of any educational institution previously attended by the
person;
(iii) the person’s enrolment status;
(iv) the person’s student identification number;
(v) the name of the course;
(vi) the course code;
(vii) the date on which the course started or starts;
(viii) the date on which the course ends;
(ix) the subject or unit code;
(x) the normal full-time study work load for the course;
(xi) indicators of the person’s work load, including (but not
limited to) effective full-time student units, credit points, contact hours,
number of subjects undertaken and number of assignments completed;
(xii) the number of semesters required to complete the course;
(xiii) the date on which the person first attended, or will first attend,
the course;
(xiv) the date on which the person last attended, or will last attend, the
course;
(xv) whether the person has discontinued the course and, if the person has
discontinued the course, the date on which it happened;
(xvi) details of any unapproved absences from the course;
(xvii) the results or grade obtained by the person;
(j) in relation to any employment of the person by the person given the
notice:
(i) the date on which the person’s employment started; and
(ii) the date on which the person’s employment ended.
(3) The Secretary may require information about a particular class of
persons whether or not the Secretary is able to identify any of the persons in
that class as being:
(a) persons:
(i) who have received; or
(ii) who are receiving; or
(iii) who have made claims for;
social security payments; or
(b) persons:
(i) who are the holders of concession cards; or
(ii) who have made claims for concession cards; or
(c) persons who have applied for financial supplement.
(4) Within 13 weeks after information is given in response to a
requirement under subsection (1), the Secretary must decide which (if any) of
the information is, or is likely to be, relevant to a matter referred to in
subsection (1).
(5) If the Secretary decides, within the 13 week period, that some or all
of the information given in response to the requirement is not, or is not likely
to be, relevant to a matter referred to in subsection (1), the Secretary must
ensure that any record of the irrelevant information is destroyed.
(6) If the Secretary has not made a decision under subsection (4) at the
end of the 13 week period, the Secretary must ensure that any record of all or
any part of the information is destroyed.
(1) A requirement under this Division must be made by written notice given
to the person of whom the requirement is made.
(2) The notice:
(a) may be given personally or by post or in any other manner approved by
the Secretary; and
(b) must specify:
(i) how the person is to give the information or produce the document to
which the requirement relates; and
(ii) the period within which the person is to give the information or
produce the document to the Department; and
(iii) the officer (if any) to whom the information is to be given or the
document is to be produced; and
(iv) that the notice is given under this section.
(3) The period specified under subparagraph (2)(b)(ii) must not end
earlier than 14 days after the notice is given.
(4) The notice may require the person to give the information by appearing
before a specified officer to answer questions.
(5) If the notice requires the person to appear before an officer, the
notice must specify a time and place at which the person is to appear. The time
must be at least 14 days after the notice is given.
A person must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply
with a requirement under this Division to give information or produce a document
to the extent that the person is capable of complying with the
requirement.
Penalty: Imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.
Nothing contained in a law of a State or a Territory operates to prevent
a person from:
(a) giving information; or
(b) producing a document; or
(c) giving evidence;
that the person is required to give or produce to the Department or an
officer for the purposes of the social security law.
If a person’s employment (including employment under a contract for
services) ceases, the person may request his or her former employer to give the
person a statement, in accordance with a form approved by the Secretary, about
that employment.
If a person makes a request under section 200, the former employer must
comply with the request as soon as practicable.
Penalty: Imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.
(1) Nothing in this Division prevents a person from disclosing information
to another person if the information is disclosed for the purposes of the
Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 or the Child
Support (Assessment) Act 1989.
(2) The provisions of this Division that relate to the disclosure of
information do not affect the operation of the Freedom of Information Act
1982.
(1) A person may obtain protected information if the information is
obtained for the purposes of the social security law, the Child Care Payments
Act 1997 or the Farm Household Support Act 1992.
(2) A person may:
(a) make a record of protected information; or
(b) disclose such information to any person; or
(c) otherwise use such information;
if the record, disclosure or use made of the information by the person is
made:
(d) for the purposes of the social security law, the Child Care
Payments Act 1997 or the Farm Household Support Act 1992;
or
(e) for the purpose for which the information was disclosed to the person
under section 208 or 209 of this Act.
(1) If:
(a) a person intentionally obtains information; and
(b) the person:
(i) is not authorised by or under the social security law or the Farm
Household Support Act 1992 to obtain the information; and
(ii) has no other lawful authority to obtain the information;
and
(c) the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the information is
protected information;
the person is guilty of an offence.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is punishable on conviction by
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(1) If:
(a) a person intentionally:
(i) makes a record of; or
(ii) discloses to any other person; or
(iii) otherwise makes use of;
information; and
(b) the person is not authorised or required by or under the social
security law or the Farm Household Support Act 1992 to make the record,
disclosure or use of the information that is made by the person; and
(c) the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the information is
protected information;
the person is guilty of an offence.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is punishable on conviction by
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(1) If:
(a) a person (the first person) solicits the disclosure of
protected information from an officer or another person; and
(b) the disclosure would be in contravention of this Division;
and
(c) the first person knows or ought reasonably to know that the
information is protected information;
the first person is guilty of an offence, whether or not any protected
information is actually disclosed.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is punishable on conviction by
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(1) A person who offers to supply (whether to a particular person or
otherwise) information about another person, knowing the information to be
protected information, is guilty of an offence.
(2) A person who holds himself or herself out as being able to supply
(whether to a particular person or otherwise) information about another person,
knowing the information to be protected information, is guilty of an
offence.
(3) An offence against subsection (1) or (2) is punishable on conviction
by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(4) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) renders an officer acting in the
performance or exercise of his or her duties, functions or powers under the
social security law or the Farm Household Support Act 1992 guilty of an
offence.
An officer must not, except for the purposes of the social security law,
the Child Care Payments Act 1997 or the Farm Household Support Act
1992, be required
(a) to produce any document in his or her possession; or
(b) to disclose any matter or thing of which he or she had
notice;
because of the performance or exercise of his or her duties, functions or
powers under the social security law or the Farm Household Support Act
1992, to:
(c) a court; or
(d) a tribunal; or
(e) an authority; or
(f) a person;
having power to require the production of documents or the answering of
questions.
(1) Despite sections 205 and 208, the Secretary may:
(a) if the Secretary certifies that it is necessary in the public interest
to do so in a particular case or class of cases—disclose information
acquired by an officer in the performance of his or her functions or duties or
in the exercise of his or her powers under the social security law, the Child
Care Payments Act 1997 or the Farm Household Support Act 1992 to such
persons and for such purposes as the Secretary determines; or
(b) disclose any such information:
(i) to the Secretary of a Department of State of the Commonwealth or to
the head of an authority of the Commonwealth for the purposes of that Department
or authority; or
(ii) to a person who is expressly or impliedly authorised by the person to
whom the information relates to obtain it; or
(iii) to a competent authority or competent institution of a foreign
country that is a party to a scheduled international social security agreement
for any purpose relating to giving effect to that agreement.
(2) In giving certificates for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), the
Secretary must act in accordance with guidelines from time to time in force
under section 210.
(3) In disclosing information under subparagraph (1)(b)(i), the Secretary
must act in accordance with guidelines from time to time in force under section
210.
(4) If an expression used in subsection (1) in relation to a foreign
country is defined in a scheduled international social security agreement to
which that country is a party, the expression has the same meaning, when used in
this section, in relation to that country as it has in the agreement.
(1) The Minister, by determination in writing:
(a) is to determine guidelines for the exercise of:
(i) the Secretary’s power to give certificates for the purposes of
paragraph 209(1)(a); and
(ii) the Secretary’s power under subparagraph 209(1)(b)(ii);
and
(b) may revoke or vary those guidelines.
(2) A determination under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument for
the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901.
An officer must make a declaration in a form approved by the Minister or
the Secretary if required to do so by the Minister or the
Secretary.
