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.

11.1.1.40 Hierarchy of income management measures

Hierarchy

Under the provisions of the SS(Admin)Act Part 3B Division 2 Subdivision A, a person may only be income managed under a single measure. Where a person is covered by more than 1 income management measure, the SS(Admin)Act establishes the hierarchy to be used to determine which measure the person will be subject to, as set out in the table below.

Order in hierarchy Measure SS(Admin)Act reference
1 Queensland Commission (Cape York Welfare Reform) section 123UF
2 Child Protection section 123UC
3 Supporting People at Risk (State/Territory referrals) section 123UFAA
4 School Enrolment/School Attendance section 123UD, section 123UE
5 Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient section 123UCA
6 Disengaged Youth/Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients section 123UCB, section 123UCC
7 Voluntary income management section 123UFA

Note: The School Enrolment and School Attendance income management measures are equally ranked.

This means that if a person is income managed under the Cape York Welfare Reform, they cannot be income managed under any of the other measures in the income management hierarchy. In addition, if a person is income managed under the Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measure, and then assessed as satisfying the requirements for the Cape York Measure, they would then be subject to income management under the Cape York Measure.

Example: Mick is a 45 year old father of 3 children under 10 years. Mick receives PP and has not engaged in work or study for more than 3 years. Mick may be covered by the Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measure. However, Mick is referred for income management by a child protection worker to Centrelink under the Child Protection Measure. In this situation, Mick must be income managed under the Child Protection Measure.

The Disengaged Youth and Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measures are mutually exclusive and are equally ranked in the hierarchy. The measure that applies to a specific person will depend on their age.

Example: Gabrielle is 24 years old and has been receiving JSP for 9 months. Gabrielle is subject to income management under the Disengaged Youth Measure. When Gabrielle turns 25 years old, she will no longer be subject to the Disengaged Youth Measure, but will be income managed under the Long-term Welfare Payments Recipients Measure if she continues receiving JSP or another category E welfare payment (11.1.1.50).

A person is not able to enter into an agreement for the purposes of VIM if they are income managed under any of the compulsory income management measures.

Example 1: Angus wants to enter into a VIM agreement with Centrelink, but he is also subject to income management under the Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measure. Angus must be income managed under the Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measure and cannot enter into a VIM agreement until he is no longer income managed under a compulsory measure.

If Angus is granted an exemption from income management under the Long-term Welfare Payment Recipients Measure, he could enter into a VIM agreement.

Example 2: Francine receives DSP and is not subject to the Child Protection or VWPR Measures. Francine may enter into a VIM agreement with Centrelink.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act Part 3B Division 2 Subdivision A Situations in which a person is subject to the income management regime

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