Commonwealth Numbered Acts

SOCIAL SECURITY (POVERTY TRAPS REDUCTION) ACT 1985 No. 169, 1985 - SECT 6

6. Section 30A of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section is
substituted: Rent assistance

"30. (1) Subject to this Part, this section applies to a person who is
qualified to receive a pension under this Part, in respect of any period
during which -

   (a)  the person pays, or is liable to pay, rent at a rate exceeding $520
        per annum;

   (b)  the person is not and, if the person is a married person and the
        persons's spouse is living with the person in their home, the spouse
        is not, eligible to receive an incentive allowance under section 26 or
        133JA; and

   (c)  the person is in Australia.

"(2) For the purposes of the application of this section to a married person -

   (a)  where the person's spouse is living with the person in their home -
        any rent that the spouse pays, or is liable to pay, in respect of that
        home shall be deemed to be paid, or payable, by the person; and

   (b)  where a direction is in force under sub-section 28 (1AAA) or
        subsection 32 (1A) in respect of the person - any rent that the
        person's spouse pays, or is liable to pay, in respect of the premises
        occupied by the person shall be deemed to be paid, or payable, by the
        person.

"(3) Subject to sub-section (4), where this section applies to a person, the
maximum rate of pension applicable to the person shall be increased by an
amount per annum equal to -

   (a)  50% of the amount by which the amount of the annual rent paid, or
        payable, by the person exceeds $520; or

   (b)  $780, whichever is the lesser amount.

"(4) Where this section applies to a married person -

   (a)  whose spouse is living with the person in their home; and

   (b)  to whose spouse there is payable a prescribed pension (other than a
        benefit under Part VII) the rate of which is increased by reference to
        an amount of rent paid, or payable, by the person, the amount of any
        increase in the maximum rate of pension applicable to the person under
        sub-section (3) shall be reduced by 50%.".