This Part extends to:
(a) acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia, whether or not
in a foreign country; and
(b) all persons, irrespective of their nationality, who are making, or
have made, a claim for a social security payment under the social security law;
and
(c) all persons, irrespective of their nationality, who are receiving, or
have received, a payment of a social security payment under the social security
law.
A person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading
statement in connection with, or in support of, the person’s or any other
person’s:
(a) claim for a social security payment under the social security law;
or
(b) request under paragraph 1129(1)(d) of the 1991 Act that section 1129
of that Act apply to the person; or
(c) request under paragraph 1131(1)(f) of the 1991 Act that section 1131
of that Act apply to the person; or
(d) request under paragraph 1132A(1)(b) of the 1991 Act that
paragraph 838(1)(d) of that Act not apply to the person.
A person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading
statement to:
(a) deceive an officer doing duty in relation to the social security law;
or
(b) affect the rate of a social security payment under the social security
law.
A person must not knowingly or recklessly:
(a) make to an officer a statement which is false in any particular;
or
(b) present to an officer a document which is false in any
particular.
A person must not knowingly obtain:
(a) payment of a social security payment under the social security law;
or
(b) payment of an instalment of a social security payment under the social
security law;
which is:
(c) not payable at all; or
(d) only payable in part.
A person must not knowingly obtain:
(a) payment of a social security payment under the social security law;
or
(b) payment of an instalment of a social security payment under the social
security law;
by means of:
(c) a false or misleading statement made knowingly or recklessly;
or
(d) impersonation; or
(e) a fraudulent device.
A person who contravenes a provision of Division 2 is guilty of an
offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12
months.
(1) If a person is convicted of an offence against section 218, the court
may:
(a) impose a penalty in respect of the offence; and
(b) order the person to pay the Commonwealth an amount equal to any amount
paid by way of social security payment because of the act, failure or omission
that constituted the offence.
(2) In spite of anything in the social security law or any other law, a
person is not to be imprisoned for failing to pay an amount payable to the
Commonwealth under paragraph (1)(b).
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a person is convicted of more than one
offence against section 218, the court may, if it thinks fit, impose one penalty
for all the offences.
(2) A single penalty imposed under subsection (1) must not exceed the sum
of the maximum penalties that could be imposed if a separate penalty were
imposed for each offence.
Charges against the same person for a number of offences against section
218 may be joined in one complaint, information or declaration if those
charges:
(a) are founded on the same facts; or
(b) form a series of offences of the same or a similar character;
or
(c) are part of a series of offences of the same or a similar
character.
If 2 or more charges are included in the same complaint, information or
declaration, particulars of each offence charged are to be set out in a separate
paragraph.
If charges are joined, the charges are to be tried together
unless:
(a) the court considers it just that any charge should be tried
separately; and
(b) the court makes an order to that effect.
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 219(1)(b), a certificate signed by the
Secretary is evidence of the matters specified in the certificate.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a certificate may specify:
(a) a person; and
(b) an amount that has been paid to the person by way of social security
payment because of:
(i) an act; or
(ii) a failure; or
(iii) an omission; and
(c) the act, failure or omission that caused the amount to be
paid.
If:
(a) a court makes an order under paragraph 219(1)(b), under paragraph
1351(1)(b) of the 1991 Act as in force before 20 March 2000 or under subsection
239(7) of the 1947 Act; and
(b) the clerk or other appropriate officer of the court gives a
certificate specifying:
(i) the amount ordered to be paid to the Commonwealth; and
(ii) the person by whom the amount is to be paid; and
(c) the certificate is filed in a court (which may be the court that made
the order) that has civil jurisdiction to the extent of the amount to be
paid;
the certificate is enforceable in all respects as a final judgment of the
court in which the certificate is filed.
A reference in this Division to the state of mind of a person includes a
reference to:
(a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person;
and
(b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or
purpose.
A reference in this Division to a director of a corporation includes a
reference to a constituent member of a corporation incorporated for a public
purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
A reference in this Division to engaging in conduct includes a reference
to failing or refusing to engage in conduct.
A reference in this Division to an offence against the social security
law includes a reference to an offence created by section 5, 6, 7 or 7A, or
subsection 86(1), of the Crimes Act 1914 that relates to the social
security law.
If, in proceedings for an offence against the social security law in
respect of conduct engaged in by a corporation, it is necessary to establish the
state of mind of the corporation, it is sufficient to show that:
(a) a director, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that
conduct; and
(b) the director, employee or agent was, in engaging in the conduct,
acting within the scope of the director’s, employee’s or
agent’s actual or apparent authority; and
(c) the director, employee or agent had that state of mind.
If:
(a) conduct is engaged in on behalf of a corporation by a director,
employee or agent of the corporation; and
(b) the conduct is within the scope of his or her actual or apparent
authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence
against the social security law, to have been engaged in by the corporation
unless the corporation establishes that it took reasonable precautions, and
exercised due diligence, to avoid the conduct.
If, in proceedings for an offence against the social security law in
respect of conduct engaged in by a person other than a corporation, it is
necessary to establish the state of mind of the person, it is sufficient to show
that:
(a) the conduct was engaged in by an employee or agent of the person
within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and
(b) the employee or agent had that state of mind.
If:
(a) conduct is engaged in on behalf of a person other than a corporation
by an employee or agent of the person; and
(b) the conduct is within the scope of the employee’s actual or
apparent authority;
the conduct is taken, for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence
against the social security law, to have been engaged in by the person unless
the person establishes that he or she took reasonable precautions, and exercised
due diligence, to avoid the conduct.
In spite of any other provision of the social security law, if:
(a) a person is convicted of an offence; and
(b) the person would not have been convicted if sections 232 and 233 had
not been in force;
the person is not liable to be punished by imprisonment for that
offence.
(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (5), the Secretary may, in writing,
delegate to an officer all or any of the powers of the Secretary under the
social security law.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) but in spite of subsection (5), the
Secretary may, in writing and in accordance with service arrangements, delegate
to the CEO or an employee of the Agency all or any of the powers of the
Secretary under the social security law.
(3) The Secretary cannot delegate to anyone except the CEO:
(a) the Secretary’s power under subsection 1218A(2) of the 1991 Act;
or
(b) the Secretary’s power under paragraph 1314(1)(b) of that
Act.
(4) If the Secretary delegates to the CEO the Secretary’s power
under subsection 1218A(2) or paragraph 1314(1)(b) of the 1991 Act, the CEO
cannot, in spite of any provision to the contrary in the Agency Act, delegate
the power to an employee of the Agency.
(5) With regard to the powers of the Secretary under:
(a) section 597 of the 1991 Act; and
(b) Subdivisions B and C of Division 1 of Part 2.12 of that Act;
the Secretary:
(c) may only delegate the powers to officers nominated by the Employment
Secretary; and
(d) cannot delegate the powers to any other officers.
(6) If the Secretary delegates to the CEO powers referred to in subsection
(5), the CEO:
(a) may only delegate the powers to officers nominated by the Employment
Secretary; and
(b) cannot delegate the powers to any other officers.
(7) The restrictions imposed by subsections (5) and (6) do not apply to
the Secretary’s powers under subsection 601(1), (1A) or (1E) of the 1991
Act.
(8) The Health Secretary may, in writing, delegate to an officer of the
Health Department all or any of the powers and functions of the Health Secretary
under this Act.
(9) The Employment Secretary may, in writing, delegate the power of the
Employment Secretary under section 28 of the 1991 Act to declare particular
programs of work to be programs of work for unemployment payment:
(a) to an officer of the Employment Department or the Department of Family
and Community Services; or
(b) to an employee of the Agency.
(10) In this section:
officer does not include the CEO or an employee of the
Agency.
The Secretary may, in writing, authorise an officer to perform duties as
an authorised review officer for the purposes of the social security
law.
(1) A decision of an officer under the social security law must be in
writing.
(2) A decision under the social security law is taken to be in writing if
it is made, or recorded, by means of a computer.
(1) If notice of a decision under the social security law is:
(a) delivered to a person personally; or
(b) left at the address of the place of residence or business of the
person last known to the Secretary; or
(c) sent by prepaid post to the postal address of the person last known to
the Secretary;
notice of the decision is taken, for the purposes of the social security
law, to have been given to the person.
(2) Notice of a decision under the social security law may be given to a
person by properly addressing, prepaying and posting the document as a
letter.
(3) If notice of a decision is given in accordance with subsection (2),
notice of the decision is taken to have been given to the person at the time at
which the notice would be delivered in the ordinary course of the post unless
the contrary is proved.
(4) This section only applies to notices of decisions, and nothing in this
section affects the operation of sections 28A and 29 of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 in relation to other notices under the social
security law (for example, a notice that requires a person to inform the
Department about some matter or a notice that requires a person to give the
Secretary a statement about some matter).
(1) The Secretary must, in accordance with section 218 of the Income
Tax Assessment Act 1936, for the purpose of enabling the collection of tax
that is, or may become, payable by a recipient of a social security
payment:
(a) make deductions from the instalments of, or make a deduction from, the
social security payment payable to a person; and
(b) pay the amount deducted to the Commissioner of Taxation.
(2) The Secretary must, in accordance with a notice given to the Secretary
under section 72AA of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act
1988 in relation to the recipient of a social security pension or a social
security benefit:
(a) make deductions from the instalments of the pension or benefit payable
to the person; and
(b) pay the amounts deducted to the Commissioner of Taxation.
(1) All courts are to take judicial notice of a signature that purports to
be attached or appended to any official document if the signature is of a person
who:
(a) holds or has held the office of:
(i) Secretary; or
(ii) Director-General of Social Security; or
(iii) Director-General of Social Services; or
(b) is or has been an officer.
(2) If the signature of a person referred to in subsection (1) purports to
be attached or appended to any official document, all courts are to take
judicial notice of the fact that the person holds, or has held, an office
referred to in subsection (1) or is, or has been, an officer.
(1) If the signature of any person who:
(a) holds or has held the office of:
(i) Secretary; or
(ii) Director-General of Social Security; or
(iii) Director-General of Social Services; or
(b) is or has been an officer;
purports to be attached or appended to any official document, the document
is to be received in all courts as prima facie evidence of the facts and
statements contained in it.
(2) A statement in writing signed by a person referred to in subsection
(1) that a person is or was receiving a social security payment under the social
security law or the 1947 Act on a certain date at a certain rate is to be
received in all courts as prima facie evidence that the person is or was
receiving the social security payment on the date, and at the rate,
stated.
(1) As soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, the Secretary must
give to the Minister a written report on the administrative operation of the
social security law during the financial year that ended on that 30
June.
(2) The Minister is to cause a copy of the report to be laid before each
House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister
receives the report.
Payments of social security payments under the social security law and
payments by the Commonwealth to financial corporations under the Student
Financial Supplement Scheme established under Chapter 2B of the 1991 Act are to
be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated
accordingly.
(1) The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing
matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to this Act
and, in particular, may make regulations prescribing penalties of a fine not
exceeding 10 penalty units for any breach of the regulations.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the matters that may be prescribed by
regulations include:
(a) ways (other than ways involving the use of a document) in which a
claim, application, submission, declaration or determination may be made or
withdrawn, or information or a notice, statement, certificate, direction or
consent may be given, for the purposes of a provision of the social security
law; and
(b) matters relating to the doing of anything in a way referred to in
paragraph (a), including matters relating to proof of the doing of things in
such a way.
(3) The reference in subsection (2) to ways by which something may be
made, withdrawn or given includes, but is not limited to:
(a) the use of electronic equipment; and
(b) ways that involve the use of a telecommunications system.
(4) Anything made, withdrawn or given in a way prescribed by regulations
made by virtue of subsection (2) is taken, for the purposes of the social
security law:
(a) to have been made, withdrawn or given in writing; and
(b) to have been made, withdrawn or given in accordance with this
Act.
(5) The reference in paragraph (2)(a) to a determination does not include
a reference to a determination that is a disallowable instrument.
A reference in:
(a) a provision of a law of the Commonwealth or a Territory enacted before
20 March 2000 (whether or not the provision has come into operation);
or
(b) an instrument or a document;
to a provision of the 1991 Act that has been repealed by the Social
Security (Administration) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 is, on and
after 20 March 2000, to be construed as a reference to the corresponding
provision of this Act.
(1) If one provision of the 1991 Act and one provision of
this Act have the same legal effect, the 2 provisions correspond to each
other.
(2) If:
(a) a provision of the 1991 Act has a particular legal effect in relation
to a number of payment types; and
(b) a provision of this Act has that legal effect in relation to one or
more, but not all, of those payment types;
the provisions correspond to each other, for the purpose of subsection (1),
in relation to the payment types referred to in paragraph (b).
(3) In this section:
legal effect includes conferring the power to issue an
instrument.
payment type means a pension, benefit or allowance.
(1) If a determination under the 1991 Act granting a claim
for a social security payment or concession card is in force immediately before
20 March 2000, the determination has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it
were a determination under this Act granting a claim for the payment or
card.
(2) If a determination under the 1991 Act directing the
making of a payment of a social security payment is in force immediately before
20 March 2000, the determination has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it
were a determination under this Act directing the making of a payment of the
social security payment.
(1) An instrument that was in force, immediately before 20
March 2000, under a provision of the 1991 Act that is amended or repealed by the
Social Security (Administration) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 has
effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it were an instrument made under the
corresponding provision of this Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the instrument may
be:
(a) a determination; or
(b) a direction; or
(c) an approval; or
(d) a notice; or
(e) a declaration; or
(f) an authorisation.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to:
(a) a determination to which section 247 applies; or
(b) a delegation under section 1299 of the 1991 Act.
(4) If an instrument to which subsection (1) applies was, when
made, to have effect only for a limited period, the instrument has effect under
subsection (1) only for so much of the period as had not already expired before
20 March 2000.
(1) If:
(a) a person has lodged a claim for a social security payment or a
concession card under the 1991 Act before 20 March 2000; and
(b) the claim has not been determined before 20 March 2000;
the claim has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it were a claim
under this Act for the payment or card.
(2) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to a claim; and
(b) the claim is granted under this Act;
the determination granting the claim may have a date of effect before 20
March 2000.
(3) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to a claim; and
(b) the claim is granted under this Act; and
(c) the determination granting the claim has a date of effect before 20
March 2000;
the payment of instalments during the period that starts on the date of
effect of the determination and ends on 19 March 2000 is taken to be made under
this Act and the person making the claim has no rights under the 1991 Act
arising from the claim.
If:
(a) an instalment period relating to an instalment of a social security
payment payable to a person under the 1991 Act commenced before 20 March 2000;
and
(b) the instalment period would have ended after 20 March 2000;
this Act has effect in relation to that period and that instalment as
if:
(c) this Act had been in force throughout the whole of the instalment
period; and
(d) the instalment period had been a period determined under subsection
42(1) of this Act.
If:
(a) before 20 March 2000, a person made an application under a provision
of the 1991 Act that relates to the payment of a social security payment after a
person has died; and
(b) the application was not determined before 20 March 2000;
then:
(c) the application has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it had
been made under the corresponding provision of this Act and:
(d) this Act has effect as if the amount in respect of which the
application was made were an amount payable under this Act; and
(e) the application has no effect for the purposes of the 1991
Act.
If a provision of this Act gives the Secretary power to request a
person to give information or produce a document, the power extends to
requesting a person:
(a) to give information about matters that arose before 20 March 2000;
or
(b) to produce a document that came into existence, or relates to matters
that arose, before 20 March 2000.
