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.

3.7.4.25 Qualification for CrP - remaining in the home after removal of family member due to domestic or family violence

Summary

This topic explains the issues relating to qualification for CrP for victims of domestic violence remaining in their home.

CrP may be paid to a person who opts to remain in their home after being subjected to domestic and/or family violence (1.1.D.235), where the family member leaves or is removed from the family home due to domestic and/or family violence.

Qualification criteria

A victim of domestic violence staying at home will qualify for CrP if the criteria listed in the following table are met. If more detail about the criterion is required, the second column indicates where you will find this. Examples of when a CrP is or is not payable are provided in 3.7.4.55.

Criterion More detail
A social security pension or social security benefit is payable 3.7.4.10 Qualification for CrP - general provisions
In severe financial hardship 3.7.4.10 Qualification for CrP - general provisions
Claim in Australia 3.7.4.10 Qualification for CrP - general provisions
If subject to an AoS, support is not available from the assurer, or it is unreasonable to accept the support. 3.7.4.10 Qualification for CrP - general provisions
Claim within 7 days of the abusive family member leaving or being removed This topic
The person has been subject to domestic violence by a family member This topic
The family member was living at the person's home This topic
The family member has left or has been removed from the home This topic
In Australia at the time the violence occurred This topic
Number of payments allowed This topic
Family member left so person could obtain a CrP This topic

Claim within 7 days

A person must lodge a claim for CrP within 7 days after the day on which the family member has left or has been removed from the home due to domestic and/or family violence. The 7-day claim period may be met by contacting Services Australia about a claim in that period and lodging a claim within 14 days after the contact day (see 8.1.1.60 for more details).

Example: A person suffers domestic violence; the family member responsible for the violence destroys the home. The victim takes up accommodation in a refuge. On the 3rd day at the refuge, the person lodges an apprehended violence order (AVO) against the abusive family member. The family member is removed from the home at the 4th day and the person returns to the family home that same day. This is the point at which the claiming period begins, and the person has 7 days to claim CrP from this day.

Example: A partnered couple go on holidays to the Gold Coast for 7 days. On the 4th day there is an incident of domestic violence. The woman who is the victim goes back to her home in Sydney on that day and reports the incident to the police. The family member (the husband) returns on the following day to their residence in Sydney. She then takes out a restraining order against him and he is removed from the family home. This is the point at which the claiming period begins, and the woman has 7 days to claim CrP from this day.

Person has been subject to domestic violence by a family member

Family member is defined as:

  • the partner or parent of the relevant person
  • a sister, brother or child of the relevant person
  • any other person who, in the opinion of the Secretary, should be treated for the purposes of this definition as one of the relevant person's relations (for example, a grandparent of the person, ex-partner of the person).

Domestic and/or family violence includes:

  • child abuse
  • maltreatment
  • exploitation
  • verbal abuse
  • partner abuse
  • elder abuse
  • neglect
  • sexual assault
  • emotional abuse
  • economic abuse
  • assault
  • financial coercion
  • psychological abuse, and/or
  • social abuse.

Family member was living at the person's home

The person claiming CrP and the family member responsible for the domestic violence must be living together:

  • when the family member responsible for the domestic violence leaves or is removed, and
  • at the time of the violence.

Example: A woman claims CrP after a visit from her ex-partner. During the visit they argue and he assaults her. She subsequently calls the police to have her ex-partner removed from her home. She would not qualify for CrP because at the time the family violence occurred the family member responsible for the domestic violence was not living with her.

Family member has left or has been removed from the home

The family member responsible for the violence must have left or been removed because of the violence. A person is not eligible to receive CrP if the family member responsible for the violence is still living with the person.

For the purposes of CrP, 'home' is taken to be the person's house or other shelter that is the fixed residence of a person for the foreseeable future. Fixed residence includes a house, apartment, on-site caravan, long-term boarding house or moored boat. A home is not a refuge, overnight hostel, squat or other temporary accommodation.

Verification

In most cases the family member responsible for the domestic violence will have been removed from the home by the police and there is likely to be an AVO with an exclusion provision preventing the abusive family member from living in the family home or some other similar evidence verifying the circumstances of the CrP claim.

However, in some cases the abusive family member may leave without the police involvement and verification of the violent relationship will need to be sought from a third party such as:

  • doctors
  • domestic violence services
  • legal services
  • crisis workers
  • other household members
  • community agencies
  • schools, and/or
  • child care services.

In Australia at the time of the violence

The person must have been in Australia when the violence occurred.

Example: A partnered couple go for an overseas trip and their payments are portable. The husband abuses and assaults the wife in a hotel 3 days before their departure and the incident is verified by a report from overseas police.

The wife returns to Australia 3 days after the incident and contacts Centrelink and applies for CrP. She wants to change the locks because he has keys to the house and she does not feel secure. CrP would not be payable in this case as the violence occurred outside Australia and her husband has not been removed from the family home, he is still on holidays.

If there is a long term history of domestic violence occurring in Australia prior to the overseas trip and the husband returned home and subsequently left or was removed from the home CrP may be payable.

Number of payments allowed

A person cannot be paid more than 4 payments of CrP during a 12-month period for remaining in the home after removal of a family member for violent behaviour, and/or, extreme circumstances. This does not stop a person from being paid additional prison release payments of CrP in the same 12-month period.

Example: A woman claims and receives CrP for the first time on 29 September 2020.

Date of claim Reason for payment Qualifications & payability met
29 September 2020 House burned down (CrP extreme circumstances (other)) Eligible for CrP
20 December 2020 Domestic violence (CrP extreme circumstances (domestic and family violence)) Eligible for CrP
13 February 2021 Domestic violence (CrP extreme circumstances (domestic and family violence)) Eligible for CrP
2 March 2021 CrP prison release Eligible for CrP
4 May 2021 CrP (victim of domestic violence staying at home) Eligible for CrP
30 June 2021 CrP prison release Eligible for CrP
29 July 2021 Domestic violence (CrP extreme circumstances (domestic and family violence)) Does not qualify for CrP because she has received 4 CrP in a 12-month period - excluding CrP prison release.

Intention to obtain CrP

A person is not qualified for a CrP if the Secretary is satisfied that the family member left the person's home with a view to the person obtaining a CrP.

Explanation: If the person had the family member removed with the intention of claiming, or the perpetrator left home in order to obtain CrP.

Act reference: SSAct section 1061JHA (2) Qualification—remaining in home after removal of family member due to domestic or family violence

Last reviewed: