Ali-Ahmad and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)

This matter concerned an application for carer payments under the *Social Security Act 1991* (Cth) by Ms Malake Ali-Ahmad against the Secretary of the Department of Social Services. The dispute centred on whether Ms Ali-Ahmad qualified for these payments, with the core issue being whether the care provided to Mr Hikmat El-Boubli was given at his home.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal was required to determine whether Ms Ali-Ahmad met the eligibility criteria for carer payments as stipulated in section 198 of the *Social Security Act 1991* (Cth). Specifically, the Tribunal needed to assess if the care provided was rendered at the home of the care-receiver, a prerequisite for entitlement under the Act.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding it unnecessary to consider the further requirement of whether Ms Ali-Ahmad personally provided constant care to Mr El-Boubli. This conclusion was based on the determination that the care provided was not given at the home of the care-receiver, thereby failing to satisfy a fundamental condition for carer payment eligibility under section 198 of the Act.