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.

9.2.12 Visa subclasses 850-899 payment eligibility

Introduction

Note: The information below has been compiled by the DSS as a guide only. It only covers residential qualification for social security payments and concessions for the specified visa subclasses. Visa holders must also meet other qualification requirements to receive a payment or concession card.

Visa subclasses and their conditions are the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs. Please check the Department of Home Affairs website for any updates to visa details.

Payment eligibility

Visa subclass number Visa name Permanent residence visa AoS Sponsored/ nominated Payments & concession cards residentially qualified for Additional information
850 Resolution of Status (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified Applications for this visa must have been made between 1 October 1997 and 31 March 1998 (onshore) and 30 June 1998 (offshore).
851 (BL) Resolution of Status (Permanent) (Class BL) Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa was repealed on 9 August 2008 when the TPV arrangements were abolished.
851 (CD) Resolution of Status (Permanent)(Class CD) Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

Has a QRE and NARWP exemption

 This visa commenced on 9 August 2008 when the temporary protection arrangements were abolished. Holders of visa subclasses 785, 447, 451 and 695 visas became eligible for this visa.
852

Referred Stay (Permanent)(since 1 July 2015)

Witness Protection (Trafficking)(Permanent)(up to 30 June 2015)

 Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

Has a QRE and NARWP exemption for certain payments (Note C).

This visa came into effect on 1 January 2004.

It is one of 2 visas in the Human Trafficking Visa Framework (go to National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery on the Department of Home Affairs website).
855 Labour Agreement Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa closed to new applications on 1 July 2012, and was repealed on 1 July 2013.
856 Employer Nomination Scheme Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass was closed to new applicants from 1 July 2012, but remains open for adding secondary/dependent applicants.
857 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass was closed to new applicants from 1 July 2012, but remains open for adding secondary/dependent applicants.
858 Distinguished Talent Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 -
859 Designated Parent Yes - permanent Mandatory AoS (Note D) Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in April 2000.
861 Skilled Independent New Zealand Citizen Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
862 Skilled Australian Sponsored New Zealand Citizen Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
863 Skilled Designated Area - Sponsored New Zealand Citizen Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
864 Contributory Aged Parent Yes - permanent Mandatory AoS (Note D) Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 -
866 Protection Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

Has a QRE (Note E) and NARWP exemption (Note F).

 -
870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa commenced on 17 April 2019.
880 Skilled - Independent Overseas Student Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
881 Skilled - Australian Sponsored Overseas Student Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
882 Skilled - Designated Area Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
883 Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Residence) Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified -
885 Skilled - Independent Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 September 2007 and was closed to all new applications from 1 January 2013.
886 Skilled - Sponsored Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 September 2007 and was closed to all new applications from 1 January 2013.
887 Skilled - Regional Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 September 2007.
888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Yes - permanent No AoS State or territory government nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 July 2012.
890 Business Owner Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply

 -
891 Investor Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 -
892 State/Territory Sponsored Skilled Business Owner Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 -
893 State/Territory Sponsored Investor Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply.

 -

Notes

Note Explanation
A A NARWP (1.1.N.70) of between one and 4 years applies to most concession cards, social security payments, FTB Part A and PLP.

Payments subject to a NARWP are payable only if the person has either served, or is exempt from, the NARWP. Concession cards subject to a NARWP can only be issued if a person has either served, or is exempt from, the NARWP.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.2.40 Newly arrived resident's waiting period (NARWP), 3.1.2.43 Exemptions from the NARWP

FA Guide 2.2.1.10 NARWP for FTB Part A

PPL Guide 2.4.3 NARWP for PLP
B A QRP (1.1.Q.37) of 2 years or 10 years applies to certain social security payments. Holders of permanent residence visas must satisfy this QRP, or be eligible for an exemption, in order to qualify for these payments.

Age and DSP have a 10-year QRP.

PP has a 2-year (104 week) QRP. This QRP is served concurrently with the NARWP where both apply.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.4.1.10 Qualification for Age, 3.6.1.12 Qualification for DSP - 15 hour rule (see heading 'Residence qualification criteria'), 1.1.Q.35 Qualifying residence exemption (QRE), 3.1.2.40 Newly arrived resident's waiting period (NARWP), 3.5.1.70 Residence qualification for PP - overview
C The holder of a subclass 852 visa has a QRE for all social security benefits (1.1.S.190) (other than SpB), PPS, CP, MOB, CSHC and HCC due to a Ministerial determination made under SSAct paragraph 7(6AA)(f).

The holder of this visa also has a flow on NARWP exemption for the above payments because of the QRE.

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.Q.35 Qualifying residence exemption (QRE), 3.1.2.70 Exemptions from waiting periods
D

Certain visas require an AoS. An AoS is a commitment by one or more Australian residents as defined by the SSAct section 7(2) (the assurer) to provide financial support to a new resident (the assuree) during the AoS period (between 12 months and 10 years, depending on the visa). It is also a legal commitment to repay the Commonwealth certain social security payments, if such payments are made to the new resident while the AoS is in force.

Policy reference: SS Guide 9.4.1.10 Overview of the AoS scheme
E Refugees and former refugees have a QRE under SS Act section 7(6) for all payments and concession cards.

Holders of visa subclasses 200, 201, 202, 203, 204 and 851 are regarded as refugees due to a Ministerial Declaration under section 25 of the SSAct for the purposes of subparagraph 7(6B)(c)(iii).

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.Q.35 Qualifying residence exemption (QRE)
F Refugees, former refugees and family members of a refugee have a NARWP exemption for all payments and concession cards.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.2.43 Exemptions from the NARWP

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