Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011

Administered by Department of Social Services

Legislation au C2011A00091 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011

 

No. 91, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to social security and family assistance, and for other purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Notification of change of circumstances etc.

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

Schedule 2—Technical amendments

Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011

Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Act 2011

Schedule 3—Decisions made by computer programs

 

 

 

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011

No. 91, 2011

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to social security and family assistance, and for other purposes

[Assented to 4 August 2011]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

4 August 2011

2.  Schedule 1

20 March 2000.

20 March 2000

3.  Schedule 2, item 1

Immediately after the commencement of item 8 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011.

26 July 2011

4.  Schedule 2, item 2

Immediately after the commencement of section 2 of the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Act 2011.

21 April 2011

5.  Schedule 3

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

4 August 2011

Note:  This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Notification of change of circumstances etc.

 

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

1  Before section 67

Insert:

66A  General requirement to inform of a change of circumstances etc.

Person who has made a claim

 (1) If:

 (a) a person has made a claim for:

 (i) a social security payment; or

 (ii) a concession card; and

 (b) the claim has been granted or has not been determined; and

 (c) an event or change of circumstances occurs that might affect the payment of that social security payment or the person’s qualification for the concession card;

the person must, within 14 days after the day on which the event or change occurs, inform the Department of the occurrence of the event or change.

Person receiving a social security payment or holding a concession card

 (2) If:

 (a) either:

 (i) a social security payment (other than utilities allowance or seniors supplement) is being paid to a person; or

 (ii) a person holds a concession card; and

 (b) an event or change of circumstances occurs that might affect the payment of that social security payment or the person’s qualification for the concession card;

the person must, within 14 days after the day on which the event or change occurs, inform the Department of the occurrence of the event or change.

Person who has received a social security payment or held a concession card

 (3) If:

 (a) either:

 (i) a person is not receiving a social security payment but a social security payment (other than utilities allowance or seniors supplement) has at any time been paid to the person; or

 (ii) a person does not hold a concession card but has at any time held such a card; and

 (b) an event or change of circumstances occurs that might have affected the payment of that social security payment or the person’s qualification for the concession card;

the person must, within 14 days after the day on which the event or change occurs, inform the Department of the occurrence of the event or change.

Interaction with notices under this Subdivision

 (4) If:

 (a) a person is subject to a requirement under subsection (1), (2) or (3) in relation to an event or change of circumstances; and

 (b) the person is given, or purportedly given, a notice under this Subdivision in relation to the same event or change of circumstances; and

 (c) the person complies with the notice to the extent that it relates to that event or change;

the person is taken to have also complied with that requirement within the period referred to in that subsection.

 (5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the notice is given after the end of the period referred to in subsection (1), (2) or (3).

 (6) This section does not limit the power of the Secretary to give a person a notice under this Subdivision.

2  Section 73

Omit “67”, substitute “66A”.

Note: The heading to section 73 is altered by omitting “notice”.

3  Application provision

Section 66A of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, as inserted by this Schedule, applies in relation to an event or change of circumstances that occurs on or after 20 March 2000.


Schedule 2—Technical amendments

 

Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011

1  Item 8 of Schedule 1 (heading)

Omit “and”, substitute “to”.

Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Act 2011

2  Subsection 2(1) (table item 28)

Repeal the item, substitute:

28.  Schedule 3, item 1

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

However, if Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011 commences after that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

29.  Schedule 3, item 2

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

However, if Schedule 5 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011 commences after that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

30.  Schedule 3, item 3

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

However, if Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011 commences after that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

31.  Schedule 3, items 4 and 5

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

However, if Schedule 5 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011 commences after that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

32.  Schedule 3, items 6 to 10

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

However, if Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011 commences after that day, the provision(s) do not commence at all.


Schedule 3—Decisions made by computer programs

 

1  Decisions made by computer programs

(1) This item applies to a decision made under the social security law if:

 (a) the decision was made on or after 12 June 2001 but before the commencement of this item; and

 (b) the decision was made by the operation of a computer program.

(2) The Secretary is taken to have arranged for the use of the computer program under subsection 6A(1) of the Administration Act for any purpose in relation to the decision.

(3) The use of the computer program is taken to have been under the Secretary’s control for the purposes of subsection 6A(1) of the Administration Act.

(4) In this item:

Administration Act means the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Secretary means the Secretary who is taken to have made the decision under subsection 6A(2) of the Administration Act.

social security law has the same meaning as in the Administration Act.

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 23 June 2011

House of Representatives on 6 July 2011]

(122/11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011 is an Act passed by the Parliament of Australia to amend the law relating to social security and family assistance, and for other purposes. This Act received Royal Assent on 4 August 2011. It aims to address gaps and issues within existing social security and family assistance laws by amending relevant legislation and introducing new measures. The Act makes several amendments to existing laws, including the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Act 2011. These amendments include introducing a general requirement for individuals to inform the Department of any changes in circumstances that may affect their social security payments or concession card eligibility. The Act also contains technical amendments to ensure consistency and accuracy in the application of these laws. The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011 was enacted to refine and improve the existing legal framework governing social security and family assistance in Australia. By amending the relevant legislation and introducing new measures, the Act seeks to address any identified gaps or issues within the current system, ensuring that the administration of social security payments and family assistance remains effective, efficient, and fair for all Australians. The Act's provisions came into effect on various dates, with some provisions commencing immediately upon Royal Assent and others tied to the commencement of related Acts.

Scope and Application

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011 applies to individuals who have made, are making, or have previously made a claim for a social security payment or a concession card under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999. It also applies to any person receiving or previously receiving a social security payment (excluding utilities allowance or seniors supplement) or holding or previously holding a concession card. The Act mandates that these individuals must notify the Department of any event or change of circumstances within 14 days that might affect the payment of the social security payment or their qualification for the concession card. The Act is applicable on a Commonwealth level and its provisions are meant to streamline the administrative process of social security claims and concession card qualifications. The Act does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, but the exclusion of utilities allowance and seniors supplement from the reporting requirements suggests certain payments are outside its scope. The Act's application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, as indicated in the commencement dates and conditions specified in the Schedules.

Key Provisions

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2011 introduces key provisions that require individuals to notify the Department of changes in circumstances that may affect their eligibility for social security payments or concession cards. Specifically, section 66A of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, as amended by Schedule 1 of this Act, mandates that individuals who have made a claim for a social security payment or concession card, those currently receiving a payment or holding a card, and those who have previously received a payment or held a card must inform the Department within 14 days of any event or change that might affect their eligibility. This requirement applies to changes that occur on or after 20 March 2000. Additionally, compliance with certain notices issued by the Department under this Subdivision is considered as fulfilling the notification requirement. The Act imposes several obligations on individuals and the Department. Individuals must notify the Department of any changes in circumstances within the specified timeframe. Failure to do so may result in adverse consequences for their social security payments or concession card eligibility. The Department is tasked with ensuring that decisions made by computer programs between 12 June 2001 and the commencement of this Act are recognised as being under the control of the Secretary, as stipulated in Schedule 3. Breaching the notification requirements can lead to civil consequences. If an individual fails to notify the Department of a change in circumstances within the 14-day period, their social security payments or concession card eligibility may be affected. This could result in the cessation of payments or revocation of the card. Furthermore, the Act does not specify any criminal penalties for non-compliance, but it implies that failure to notify can lead to civil repercussions, such as financial losses or loss of benefits.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Social Security Law
Administrative Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Delegated & Subordinate Legislation

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.