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.

3.8.8.10 Qualification for RAA

Summary

This topic explains the qualification criteria for RAA and the following related issues where:

  • a recipient, their FTB or regular care (RC) child is not physically present in the RAA remote area (1.1.R.150), and
  • a recipient's partner (1.1.P.85) is not physically present in the RAA remote area.

Act reference: SSAct section 14(2) If a person's usual place of residence …

Qualification (1.1.Q.10) criteria

To qualify for RAA, a person must meet 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
ALL of the following:
receiving a benefit, pension or allowance rate GREATER than nil, AND  
have a RAA remote area as their usual place of residence, AND 3.8.8.40 Usual place of residence for RAA

be in receipt of ONE of the following payments:

  • jobseeker payment
  • youth allowance
  • austudy payment
  • age pension
  • parenting payment
  • disability support pension
  • carer payment, OR
  • special benefit.

 

3.2.1 JSP - qualification & payability
3.2.3 YA - qualification & payability
3.3.3 Austudy - qualification & payability
3.4.1 Age - qualification & payability
3.5.1 PP - qualification & payability
3.6.1 DSP - qualification & payability
3.6.4 CP - qualification & payability
3.7.1 SpB - qualification & payability

Income support recipients who have regular care of their children and do not receive FTB may receive the additional RAA for each child.

Policy reference: FA Guide 1.1.R.21 Regular care child

Recipient or child not physically present in RAA remote area

In some circumstances a person, their FTB child or RC child remain QUALIFIED for RAA even if they are not physically present in the RAA remote area. RAA is paid for the first 8 weeks of a person's TEMPORARY absence from their usual place of residence, including overseas absences. To be temporarily absent a person must intend to return to their usual place of residence.

Example 1: A person is absent from their home for a 4-week holiday. The person is taken to be temporarily absent only and is paid RAA for the full 4 weeks.

Example 2: A person is absent from their home for a 10-week holiday. The person is taken to be temporarily absent from their home for the FIRST 8 weeks of their holiday. The person is NOT physically present for the final 2 weeks of the holiday; therefore no RAA is paid for this period.

Example 3: An FTB or RC child attends boarding school outside an RAA remote area. The school term is for a period of 10 weeks. The FTB or RC child is taken to be temporarily absent from their home for the FIRST 8 weeks of the school term and is paid RAA for the full 8 weeks. The FTB or RC child is NOT considered physically present for the remaining 2 weeks of term; therefore no RAA is paid for this period. However, as soon as the child returns to the RAA remote area after the term has finished they again attract an RAA payment.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.8.8.20 Payability of RAA

Recipient's partner not physically present in RAA remote area

An RAA recipient remains qualified to receive the partnered rate of RAA, even if their partner is not physically present in the RAA remote area. There is no time limit for a partner's absence.

Legislation

The following table lists references for qualification for RAA in the SSAct.

Payment type SSAct reference
Jobseeker payment section 1068-J1
Youth allowance section 1067G-K1
Austudy payment section 1067L-F1
Age pension AND NOT blind section 1064-H1
Age pension AND blind section 1065-E1
Parenting payment (single) section 1068A-F1
Parenting payment (partnered) section 1068B-G1
Disability support pension AND
  • UNDER 21 years, AND
  • NOT blind.
 section 1066A-I1
Disability support pension, AND
  • UNDER 21 years, AND
  • ARE blind.
 section 1066B-F1
Disability support pension, AND
  • 21 years or OVER, AND
  • ARE blind.
 section 1065-E1
Disability support pension, AND
  • 21 OR OVER, AND
  • NOT blind.
 section 1064-H1
Carer payment section 1064-H1

Last reviewed: