Social Security (Administration) (Welfare Restricted Bank Account) Determination 2016 (Cth)

Social Security (Administration) (Welfare Restricted Bank Account) Determination 2016

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

I, ROSLYN BAXTER, Group Manager, Families Group, as a delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, acting under subsection 124PP(1) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 make this Determination.

Dated: 11 March 2016  

Roslyn Baxter

Group Manager

Families Group

Department of Social Services

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1              Name of Determination

This Determination is the Social Security (Administration) (Welfare Restricted Bank Account) Determination 2016.

2              Commencement

This Determination commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

3              Cessation

This Determination ceases on 30 June 2018.

4              Definitions

In this Determination:

Act means the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Excluded goods or services means goods or services specified in item (5) of Schedule 1 to this Determination.

Indue Limited means Indue Ltd (ABN 97 087 822 464).

Trial period means the period specified in subsection 124PF(1) of the Act.

Welfare restricted bank account is a bank account of the kind referred to in section 5 of this Determination.

5              Welfare restricted bank account

For the purposes of subsection 124PP(1) of the Act, the kind of bank account to be maintained by a trial participant or voluntary participant for the receipt of restrictable payments is a debit card account established with Indue Limited.

6              Terms and conditions of welfare restricted bank account

For the purposes of subsection 124PP(2) of the Act, a welfare restricted bank account is subject to the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1 to this Determination.

Schedule 1 - Terms and conditions relating to the establishment, ongoing maintenance and closure of welfare restricted bank accounts

1. A welfare restricted bank account can only be:

(a)opened in a single name; and

(b)operated by the sole holder of the account.

1. A debit card will be provided to the holder of a welfare restricted bank account.

1. Any amount of money can be deposited into a welfare restricted bank account.

1. Cash cannot be withdrawn from a welfare restricted bank account, whether through the use of a debit card attached to the account or by other methods of withdrawal.

1. Systems are in place which, so far as possible, prevent money in a welfare restricted bank account, and a debit card attached to that account, being used to purchase:

(a)alcoholic beverages; or

(b)gambling; or

(c)gift cards, store cards or vouchers (whether reloadable or not), where those gift cards, store cards or vouchers allow for the purchase of alcoholic beverages or gambling.

1. Systems are in place which, so far as possible, prevent a trial participant or voluntary participant transferring money from a welfare restricted bank account to another bank account that is not a welfare restricted bank account unless the money is transferred for a purpose other than enabling the trial participant or voluntary participant to access cash or obtain excluded goods or services.

1. The debit card attached to the welfare restricted bank account may be used to purchase goods or services over the telephone or internet, or without presenting the debit card only if systems are in place to prevent the card being used in this way to purchase excluded goods or services.

1. Fees may not be charged in relation to depositing money into a welfare restricted bank account, or in relation to providing an initial debit card.

1. Interest cannot be charged on a balance in a welfare restricted bank account that is less than zero.

1. Interest cannot be paid on a balance in a welfare restricted bank account.

1. A welfare restricted bank account provided to a person may be closed during the trial period only if the person is not a trial participant.

1. A welfare restricted bank account cannot be used in an arrangement involving automatic drawing or withdrawal of monies by a third party that is based on BSB and account number.

1. Limitations will be placed on the amounts a trial participant or voluntary participant can spend using a debit card attached to the account.

1. Limitations will be placed on the amounts a particular holder of a welfare restricted bank account can transfer out of his or her welfare restricted bank account.