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.

4.10.5.50 FP & AFP - maintenance income free areas

Historical maintenance income free areas

A maintenance income test applied to additional family payment (AFP), and then family payment (FP), but did not affect the minimum rate of the payment. Maintenance income above the maintenance income free area reduced the payment by 50c in the dollar. Blind pensioners were exempt from the maintenance income test. The maintenance income free areas were introduced in January 1993, and indexed each July, starting in July 1994.

The following table shows the historical maintenance income free areas in dollars per annum and per fortnight (pf) from 1 July in each of the years 1993 to 1999.

Date Maintenance for one child only For each extra child after the first
Single parent, or couple (one partner gets maintenance) Couple (both partners get maintenance)
$ pf $ p.a. $ pf $ p.a. $ pf $ p.a.
01/07/1993 32.70 850.20 65.40 1,700.40 10.90 283.40
01/07/1994 33.30 865.50 66.60 1,731.60 11.10 288.60
01/07/1995 34.20 889.20 68.40 1,778.40 11.40 296.40
01/07/1996 36.00 936.00 72.00 1,872.00 12.00 312.00
01/07/1997 36.60 951.60 73.20 1,903.20 12.20 317.20
01/07/1998 36.60 951.60 73.20 1,903.20 12.20 317.20
01/07/1999 37.20 967.20 74.40 1,934.40 12.40 322.40

Last reviewed: