The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

1.2.7.110 Language, literacy & numeracy supplement (LLNS) - description

Objective

The LLNS is intended to assist people on eligible income support payments with the additional costs associated with participating in the language, literacy and numeracy program administered by the Department of State responsible for education and training.

To be qualified for the LLNS a person must be receiving an eligible income support payment and have participated in language, literacy and numeracy training which forms part of the Department of State approved training such as Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program during at least one day during the instalment period and did not also receive PES or CPS in that instalment period. A person who is receiving income support at a nil rate is still eligible to receive the LLNS.

LLNS is not indexed, income tested, or taxed but is covered by the debt recovery provisions of the SSAct.

The eligible income support payments include:

  • jobseeker payment
  • youth allowance
  • parenting payment, and
  • disability support pension.

LLNS is not payable to people unless the participant has participated in at least one day of training during a pay period. An instance where a person is considered to be participating in the training, but did not attend the training with the provider, is where the training provider closes down for a short period, e.g. Christmas period.

Act reference: SSAct section 1047 Definition (LLNS), section 1048 General statement of qualification, section 1049 LLNS not payable in certain circumstances, section 1050 Rate increase attributable to LLNS

SS(Admin)Act section 12B Language, literacy and numeracy supplement

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 52-15 Supplementary amounts of payments

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.8 Supplementary benefits - qualification & payability, 2.2.13 Supplementary benefits verification, 5.1.7 Supplementary benefits - current rates, 3.8.3.10 Qualification for PES, 5.3.1.10 Taxation of payments & PAYG payment summary - individual non-business

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