(1) If:
(a) a person made an application under section 1240 of the 1991 Act before
20 March 2000; and
(b) the application was not determined before 20 March 2000;
the application has effect, from 20 March 2000, as if it were an
application under section 127 of this Act.
(2) The date of effect of the decision made in response to
the application may be before 20 March 2000.
(3) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to an application; and
(b) the date of effect of the decision made in response to the application
is before 20 March 2000;
the decision has effect, for the period that starts on the date of effect
of the decision and ends on 19 March 2000, as if it were a decision made under
the 1991 Act.
(1) If:
(a) a person made an application under section 1247 of the 1991 Act before
20 March 2000; and
(b) the application was not determined before 20 March 2000;
the application has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it were an
application under section 141 of this Act.
(2) The date of effect of the decision made in response to
the application may be before 20 March 2000.
(3) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to an application; and
(b) the date of effect of the decision made in response to the application
is before 20 March 2000;
the decision has effect, for the period that starts on the date of effect
of the decision and ends on 19 March 2000, as if it were a decision made under
the 1991 Act.
(1) If:
(a) a person made an application under section 1283 of the 1991 Act before
20 March 2000; and
(b) the application was not determined before 20 March 2000;
the application has effect, on and from 20 March 2000, as if it were an
application under section 180 of this Act.
(2) The date of effect of the decision made in response to
the application may be before 20 March 2000.
(3) If:
(a) subsection (1) applies to an application; and
(b) the date of effect of the decision made in response to the application
is before 20 March 2000;
the decision has effect, for the period that starts on the date of effect
of the decision and ends on 19 March 2000, as if it were a decision made under
the 1991 Act.
If:
(a) a person made an application under section 1240, 1247 or 1283 of the
1991 Act before 20 March 2000; and
(b) the application was not determined before 20 March 2000;
anything done under, or for the purposes of, a provision of the 1991 Act
before 20 March 2000 has effect, on and after that date, as if it had been done
under, or for the purposes of, the corresponding provision of this
Act.
(1) Subsection (2) applies to an amount that:
(a) would have been payable on or after 20 March 2000; and
(b) represents an entitlement that arose before 20 March 2000 under a
provision of the 1991 Act as in force before that date.
(2) For the purposes of section 243, an amount to which this subsection
applies is taken to be payable, on and after 20 March 2000, under the social
security law.
(3) A debt due under the 1991 Act before 20 March 2000 and remaining
unpaid on that date is taken to be a debt due under the social security
law.
(1) The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters in
relation to any transitional matters (including prescribing any saving or
application provisions) arising out of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), and in spite of any other provision
of this or any other Act, regulations made by virtue of subsection (1)
may:
(a) modify the effect of a provision of this Part (other than this
section); or
(b) substitute another provision for any provision of this Part (other
than this section); or
(c) add a provision to this Part (other than this section).
(1) In this section:
instalment means an instalment of a social security pension
or benefit.
(2) If the amount of an instalment would be:
(a) one or more whole dollars and a part of a cent; or
(b) one or more whole dollars and cents and a part of a cent;
the amount is to be increased or decreased to the nearest whole
cent.
(3) If the amount of an instalment would be:
(a) one or more whole dollars and 0.5 cent; or
(b) one or more whole dollars and cents and 0.5 cent;
the amount is to be increased by 0.5 cent.
(4) If, apart from this subsection, the amount of an instalment would be
less than $1.00, the amount is to be increased to $1.00.
If the amount of an instalment of family allowance would not be a
multiple of 5 cents, the amount is to be increased to the nearest amount that is
a multiple of 5 cents.
This Part ceases to have effect immediately before the commencement of
section 53.
Note: See section 3.
(1) In this Act:
1991 Act means the Social Security Act 1991.
AAT means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
authorised review officer means an officer authorised under
section 236 to perform duties as an authorised review officer for the purposes
of the social security law.
concession card means a seniors health card.
social security periodic payment means:
(a) a social security benefit; or
(b) a social security pension; or
(c) carer allowance; or
(d) family allowance; or
(e) family tax payment; or
(f) double orphan pension; or
(g) mobility allowance; or
(h) non-benefit PP (partnered); or
(i) pensioner education supplement.
SSAT means the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.
transfer day, in relation to a transferee to a
social security pension or benefit, has the meaning given by subclause
(2).
transferee, in relation to a
social security pension or benefit, has the meaning given by subclause
(2).
(2) If:
(a) a social security pension or benefit (the old payment)
ceases to be payable to a person otherwise than because another social security
payment becomes payable to the person; and
(b) immediately after the old payment ceases to be payable, the person is
qualified for another social security pension or benefit (the new
payment); and
(c) the person makes a claim for the new payment;
the person is a transferee to the new payment and the person’s
transfer day is the day that immediately follows the last day on which the old
payment is payable to the person.
Note: See section 41.
In this Schedule, unless the contrary intention appears:
benefit means a social security benefit.
pension means a social security pension.
(1) If:
(a) but for this subclause, a person would have a start day under Part 2
of this Schedule in relation to a social security payment and would also have a
start day under Part 3 of this Schedule in relation to the same payment;
and
(b) the start day under Part 3 would be earlier than the start day under
Part 2;
the day worked out under Part 3 is the person’s start day in relation
to the social security payment.
(2) If, but for this subclause, a person would have 2 start days under
Part 3 of this Schedule in relation to the same social security payment, one day
earlier than the other, the earlier day is the person’s start day under
Part 3 in relation to the social security payment.
(3) If:
(a) 2 or more clauses of Part 3 of this Schedule apply to the working out
of a person’s start day in relation to a social security payment;
and
(b) the person’s start day under both or all of those clauses is the
same day;
that day is the person’s start day under Part 3 in relation to the
social security payment.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a social security payment; and
(b) the person is qualified for the payment on the day on which the claim
is made;
the person’s start day in relation to the payment is the day on which
the claim is made.
(1) If:
(a) a person (other than a detained person) makes a claim for a relevant
social security payment; and
(b) the person is not, on the day on which the claim is made, qualified
for the payment; and
(c) assuming the person does not sooner die, the person will, because of
the passage of time or the occurrence of an event, become qualified for the
payment within the period of 13 weeks after the day on which the claim is made;
and
(d) the person becomes so qualified within that period;
the claim is taken to be made on the first day on which the person is
qualified for the social security payment.
(2) For the purposes of subclause (1), the following provisions have
effect:
(a) subject to paragraph (b), any social security payment, other than
newstart allowance or special benefit, is a relevant social security
payment;
(b) family allowance, family tax payment, maternity allowance, maternity
immunisation allowance or parenting payment is not a relevant social security
payment in the case of a person who becomes qualified for the allowance or
payment because of the birth of a child.
(3) If:
(a) a detained person makes a claim for a social security payment;
and
(b) the person is not, on the day on which the claim is made, qualified
for the payment; and
(c) the person becomes qualified for the payment within 3 weeks after the
claim is made;
the claim is taken to be made on the first day on which the person is
qualified for the payment.
(4) If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a newstart allowance; and
(b) the person is in receipt of youth allowance or austudy payment;
and
(c) the claim is made not earlier than 4 weeks before the day on which, in
the opinion of the Secretary, the person will become qualified for a newstart
allowance;
the claim is taken to be made on the day on which the person becomes
qualified for that allowance.
(5) If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a newstart allowance or youth allowance;
and
(b) when the claim is made, the person is serving a liquid assets test
waiting period;
the claim is taken to be made on the first day on which the person is
qualified for a newstart allowance or youth allowance, as the case may
be.
(6) In this section:
detained person means a person who:
(a) is in gaol; or
(b) is undergoing psychiatric confinement because the person has been
charged with an offence.
