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.

12.1.4 Hierarchy of enhanced income management measures

Hierarchy

Under the provisions of the SS(Admin)Act Part 3AA Division 2, a person may only be enhanced income managed under a single measure. Where a person is covered by more than one enhanced 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 123SC
2 Child protection section 123SCA
3 Supporting people at risk (state/territory referrals) section 123SCJ
4 School enrolment/school attendance section 123SCB, section 123SCC
5 Vulnerable welfare payment recipient section 123SCL
6 Disengaged youth/long-term welfare payment recipients section 123SD
7 Voluntary enhanced income management section 123SE

Note: The school enrolment and school attendance enhanced income management measures are equally ranked.

This means that if a person is income managed under the Queensland Commission measure, they cannot be income managed under any of the other measures in the enhanced income management hierarchy. In addition, if a person is income managed under the LWPR measure, and then assessed as satisfying the requirements for the Queensland Commission measure, they would then be subject to enhanced income management under the Queensland Commission 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 LWPR measure. However, Mick is referred for enhanced 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 LWPR 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 12 months. Gabrielle is subject to enhanced 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 LWPR measure if she continues receiving JSP or another category C welfare payment (12.2.2).

A person is not able to enter into an agreement for the purposes of voluntary enhanced income management (12.3.5) if they are income managed under any of the compulsory enhanced income management measures.

Example: Angus wants to enter into a voluntary enhanced income management agreement with Centrelink, but he is also subject to enhanced income management under the LWPR measure. Angus must be income managed under the LWPR measure and cannot enter into a voluntary agreement until he is no longer income managed under a compulsory measure.

If Angus is granted an exemption from enhanced income management under the LWPR measure, he could enter into a voluntary agreement.

Example: Francine receives DSP and is not subject to any income management or enhanced income management measures (12.3.7). Francine may enter into a voluntary enhanced income management agreement with Centrelink.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act Part 3AA Division 2 Persons subject to the enhanced income management regime

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