3.4.7.10 Qualification for PBS
Qualification (1.1.Q.10) criteria
To qualify for a pension bonus, a person must meet ALL of the criteria listed in the following table. If more detail about a criterion is required, the second column indicates where you will find this.
Criterion | More Detail |
---|---|
Be a registered member of the scheme, AND | 3.4.7.20 Registration for PBS |
Has accrued at least one 12 month bonus period (1.1.B.80), AND | This topic |
Has not already received a pension bonus under either the social security OR DVA schemes, AND | This topic |
Has not received Age, or DFISA as a supplement to Age, at any time before making a claim for the pension bonus, AND | This topic and
For more information about DVA Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) please see 4.3.5.70. |
Has not received any of the following since first qualifying for Age:
|
This topic and For more information about DVA Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) please see 4.3.5.70. |
Starts to receive Age, when they claim for the pension bonus, WITHOUT the aid of an international agreement (1.1.A.120), AND | |
Claims the pension bonus within the specified time limits. | 3.4.7.80 Claiming the PBS bonus |
Act reference: SSAct section 92C Qualification for pension bonus, section 23(1)-'social security pension', section 23(1)-'social security benefit'
DVA pension bonus scheme
DVA has a similar scheme to the social security PBS. Eligibility ages for veterans with qualifying service and widow/ers are 5 years lower than for Age. Pension bonus generally ceases to accrue under the DVA scheme when a person reaches 70 years (compared to 75 in the social security scheme).
Policy reference: SS Guide 3.4.7.50 Non-accruing membership of PBS
Transfer between DVA & social security schemes
A member of the PBS registered with DVA may, if eligible, transfer their registration to the social security PBS (Centrelink). Social security rules would then apply and only those bonus periods that have accrued while eligible under the social security rules would be transferred.
A person registered with Centrelink may also transfer their registration to DVA. There is no minimum period of deferral required to transfer between the 2 schemes.
Dual membership of the DVA & social security schemes
A person may be concurrently registered with both DVA and Centrelink. However, they can only claim a bonus and pension from one agency and NOT both.
Minimum of one full bonus year
A person must accrue at least one full bonus period (1.1.B.80) of 365 days to be qualified for a pension bonus. To accrue a full year bonus period, the person must pass the work test for that period.
Previous bonus payments
A person who has claimed and received a pension bonus under either the Social Security or Veterans' Affairs Schemes, and/or DFISA bonus, CANNOT receive an additional pension bonus payment. If the person attempts to register to accrue an additional bonus, they should be advised of this and their registration should be rejected.
Previous pension/benefit recipient
A person who has received Age, or DFISA as a supplement to Age, at any time CANNOT accrue a pension bonus payment.
Explanation: The scheme is not designed to encourage older Australians to re-enter the workforce after making the decision to retire and claim Age, or the DVA equivalents.
A person CANNOT qualify for a pension bonus if, after having qualified for Age, they claim and receive:
- a social security pension or benefit (other than CP)
- a service pension (other than carer service pension) from DVA
- an income support supplement (other than carer income support supplement) from DVA, OR
- DFISA other than as a supplement to CP.
Act reference: SSAct section 92C Qualification for pension bonus
SS(Admin)Act section 17(3) to (4) Special requirements regarding claims for pension bonus
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, refer to Part VIIAB Division 3 DFISA and related payments
Policy reference: SS Guide 4.3.5.72 DFISA bonus & DFISA bonus bereavement payment & the PBS prior to 1 January 2022
Recoverable debts
An amount of pension bonus may be recoverable in certain circumstances.