(1) If, on the day that would, but for this clause, be a person’s
start day under this Schedule in relation to a social security payment, the
person is subject to one or more exclusion periods, the person’s start day
in relation to the payment is worked out as follows:
(a) if the person is subject to one exclusion period—the start day
is the first day after the end of that period;
(b) if the person is subject to 2 or more exclusion periods—the
start day is the first day after all the periods have ended.
(2) In this clause:
exclusion period means a period during which, because of a
provision of the social security law, a social security payment that would
otherwise be payable to a person is not payable to the person,
including:
(a) a waiting period; and
(b) a non-payment period; and
(c) a compensation preclusion period; and
(d) a period during which a person is in gaol.
Nothing in this Schedule operates to make a social security payment
payable to a person on a day on which, because of another provision of the
social security law, the payment is not payable to the person.
In some circumstances, a person’s start day in relation to a social
security payment may be earlier than the day worked out under Part 2 of this
Schedule. This Part contains rules that enable the start day to be worked out in
those circumstances.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a social security benefit or pension within
14 days after the person’s partner makes a claim for a social security
benefit or pension; and
(b) the person’s claim and the partner’s claim are both
granted;
the person’s start day in relation to the benefit or pension is the
first day on which the person is qualified for the pension or benefit in the
period starting on the partner’s start day in relation to the pension or
benefit granted to the partner and ending on the day on which the person made
the claim for the pension or benefit.
(1) If:
(a) a person is a transferee to a benefit or pension; and
(b) the person makes a claim for the benefit or pension within 14 days
after the day that is the person’s transfer day in relation to the benefit
or pension;
the transfer day is also the person’s start day in relation to the
benefit or pension.
(2) If:
(a) a person is a transferee to a benefit or pension; and
(b) the person makes a claim for the benefit or pension more than 14 days,
but not more than 13 weeks, after the person’s transfer day; and
(c) the Secretary determines that:
(i) during the period beginning on the person’s transfer day and
ending on the day on which the person made the claim, the person suffered from
an illness or from an incapacity due to a medical condition; and
(ii) the illness or incapacity was the sole or principal cause of the
person’s failure to make the claim within 14 days after the person’s
transfer day;
the person’s transfer day is also the person’s start day in
relation to the benefit or pension.
If a woman makes a claim for a social security payment within 4 weeks
after giving birth to a child, the woman’s start day in relation to the
payment is the first day on which the woman is qualified for the payment in the
period starting on the birth of the child and ending on the day on which the
claim is made.
(1) If:
(a) a person becomes incapacitated for work as a result of a medical
condition; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a benefit or pension within 5 weeks after
the day on which the incapacity begins; and
(c) the person continues to suffer the medical condition from the day on
which the incapacity begins until the claim is made;
the person’s start day in relation to the benefit or pension is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the benefit or pension in the
period starting on the day on which the incapacity began and ending on the day
on which the claim was made.
(2) If:
(a) a person becomes incapacitated for work as a result of a medical
condition; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a benefit or pension more than 5 weeks
after the day on which the incapacity begins; and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that:
(i) the person has continued to suffer the medical condition from the day
on which the incapacity began until the claim was made; and
(ii) the medical condition was the sole or principal cause of the
person’s failure to make the claim within 5 weeks after the day on which
the incapacity began;
the person’s start day in relation to the pension or benefit is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the benefit or pension in the
period of 4 weeks ending immediately before the day on which the claim was
made.
If:
(a) a person’s partner dies; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a social security payment within 4 weeks
after the death of the partner;
the person’s start day in relation to the payment is the first day on
which the person was qualified for the payment in the period starting on the day
on which the partner died and ending on the day on which the claim was
made.
If a person:
(a) is qualified for a disaster relief payment; and
(b) makes a claim for the payment; and
(c) within 14 days after making that claim, makes a claim for another
social security payment;
the person’s start day in relation to that other social security
payment is the day on which the person became qualified for the disaster relief
payment.
(1) If:
(a) a person, or a person’s partner, has reached pension age;
and
(b) Part 3.14A of the 1991 Act applies to the person or the person’s
partner because of a transfer of qualifying interests by the person or the
person’s partner; and
(c) the transfer was completed on or after 20 March 2000 but before 15
September 2000; and
(d) the person makes a claim for a social security payment within the
period of 3 months starting on the day on which the transfer was
completed;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the social security payment
is:
(e) the day on which the transfer was completed; or
(f) the day on which the person becomes qualified for the social security
payment;
whichever is later.
(2) If:
(a) a person, or a person’s partner, has reached pension age;
and
(b) Part 3.14A of the 1991 Act applies to the person or the person’s
partner because of a transfer of qualifying interests by the person or the
person’s partner; and
(c) the transfer was completed on or after 15 September 2000;
and
(d) the person makes a claim for a social security payment;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the social security payment
is the day on which the claim is made.
If:
(a) a person receives an austudy payment, a newstart allowance or a youth
allowance; and
(b) either:
(i) the person is subject to an administrative exclusion because of the
operation of section 551C or 577C of the 1991 Act or section 630C or 631 of that
Act applies; or
(ii) an administrative rate reduction period applies to the person and the
person’s administrative breach reduced rate is nil; and
(c) payment of the payment or allowance is cancelled; and
(d) the person lodges a claim for an austudy payment, a newstart allowance
or youth allowance within 14 days after the day (the cancellation
day) on which the cancellation of the payment or allowance referred to
in paragraph (a) takes effect;
the person’s start day in relation to the payment or allowance to
which the claim referred to in paragraph (d) relates is the day after the
cancellation day.
(1) If:
(a) a person is qualified for carer allowance for a care receiver who is a
disabled child or for 2 care receivers who are disabled children; and
(b) the person makes a claim for carer allowance within 52 weeks after the
day on which the person became qualified for the allowance;
the person’s start day in relation to the allowance is the day on
which the person became qualified for carer allowance.
(2) If:
(a) a person is qualified for carer allowance for a care receiver who is a
disabled child or for 2 care receivers who are disabled children; and
(b) the person makes a claim for carer allowance more than 52 weeks after
the day on which the person became qualified for the allowance;
the person’s start day in relation to the allowance is the first day
of the period of 52 weeks ending immediately before the day on which the claim
was made.
(1) If:
(a) a person is qualified for carer allowance for a care receiver who is a
disabled adult in circumstances where the disability affecting the adult is due
to an acute onset; and
(b) the person makes a claim for carer allowance within 26 weeks after the
day on which the person became qualified for the allowance in the circumstances
mentioned in paragraph (a);
the person’s start day in relation to the allowance is the day on
which the person became qualified for carer allowance in the circumstances
mentioned in paragraph (a).
(2) If:
(a) a person is qualified for carer allowance for a care receiver who is a
disabled adult in circumstances where the disability affecting the adult is due
to an acute onset; and
(b) the person makes a claim for carer allowance more than 26 weeks after
the day on which the person became qualified for the allowance in the
circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a);
the person’s start day in relation to the allowance is the first day
of the period of 26 weeks ending immediately before the day on which the claim
was made.
If:
(a) a person (the claimant) is qualified for a double orphan
pension for a young person; and
(b) the claimant makes a claim for double orphan pension for the young
person within 13 weeks after the birth of the young person;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the pension is the first day
on which the person was qualified for the pension in the period starting on the
day of the young person’s birth and ending on the day on which the claim
was made.
If:
(a) a person (the former recipient) who is receiving double
orphan pension for a young person dies; and
(b) another person (the claimant) makes a claim for double
orphan pension for the young person within 13 weeks after the death of the
former recipient;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the double orphan pension is
the first day on which the claimant was qualified for the pension in the period
starting on the day of the former recipient’s death and ending on the day
on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person has an FA child; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a family allowance for the child;
and
(c) the claim is made within 13 weeks after the day on which the child
became an FA child of the person;
the person’s start day in relation to the allowance is the first day
on which the person was qualified for the allowance in the period starting on
the day on which the child became a dependent child of the person and ending on
the day on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a young person becomes an FP child of an approved care organisation;
and
(b) the organisation makes a claim for family allowance for the young
person within 4 weeks after the day on which the young person became an FP child
of the organisation;
the organisation’s start day in relation to the allowance is the
first day on which the organisation was qualified for the payment in the period
starting on the day referred to in paragraph (b) and ending on the day on which
the claim was made.
(1) This clause applies if:
(a) a person who is qualified for family allowance makes a claim for
family allowance; and
(b) an FA child of the person is also a disabled child, or one of 2
disabled children, in respect of whom the person is qualified for carer
allowance under section 953 or 954 of the 1991 Act; and
(c) either:
(i) the person’s start day in relation to carer allowance is the day
determined under clause 15 of this Schedule; or
(ii) child disability allowance was payable to the person for the child or
children from a day determined in accordance with section 959 or 960 of the 1991
Act as in force at any time before 1 July 1999.
(2) If the person makes the claim for family allowance within 52 weeks
after the day on which he or she became qualified for family allowance, the
person’s start day in relation to the family allowance is the day on which
he or she became so qualified.
(3) If the person makes the claim for family allowance more than 52 weeks
after the day on which he or she became qualified for family allowance, the
person’s start day in relation to family allowance is the first day on
which the person was qualified for the allowance in the period of 52 weeks
ending immediately before the day on which the claim for family allowance was
made.
If:
(a) a person (the youth allowance claimant) makes a claim
for youth allowance (the initial claim); and
(b) on the day on which the initial claim is made, another person is
qualified for family allowance for the youth allowance claimant; and
(c) that person subsequently makes a claim for family allowance in respect
of the youth allowance claimant; and
(d) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable for this clause to
apply to that person;
the person’s start day in relation to family allowance is the day on
which the initial claim is made.
If:
(a) a person (the former recipient) who is receiving family
allowance for a young person dies; and
(b) another person (the claimant) makes a claim for family
allowance for the young person within 13 weeks after the death of the former
recipient;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the family allowance is the
first day on which the claimant was qualified for the allowance in the period
starting on the day of the former recipient’s death and ending on the day
on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person has an FTP child; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a family tax payment; and
(c) the claim is made within 13 weeks after the day on which the child
became an FTP child of the person;
the person’s start day in relation to the payment is the first day on
which the person was qualified for the payment in the period starting on the day
on which the child became an FTP child of the person and ending on the day on
which the claim was made.
(1) If:
(a) a person who is qualified for family tax payment makes a claim for
family tax payment within 13 weeks after the day on which he or she became so
qualified; and
(b) an FTP child of the person is also a disabled child, or one of 2
disabled children, in respect of whom the person is qualified for carer
allowance under section 953 or 954 of the 1991 Act; and
(c) either:
(i) the person’s start day in relation to carer allowance is the day
on which the person made a claim for carer allowance; or
(ii) child disability allowance was payable to the person for the child or
children from a day determined in accordance with section 958 of the 1991 Act as
in force at any time before 1 July 1999;
the person’s start day in relation to the family tax payment is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the payment.
(2) If:
(a) a person who is qualified for family tax payment makes a claim for
family tax payment more than 13 weeks after the day on which the person became
qualified for the payment; and
(b) an FTP child of the person is also a disabled child, or one of 2
disabled children, in respect of whom the person is qualified for carer
allowance under section 953 or 954 of the 1991 Act; and
(c) either:
(i) the person’s start day in relation to carer allowance is the day
on which the person made a claim for carer allowance; or
(ii) child disability allowance was payable to the person for the child or
children from a day determined in accordance with section 958 of the 1991 Act as
in force at any time before 1 July 1999;
the person’s start day in relation to the family tax payment is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the payment in the period of 13
weeks ending immediately before the day on which the claim for family tax
payment was made.
If:
(a) a person (the former recipient) who is receiving family
tax payment for a young person dies; and
(b) another person makes a claim for family tax payment in respect of the
young person within 13 weeks after the death of the former recipient;
the claimant’s start day in relation to the family tax payment is the
first day on which the claimant was qualified for the payment in the period
starting on the day of the former recipient’s death and ending on the day
on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a newstart allowance; and
(b) the person is qualified for a newstart allowance under subsection
593(1B) of the 1991 Act;
the person’s start day in relation to the newstart allowance is the
day on which the person made the claim for a disability support pension referred
to in paragraph 593(1B)(d) of that Act.
If:
(a) a person has a PP child; and
(b) the person makes a claim for parenting payment within 4 weeks after
the day on which the child became a PP child of the person;
the person’s start day in relation to the parenting payment is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the payment in the period
starting on the day on which the child became a dependent child of the person
and ending on the day on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a pensioner education supplement;
and
(b) when the claim is made, the person is qualified for the supplement;
and
(c) the claim is made within 4 weeks after the person became qualified for
the supplement;
the person’s start day in relation to the pensioner education
supplement is the day on which the person became qualified for the
supplement.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a pensioner education supplement after the
beginning of a calendar year but before 1 April in that year; and
(b) the person’s course of education is a full year course that
begins before 1 April in that year;
the person’s start day in relation to the pensioner education
supplement is 1 January in that year.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a pensioner education supplement after the
beginning of a calendar year but before 1 August in that year; and
(b) the person’s course of education is a full year course that
starts in the month of July in that year;
the person’s start day in relation to the pensioner education
supplement is 1 July in that year.
If:
(a) a person stops receiving sickness allowance because the person fails
to give the Secretary a certificate referred to in paragraph 669(5)(b) of the
1991 Act before the end of the person’s maximum allowance period;
and
(b) the sole or principal cause of the person’s failure is
either:
(i) the person’s medical condition; or
(ii) an act or omission of an officer of the Department; and
(c) after the end of the person’s maximum allowance period, the
person makes a claim for sickness allowance in respect of the incapacity for
which the allowance was previously granted;
the person’s start day in relation to the sickness allowance is the
first day on which the person was qualified for the allowance after the end of
the person’s maximum allowance period but not earlier than 4 weeks before
the day on which the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person who is undertaking a course of full-time study becomes
incapacitated for study as a result of a medical condition; and
(b) the person makes a claim for a youth allowance within 5 weeks after
the day on which the incapacity begins; and
(c) the person continues to suffer the medical condition from the day on
which the incapacity begins until the claim is made;
the person’s start day in relation to the youth allowance is the
first day on which the person was qualified for youth allowance in the period
starting on the day on which the incapacity began and ending on the day on which
the claim was made.
If:
(a) a person makes a claim for a youth allowance; and
(b) the person is qualified for a youth allowance under subsection 540A(1)
of the 1991 Act;
the person’s start day in relation to the youth allowance is the day
on which the person made the claim for a disability support pension referred to
in paragraph 540A(1)(c) of that Act.
If:
(a) a claim is made for family allowance in respect of a person (the
initial claim); and
(b) on the day on which the initial claim is made, the person is qualified
for youth allowance; and
(c) the person afterwards makes a claim for youth allowance; and
(d) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable for this clause to
apply to the person;
the person’s start day in relation to youth allowance is the day on
which the initial claim was made.
Note: See section 138.
The SSAT consists of the following members:
(a) an Executive Director; and
(b) such number of Directors as are appointed in accordance with this Act;
and
(c) such number of other members as are appointed in accordance with this
Act.
(1) The Executive Director is responsible for the overall operation and
administration of the SSAT.
(2) The Executive Director is to:
(a) monitor the operations of the SSAT; and
(b) take reasonable steps to ensure that decisions of the SSAT are
consistent; and
(c) take reasonable steps to ensure that the SSAT efficiently and
effectively performs its functions.
