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Reproduced from Centrelink's "A Guide to Australian
Government Payments 1 July - 19 September 2010"
Basic Conditions of Eligibility
Residence Requirements
Basic Rates
Rent Assistance
Assets Test
Income Test
Basic Conditions of Eligibility
- Must have qualifying child under six if you are partnered,
aged under eight if you are single or aged under 16 if you have
been in receipt of Parenting Payment prior to 1 July 2006.
- Can be paid to only one member of a couple.
- When youngest qualifying child is aged six or over, must enter
into an Employment Pathway Plan allowing participation in a
broad range of activities.
Note: Recipients
who were granted Parenting Payment before 1 July 2006 will (subject
to continuing eligibility) remain on this payment until their
youngest child turns 16 and will have participation requirements
when their youngest child turns seven.
Residence Requirements
- Must be in Australia as an Australian resident for a period
of, or periods totalling, 104 weeks, or arrived in Australia
as a refugee, or became a single parent while an Australian
resident (for Parenting Payment Single only), or has a qualifying
residence exemption.
- Can be paid for up to 13 weeks for a temporary absence from
Australia. The length of your last return to Australia may affect
your entitlement during the absence from Australia.
- Different rules apply is a person is covered by an International
Social Security Agreement.
Basic Rates
- Single Parents: Up to $601.30* per fortnight.
*A Pension Supplement amount is included included in this fortnightly
rate. For those under Age Pension age it is currently $19.60.
A higher Pension Supplement amount may be paid if the person
has reached Age Pension age.
- Partnered Parents: Up to $417.70 per fortnight (up to $500.70
if separated by illness or respite care, or partner in prison).
- A Pension Supplement is paid to recipients of Parenting Payment
(Partnered) who have reached Age Pension age.
- Pharmaceutical
Allowance is paid to Parenting Payment (Single) recipients;
it may be paid to Parenting Payment (Partnered) recipients.
- Education Entry Payment of $208 may be payable. Until 30 June
2010, a temporary supplement of $950 will be paid to eligible
customers when Education Entry Payment is made.
- Pensioner Education Supplement may be paid to Parenting Payment
(Single) recipients.
- Mobility Allowance may be paid to Parenting Payment recipients.
- Training Supplement of $41.60 per fortnight may be payable
for the duration of an approved course of study or training
commencing prior to 30 June 2011.
- Job seekers undertaking Work for the Dole (including Full-Time
Work for the Dole and Drought Force), Green Corps activities
and the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program may be eligible
for an additional supplement of $20.80 per fortnight.
Rent Assistance
- Normally paid with Family Tax Benefit Part A.
Income Test
Single Parents:
- For maximum payment, the customer's income must be no more
than $170.60 per fortnight, plus $24.60 for each additional
child. Income over this amount reduces the rate of payment by
40 cents in the dollar.
- A part payment may be available if the customer's income is
less than $1673.85 per fortnight, plus $24.60 for each additional
child.
Partnered Parents:
Partner is not a pensioner
- For maximum payment, the person's income must be no more than
$62 per fortnight and the partner's income must be no more than
$790 per fortnight.
- The person's income reduces the rate by 50 cents for each
dollar between $62 and $250, and by 60 cents for each dollar
above $250 per fortnight.
- Partner's income up to $790 per fortnight has no effect. Income
over this amount reduces the rate by 60 cents for each extra
dollar.
- A part payment may be available provided all the following
conditions are met:
- the person's income must be less than $787.50 per fortnight;
and
- partner's income must be less than $1,486.17 per fortnight;
and
- the combined income of the couple must be less than $1,579.50
per fortnight.
- These conditions are a guide only. Some people who meet these
conditions will not be eligible for a payment. Eligibility can
only be confirmed following a full assessment of a couple's
income under the relevant income test.
- Different limits apply if the partner receives Youth Allowance
or Austudy payment.
Partner is a pensioner
- For maximum payment the couple's combined income must be no
more than $124 per fortnight.
- Couple's combined income reduces payment by 25 cents for each
dollar between $124 and $500, and by 30 cents for each dollar
above $500 per fortnight.
- For part payment, the couple's combined income must be less
than $1,579.00 per fortnight.
Assets Test
Assets Test for Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single** |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $649,250 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $963,000 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $1,193,000 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $963,000 |
Transitional Homeowner
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $604,750 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $941,500 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $1,104,000 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $941,500 |
Assets Test for Disability Support Pensioners Under 21 - Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Aged Under 21 Single - not independent |
|
| 16 - 17 years |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $394,500 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $422,500 |
| Aged Under 21 Single - independent |
|
| |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $508,250 |
| Aged Under 21 - Couple (combined) |
|
| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $907,000 |
Assets Test for Non-Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single** |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $755,000 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,094,500 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,324,500 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,094,500 |
Transitional Non-Homeowner
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $726,250 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,073,000 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,235,500 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,073,000 |
Assets Test for Disability Support Pensioners Under 21 - Non-Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Aged Under 21 Single - not independent |
|
| 16 - 17 years |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $526,000 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $554,000 |
| Aged Under 21 Single - independent |
|
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $639,750 |
| Aged Under 21 - Couple (combined) |
|
| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,038,500 |
Some assets are deemed to earn income, while certain assets
are not included in the assets test; see Deeming
- Financial Investments or contact Centrelink for more information.
Note: The rate of payment is calculated under both the income and
assets tests. The test that results in the lower rate (or nil rate) will apply.
| # |
Limits will increase if Rent Assistance is paid with your
pension. |
| * |
Assets over these amounts reduce pension by $1.50 per fortnight for every
$1,000 above the limit (single and couple combined).
Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance, Sickness Allowance,
Special Benefit, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance and Austudy Payment
and Mature Age Allowance are not payable if assets exceed these amounts.
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| ** |
For Disability Support Pension recipients, these limits apply if aged
over 21 only. For those under 21 the same income/assets test applies, but
with different limits. See your nearest Centrelink Customer Service centre
for more information. |
| Asset and Income limits for Transitional Rate and saved case customers
apply to customers who are resident in Australia, or are not absent for
more than 13 weeks only. For other cases, contact Centrelink for more
information. |
Extra Allowable amount for Retirement Village and Granny Flat Residents
If your Entry Contribution is equal to or less than the Extra Allowable Amount,
you are assessed as a non-homeowner. Your Entry Contribution will count as an
asset. You may qualify for Rent Assistance. The Extra Allowable Amount is the
difference between the non-homeowner and homeowner test limits, currently $131,500.
Hardship Provisions
If you have assets but little or no income you are expected to rearrange your
affairs to provide for yourself. In some cases that is not possible. If you
are in "severe financial hardship" you may be able to get a social
security payment. Different tests apply to such cases.
- Hardship provisions may apply.
Copyright © 2010 Forsyte
Consulting Pty Ltd unless otherwise stated.
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