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.

Social Security Guide updates - 2024

5 February 2024 (v1.315)

Page Title Details
3.1.5.30 Bereavement payment provisions for couples Clarified policy.
3.1.5.120 Examples of bereavement calculations for PP Updated examples.
3.7.4.20 Qualification for CrP - extreme circumstances (domestic & family violence) forcing departure from home Updated to reflect the creation of the crisis payment extreme circumstances hubs.
3.7.4.30 Qualification for CrP - extreme circumstances (other) Updated to reflect the creation of the crisis payment extreme circumstances hubs.
3.7.4.40 Qualification for CrP - released prisoners Added Act reference.
3.9.1.45 Foster child HCC Updated Act references and clarified policy.
3.9.1.70 LIC - assessment of income Updated to correct income dates.
10.34 Agreement with Serbia New agreement.

2 January 2024 (v1.314)

Page Title Details
1.1.A.210 Approved course of education or study (YA (full-time student), Austudy, PES) Updated policy.
1.1.A.270 Articulated short course sequence (YA, Austudy, PES) Updated Act reference and clarified policy.
1.1.F.160 Foreign income (dependent YA) Updated Policy references and clarified policy.
1.1.I.50 Income components (YA) Clarified policy.
1.1.L.30 Late starting course (YA, Austudy, PES) Clarified policy.
1.1.L.100 Long term income support student (YA, Austudy) Clarified policy.
1.1.P.45 Parental means test (YA) Updated policy and added Act references.
1.1.R.30 Reasonable distance (YA) Added Act reference.
1.1.S.30 Satisfactory progress (YA) Added Act reference.
1.1.S.320 State care (YA) Clarified policy and added Act reference.
1.1.T.05 Target foreign income (dependent YA) New page.
1.1.T.105 Total net investment loss (YA) Clarified policy and updated examples.
1.2.7.40 Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS) - description Clarified policy.
1.2.7.165 Student start-up loan (SSL) - description Clarified policy.
3.1.15 Work bonus Updated section to reflect legislative change.
3.2.3.10 Qualification for YA Clarified policy.
3.2.5.20 De facto relationships (YA & DSP) Clarified policy.
3.2.5.40 Assessment of extreme family breakdown & other similar exceptional circumstances Clarified policy.
3.2.5.50 Assessment of serious risk Clarified policy.
3.2.5.90 Education or employment disadvantage (YA & DSP) Updated examples.
3.2.7.110 YA full-time students satisfactory progress - study at the same level Clarified policy.
3.3.3.10 Qualification for Austudy Clarified policy.
3.3.3.70 Austudy participation failures Added Act reference.
3.4.7.20 Registration for PBS Clarified policy.
3.6.7.47 Qualification for CA - verifying care provided by non co-resident carers Clarified policy.
3.7.6.10 Qualification for DRA Updated prescribed payments list.
3.7.6.20 Determining the rate of DRA Updated rates.
3.8.4.10 Eligibility & general rules for SFSS Clarified policy.
3.8.4.80 Repayment of the financial supplement - after the contract ends Clarified policy.
3.8.19 SSL - qualification & payability Clarified policy.
3.10.3.30 Some YA payments made weekly Added Act reference.
3.11.13.50 Financial penalties Clarified policy.
4.2.7 DRA income test Updated income cut-off amount.
4.2.8.10 Dependent YA - parental income test Clarified policy.
4.2.8.40 Independent YA - partner income test & limits Added Act reference.
4.2.8.50 Full-time students - personal income test, limits & student income bank Updated examples, income free area and maximum student income bank.
4.2.8.55 Full-time Australian Apprentice - personal income test, limits & Australian Apprentice income bank Updated income free area and examples.
4.3.1.10 Determining the rate of income for benefits Updated examples.
4.3.1.20 Determining the rate of income for pensioners of age pension age from 20/09/2009 Updated to include additional example clarifying note.
4.3.1.25 Determining the assessable income for pensioners below age pension age Updated examples to clarify treatment of lump sums
4.3.1.40 Determining the rate of income for PP Updated examples to clarify treatment of lump sums.
4.3.3.05 Employment income - assessed when paid Clarified policy.
4.9.3.35 Means test assessment of asset-tested income streams (lifetime) Updated to reflect changes to actuary life tables.
4.10.1.50 Historical employment amount (permissible child earnings) - January 1990 to present date Updated rate.
4.10.2 Historical unemployment (including JSP), sickness benefit & SA income test from September 1969 to present date Updated to reflect indexation.
4.10.4.10 Historical widow class A, sole parent benefit & PPS means test limits Updated to reflect indexation on Table 3 Income & assets test.
5.1.1.20 YA - current rates Updated rates.
5.1.2.30 Austudy - current rates Updated rates.
5.1.4.40 DOP - current rate Updated rate.
5.1.5.40 MOB - current rates Updated rates.
5.1.7.20 PhA - current rates Updated rates.
5.1.7.40 Relocation scholarship - current rates Updated rates.
5.1.7.46 SSL - current rate Updated rate.
5.2.1.20 Single unemployment & sickness benefit - November 1984 to present date Updated to reflect indexation.
5.2.1.50 Youth related payments - July 1986 to present date Updated rates.
5.2.2.40 Historical rates of DSP for people under 21 years of age without dependent children - July 2000 to present date Updated rates.
5.2.4.60 DOP rates - October 1973 to present date Updated rates.
5.2.5.20 CA, child disability allowance & HCA - December 1974 to present date, DNCB 1987 to 1999 Updated rate.
5.2.6.50 PhA rates - 01/11/90 to present date Added rate at 1 January 2024.
5.5.2.10 Single person 22 years & over, no dependents, income over $300 per fortnight Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.2.20 Single person 22 years & over, no dependents, income $256 & under per fortnight Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.2.30 Single person 22 years & over, no dependents, paying no rent Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.2.40 Single person aged under 22 years, no dependents, income $250 & under per fortnight Updated rates.
5.5.5 Samples of DRA rate calculations Updated dates to reflect indexation.
5.5.5.10 DRA, eligible for YA, income cut-off does not apply Updated to reflect indexation.
5.5.5.20 DRA, eligible for JSP, income cut-off does not apply Updated to reflect indexation.
5.5.5.30 DRA, eligible for JSP, income cut-off applies Updated to reflect indexation.
6.2.1 Proof of life certificate (Age, DSP, CP) Clarified policy.
6.2.4.20 DOP reviews - general provisions Updated policy.
6.2.5.130 CA (child) - reviews for recognised disabilities, medical conditions & child turning 16 years of age Clarified policy.
6.3.8.40 Student start-up loan (SSL) overpayments Clarified policy and updated Act reference.
6.9 SSL repayment arrangements Clarified policy.
8.1.8 Interviews Updated Act reference.