(3) The Executive Director may give directions:
(a) for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the operations of the
SSAT; and
(b) as to the arrangement of the business of the SSAT.
(1) A member of the SSAT is to be appointed by the
Governor-General.
(2) The Executive Director is to be appointed as a full-time
member.
(3) Any other member may be appointed either as a full-time member or as a
part-time member.
(1) Subject to this Schedule, a member holds office for such period as is
specified in the instrument of appointment, but is eligible for
re-appointment.
(2) The period specified under subclause (1) must not exceed:
(a) in the case of the Executive Director—5 years; and
(b) in any other case—3 years.
A member of the SSAT holds office on such terms and conditions (if any)
in respect of matters not provided for by this Schedule as are determined by the
Governor-General in writing.
(1) The Governor-General may appoint a person to act as Executive
Director:
(a) during a vacancy in the office of Executive Director, whether or not
an appointment has previously been made to the office; or
(b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Executive Director
is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any reason, unable to perform
the duties of his or her office.
(2) The Minister may appoint a person to act as Executive
Director:
(a) during a vacancy in the office of Executive Director, whether or not
an appointment has previously been made to the office; or
(b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Executive Director
is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any reason, unable to perform
the duties of his or her office.
(1) The Governor-General may appoint a person to act as a Director or a
member referred to in paragraph 1(c) of this Schedule:
(a) in the place of a person who has ceased to be a Director or such a
member; or
(b) in the place of a Director or such a member during any period, or
during all periods, when the Director or member is absent from duty or from
Australia or is, for any reason, unavailable to perform the duties of his or her
office.
(2) The Minister may appoint a person to act as a Director or a member
referred to in paragraph 1(c) of this Schedule:
(a) in the place of a person who has ceased to be a Director or such a
member; or
(b) in the place of a Director or such a member during any period, or
during all periods, when the Director or member is absent from duty or from
Australia or is, for any reason, unavailable to perform the duties of his or her
office.
(3) A person appointed to act under subsection (1) or (2) must not
continue to act for more than 12 months.
(1) If a person has been appointed under subclause 6(1) or paragraph
7(1)(b), the Governor-General may direct that the person is to continue to act
in the appointment after the normal terminating event occurs.
(2) If a person has been appointed under subclause 6(2) or paragraph
7(2)(b), the Minister may direct that the person is to continue to act in the
appointment after the normal terminating event occurs.
(3) A direction under subclause (1) or (2) must specify the period during
which the person may continue to act in the appointment.
(4) The period specified in accordance with subclause (3) may be specified
by reference to the happening of a particular event or the existence of
particular circumstances.
(5) A direction under subclause (1) or (2):
(a) is to be given only if there is a pending review or other special
circumstances justifying the giving of the direction; and
(b) may only be given before the normal terminating event
occurs.
(6) A person continuing to act in accordance with a direction under
subclause (1) or (2) must not continue to act for more than 12 months after the
normal terminating event occurs.
(7) For the purposes of this clause, the normal terminating event for an
appointment under clause 6 or 7 is:
(a) if the appointment is made under paragraph 6(1)(a) or (2)(a)—the
filling of the vacancy in the office of Executive Director; or
(b) if the appointment is made under paragraph 6(1)(b) or (2)(b)—the
Executive Director ceasing to be absent or ceasing to be unable to perform the
duties of his or her office; or
(c) if the appointment is made under paragraph 7(1)(b)—the Director
or member ceasing to be absent or ceasing to be unable to perform the duties of
his or her office; or
(d) if the appointment is made under paragraph 7(2)(b)—the Director
or member ceasing to be absent or ceasing to be unable to perform the duties of
his or her office.
(1) If the SSAT as constituted for the purposes of a review includes a
person acting or purporting to act by virtue of an appointment under clause 6 or
7, any decision of, or any direction given or any other act done by, the SSAT as
so constituted is not invalid merely because:
(a) the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or
(b) there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;
or
(c) the appointment had ceased to have effect; or
(d) the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had
ceased.
(2) Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act by
virtue of an appointment under clause 6 or 7 is not invalid merely
because:
(a) the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or
(b) there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;
or
(c) the appointment had ceased to have effect; or
(d) the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had
ceased.
(1) Subject to clause 11, the Executive Director may give written
directions as to the members who are to constitute the SSAT for the purposes
of:
(a) a particular review; or
(b) reviews of a particular kind.
(2) Without limiting subclause (1), the Executive Director may give a
direction under that subclause as to the members who are to constitute the SSAT
for the purposes of all reviews, or reviews of a particular kind, that are
listed for hearing at a particular place during a particular period or during
particular periods.
(3) For the purposes of a review, the SSAT is to be constituted by the
members ascertained in accordance with the directions given under subclause
(1).
The maximum number of members to constitute the SSAT for the purposes of
a review is 3.
(1) If the hearing of a review of a decision has been commenced or
completed by the SSAT constituted by 2 or more members but, before the matter to
which the proceeding relates has been determined, one of the members
constituting the SSAT for the purposes of the review has:
(a) ceased to be a member; or
(b) ceased to be available for the purposes of the review;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) if the SSAT was constituted by 2 or more members and the Executive
Director does not give a direction under clause 7 reconstituting the SSAT for
the purposes of the review—the hearing and determination, or the
determination, of the review may be completed by the SSAT constituted by the
remaining member or members;
(d) in any other case—the proceeding must be reheard by the SSAT as
constituted in accordance with the directions of the Executive Director under
clause 11.
(2) If a review is reheard by the SSAT, the SSAT may, for the purposes of
that review, have regard to any record of the proceedings before the SSAT as
previously constituted.
(3) The reference in subclause (2) to a record of proceedings includes a
reference to a record of any evidence taken in the proceeding.
(1) A member is to be paid such remuneration as is determined by the
Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) If no determination of a member’s remuneration by the
Remuneration Tribunal is in operation, the member is to be paid such
remuneration as is prescribed.
(3) This clause has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act
1973.
(1) Subject to section 87E of the Public Service Act 1922, a member
has such recreation leave entitlements as are determined by the Remuneration
Tribunal.
(2) The Minister may grant the Executive Director leave of absence, other
than recreation leave, on such terms and conditions as to remuneration or
otherwise as the Minister determines.
(3) The Executive Director may grant another full-time member leave of
absence, other than recreation leave, on such terms and conditions as to
remuneration or otherwise as the Minister determines.
(4) A determination under subclause (2) or (3) must be in
writing.
(1) The Executive Director may approve another full-time member’s
engaging in paid employment outside the duties of the member’s
office.
(2) The Minister may give the Executive Director directions as to the
exercise of the Executive Director’s power under subclause (1), and the
Executive Director must comply with any such directions.
(3) A direction under subclause (2) must be in writing.
A member may resign his or her office by writing signed by the member and
delivered to the Minister.
(1) The Governor-General may remove a member from office on the ground of
proved misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.
(2) The Minister may suspend a member from office on the ground of proved
misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.
(3) If the Minister suspends a member from office, the Governor-General
may, on the recommendation of the Minister:
(a) remove the member from office; or
(b) direct that the suspension continue for such further period as the
Governor-General specifies; or
(c) direct that the suspension terminate.
(4) The suspension of a member from office under this clause does not
affect any entitlement of the member to be paid remuneration and
allowances.
(5) The Governor-General may remove a member from office if:
(a) the member becomes bankrupt; or
(b) the member applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of
bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or
(c) the member compounds with the member’s creditors; or
(d) the member makes an assignment of the member’s remuneration for
the benefit of the member’s creditors; or
(e) the member is a full-time member and:
(i) engages, except in accordance with an approval under clause 15, in
paid employment outside the duties of the member’s office; or
(ii) is absent from duty, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive
days or 28 days in any 12 months; or
(f) the member fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the
member’s obligations under clause 18.
(6) If a member is:
(a) an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act
1976; or
(b) a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the
Superannuation Act 1990;
the Governor-General may, with the consent of the member, by signed
instrument, retire the member from office on the ground of physical or mental
incapacity on a date specified in the instrument.
(7) The date specified under subclause (6) must not be earlier than the
date on which the instrument is signed.
(8) A member must not be suspended, removed or retired from office except
as provided by this clause.
(9) In spite of anything in this clause, a member (including the Executive
Director) who:
(a) is an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act
1976; and
(b) has not reached his or her maximum retiring age within the meaning of
that Act;
is not capable of being retired from office on the ground of invalidity
within the meaning of Part IVA of that Act unless the Commonwealth
Superannuation Board of Trustees No. 2 has given a certificate under section 54C
of that Act.
(10) In spite of anything in this clause, a member (including the
Executive Director) who:
(a) is a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the
Superannuation Act 1990; and
(b) is under 60 years of age;
is not capable of being retired from office on the ground of invalidity
within the meaning of that Act unless the Commonwealth Superannuation Board of
Trustees No. 1 has given a certificate under section 13 of that Act.
(1) If:
(a) a member is, or is to be, a member of the SSAT as constituted for the
purposes of a review; and
(b) the member has or acquires any interest, pecuniary or otherwise, that
could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s functions in
relation to that review;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) the member must disclose the interest to the applicant and to the
Secretary;
(d) except with the consent of the applicant and the Secretary, the member
must not take part in the review or exercise any powers in relation to the
review by the SSAT of the relevant decision.
(2) If the Executive Director becomes aware that:
(a) a member is, or is to be, a member of the SSAT as constituted for the
purposes of a review; and
(b) the member has, in relation to that review, an interest of the kind
referred to in paragraph (1)(b) of this clause;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) if the Executive Director considers that the member should not take
part, or should not continue to take part, in the review—the Executive
Director must give a direction to the member accordingly;
(d) in any other case—the Executive Director must cause the interest
of the member to be disclosed to the applicant and the Secretary.
(1) This clause applies to a person who is or has been:
(a) a member of the SSAT; or
(b) a person acting as a member of the SSAT; or
(c) a person (other than a member of the staff of the SSAT) providing
interpreting services at the hearing of a review by the SSAT.
(2) This clause applies to information or a document if the information or
document concerns a person and is obtained by a person to whom this clause
applies in the course of performing functions or duties, or exercising powers,
under the social security law, the Student and Youth Assistance Act 1973
or the Child Care Payments Act 1997.
(3) A person to whom this clause applies must not:
(a) make a record of any information to which this clause applies;
or
(b) divulge or communicate to any person any information to which this
clause applies;
unless the record is made or the information is divulged or
communicated:
(c) for the purposes of the social security law, the Student and Youth
Assistance Act 1973 or the Child Care Payments Act 1997; or
(d) for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of a
function or duty or the exercise of a power under the social security law, the
Student and Youth Assistance Act 1973 or the Child Care Payments Act
1997.
(4) Subclause (3) applies to the divulging or communicating of
information, whether directly or indirectly.
(5) A person to whom this clause applies is not to be required:
(a) to produce to a court any document to which this clause applies;
or
(b) to divulge or communicate to a court any information to which this
clause applies;
except where it is necessary to do so for the purpose of carrying into
effect the provisions of the social security law, the Student and Youth
Assistance Act 1973 or the Child Care Payments Act 1997.
(6) A person to whom this clause applies must make an oath or declaration
in a form approved by the Minister if required by the Minister to do
so.
(7) For the purposes of this clause, a person who is providing
interpreting services at the hearing of a review by the SSAT is to be taken to
be performing a function under the social security law, the Student and Youth
Assistance Act 1973 or the Child Care Payments Act 1997.
(8) In this clause:
court includes any tribunal, authority or person having power
to require the production of documents or the answering of questions.
produce includes permit access to.
The Executive Director may, in writing, delegate to a member of the SSAT
all or any of the powers and functions of the Executive Director under this Act,
the Student and Youth Assistance Act 1973, the Child Care Payments Act
1997 or the Employment Services Act 1994.
(1) A member has, in the performance of his or her duties as a member, the
same protection and immunity as a member of the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal.
(2) A person representing a party at a hearing of a review before the SSAT
has the same protection and immunity as a barrister has in appearing before the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal on behalf of a party.
(3) A person appearing before the SSAT as a witness has the same
protection as a person appearing before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal as a
witness.
(1) If a person appears before the SSAT as a witness at the request of the
Executive Director, the person is entitled to be paid, in respect of the
person’s attendance, fees and allowances ascertained in accordance with a
determination under subclause (2).
(2) The Minister may determine the amounts of fees and allowances to be
paid under subclause (1).
(3) A determination under subclause (2):
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
(4) The fees and allowances referred to in subclause (1) are to be paid by
the Commonwealth.
(1) A person who is appointed as a member, or to act as a member, of the
SSAT must not discharge the duties of the office unless the person has taken an
oath, or made an affirmation, in accordance with the form of oath or affirmation
in Schedule 4.
(2) The oath or affirmation must be taken or made before a justice of the
peace or a commissioner for taking affidavits.
Any staff required to assist the SSAT are to be persons appointed or
employed under the Public Service Act 1922 and made available for the
purpose by the Secretary.
(1) The Executive Director must, as soon as practicable after the end of a
financial year, give to the Minister a report of the operations of the SSAT
during that year.
(2) The Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of the
Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the
report.
(1) Subject to subclauses (2) and (3), an appointment of a person as a
member of the SSAT that was:
(a) made before the commencement of this Schedule; and
(b) in force immediately before that commencement;
has the same effect (if any) after the commencement of this Schedule as it
would have had if:
(c) this Schedule had been in force when the appointment was made;
and
(d) the appointment had been made under this Act.
(2) If, because of subclause (1), the appointment of a person as National
Convenor has effect after the commencement of this Schedule, the person holds
office after that commencement as Executive Director.
(3) If, because of subclause (1), the appointment of a person as a senior
member of the SSAT has effect after the commencement of this Schedule, the
person holds office after that commencement as a Director.
(1) Anything done before the commencement of this Schedule by, or in
relation to, a person holding office as National Convenor has the same effect
(if any) after that commencement as it would have had if:
(a) this Schedule had been in force when the thing was done; and
(b) the thing had been done under, or for the purposes of, this Act by, or
in relation to, the Executive Director.
(2) Anything done before the commencement of this Schedule by, or in
relation to, a senior member of the SSAT has the same effect (if any) after that
commencement as it would have had if:
(a) this Schedule had been in force when the thing was done; and
(b) the thing had been done under, or for the purposes of, this Act by, or
in relation to, a Director.
(3) Anything done before the commencement of this Schedule by, or in
relation to, a member of the SSAT, other than the National Convenor or a senior
member, has the same effect (if any) after that commencement as it would have
had if:
(a) this Schedule had been in force when the thing was done; and
(b) the thing had been done under, or for the purposes of this Act, by, or
in relation to, a member of the SSAT, other than the Executive Director or a
Director.
(1) A review by the SSAT that commenced before the commencement of this
Schedule may be continued, after that commencement, as if:
(a) this Act had not been enacted; and
(b) the 1991 Act continued in force as it was in force immediately before
the commencement of this Schedule.
(2) For the purposes of subclause (1), the SSAT, as constituted under this
Act, is taken to be the SSAT as constituted under the 1991 Act as in force
immediately before the commencement of this Schedule.
Note: See clause 23, Schedule 3.
OATH
I, , swear that I will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of
the office of Executive Director (or Director or member) of the
Social Security Appeals Tribunal without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
So help me God.
AFFIRMATION
I, , solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will faithfully and
impartially perform the duties of the office of Executive Director (or Director
or member) of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal without fear or favour,
affection or ill-will.