Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992

Administered by Department of Veterans' Affairs

Legislation au C2004A04303 Not in force Act

Legislation content

Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992

No. 12 of 1992

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

Section

1. Short title

2. Commencement

3. Application

PART 2—AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991

4. Principal Act

5. How to work out a person's family allowance rate

6. Lump sum payable in some circumstances

7. Removal of some rent assistance waiting periods

8. Increases in child amounts

PART 3—AMENDMENTS OF THE VETERANS' ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986

9. Principal Act

10. Increases in child amounts

SCHEDULE 1

AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991 RELATING TO
RENT ASSISTANCE

SCHEDULE 2

AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991 RELATING TO
CHILD AMOUNTS

SCHEDULE 3

AMENDMENTS OF THE VETERANS' ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986 RELATING TO
CHILD AMOUNTS

Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992

No. 12 of 1992

 

An Act to amend the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, and for related purposes

[Assented to 24 March 1992]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992.

Commencement

2.(1) Part 1, sections 4 and 8 and Part 3 commence on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2) Section 7 is taken to have commenced on 20 March 1992, immediately after the commencement of Division 5 of Part 2 of the


Social Security Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1991 and Division 2 of Part 2 of the Social Security Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1991.

(3) Sections 5 and 6 commence, or are taken to have commenced, on 2 April 1992.

Application

3.(1) The amendments made by section 7 apply to payments that fall due on or after 20 March 1992.

(2) The amendments made by section 8 apply to payments that fall due on or after 3 April 1992.

(3) The amendments made by section 10 apply to payments that fall due on or after 16 April 1992.

PART 2—AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991

Principal Act

4. In this Part, "Principal Act" means the Social Security Act 19911.

How to work out a person's family allowance rate

5. Section 855 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting from subsection (1) "The" and substituting "Subject to subsections (1A) and (1B), the";

(b) by inserting after subsection (1) the following subsections:

Family allowance payable for 2 April 1992 includes family allowance bonus—individuals

"(1A) If:

(a) family allowance is payable to a person (other than an institution) for the family payment payday that falls on 2 April 1992; and

(b) the person's family allowance for that payday is paid:

(i) to the credit of a bank account, credit union account or building society account maintained in Australia; or

(ii) otherwise paid in Australia;

the rate at which family allowance would otherwise be payable to the person is to be increased by the amount per fortnight of the family allowance bonus.

Note: a person will get the family allowance bonus if family allowance is payable to the person for 2 April 1992 even though payment is not made until later because, for example, of backdating under section 844.

"(1B) To work out the amount of family allowance bonus payable to a person work out which item in the following Family Allowance


Bonus Table applies to the person: the corresponding amount in column 3 is the amount of family allowance bonus payable to the person for the family payment payday that falls on 2 April 1992.

FAMILY ALLOWANCE BONUS TABLE

column 1

column 2

column 3

item

number of FA children

amount of family allowance bonus payable to person

1.

One FA child

$125.00

2.

2 FA children

$175.00

3.

3 FA children

$200.00

4.

4 FA children

$225.00

5.

5 or more FA children

$250.00

Note: the amount in column 3 is the total amount payable to a person and not an amount per child.

Family allowance bonus payable once only

"(1C) Subsection (1A) applies only to family allowance for the family payment payday that falls on 2 April 1992 and not to any subsequent payday.";

(c) by omitting from subsection (2) "The" and substituting "Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the";

(d) by adding at the end the following subsections:

Family allowance payable for 2 April 1992 includes family allowance bonus—approved care organisations

"(3) If family allowance is payable to an approved care organisation for a child for the family payment payday that falls on 2 April 1992, the rate at which family allowance would otherwise be payable to the organisation is to be increased by $125.00 per fortnight for that child.

Family allowance bonus payable once only

"(4) Subsection (3) applies only to family allowance for the family payment payday that falls on 2 April 1992 and not to any subsequent payday.".

Lump sum payable in some circumstances

6. Section 889 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by omitting "If and substituting "Subject to subsections (2) and (3), if;


(b) by omitting "section" and substituting "subsection";

(c) by adding at the end the following subsections:

"(2) If:

(a) a person is qualified for payments under this Subdivision in relation to the death of a dependent child; and

(b) the first available bereavement adjustment payday occurs before the end of the bereavement period; and

(c) the family payment payday immediately before the first available bereavement adjustment payday falls on 2 April 1992;

disregard the family allowance bonus payable under subsection 855(1A) in working out the lump sum payable to the person.

"(3) If:

(a) a person is qualified for payments under this Subdivision in relation to the death of the dependent child; and

(b) the first available bereavement adjustment payday occurs before the end of the bereavement period; and

(c) 2 April 1992 falls within the bereavement lump sum period;

the lump sum that would otherwise be payable to the person is to be increased by the difference between:

(d) the family allowance bonus payable to the person under subsection 855(1A); and

(e) the family allowance bonus that would have been payable to the person under that subsection if the dependent child had not died.".

Removal of some rent assistance waiting periods

7. The provisions of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 1 are amended as set out in that Schedule.

Increases in child amounts

8. The provisions of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 2 are amended as set out in that Schedule.

PART 3—AMENDMENTS OF THE VETERANS'
ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986

Principal Act

9. In this Part, "Principal Act" means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 19862.

Increases in child amounts

10. The provisions of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3 are amended as set out in that Schedule.

____________


 SCHEDULE 1 Section 7

AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991
RELATING TO RENT ASSISTANCE

Section 1066A (Pension Rate Calculator D—point 1066A-EA2):

Omit "points 1066A-EA3 and 1066A-EA4", substitute "point 1066A-EA3".

 

Section 1066A (Pension Rate Calculator D—points 1066A-EA4 to 1066A-EA9):

Omit the points.

 

Section 1066A (Pension Rate Calculator D—point 1066A-EB2):

Omit "points 1066A-EB4 and 1066A-EB5", substitute "point 1066A-EB4".

 

Section 1066A (Pension Rate Calculator D—points 1066A-EB5 to 1066A-EB10):

Omit the points.

 

Section 1066B (Pension Rate Calculator E—point 1066B-EA2):

Omit "points 1066B-EA3 and 1066B-EA4", substitute "point 1066B-EA3".

 

Section 1066B (Pension Rate Calculator E—points 1066B-EA4 to 1066B-EA9):

Omit the points.

 

Section 1066B (Pension Rate Calculator E—point 1066B-EB2):

Omit "points 1066B-EB4 and 1066B-EB5", substitute "point 1066B-EB4".

 

Section 1066B (Pension Rate Calculator E—points 1066B-EB5 to 1066B-EB10):

Omit the points.

 

Section 1067 (Benefit Rate Calculator A—before paragraph 1067-F5(a)):

Insert:

"(aa) the person is a member of a couple; or".

 

Section 1068 (Benefit Rate Calculator B—point 1068-F1):

Omit ", 1068-F4 and 1068-F6", substitute "and 1068-F4".

 


SCHEDULE 1—continued

Section 1068 (Benefit Rate Calculator B—points 1068-F6 to 1068-F11):

Omit the points.

____________

 SCHEDULE 2 Section 8

AMENDMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 1991
RELATING TO CHILD AMOUNTS

Section 1064 (Pension Rate Calculator A—point 1064-C3—Table C—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 1065 (Pension Rate Calculator B—point 1065-C3—Table C—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$746.20

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

$28.70

 

 

 

 

".

 


SCHEDULE 2—continued

Section 1066 (Pension Rate Calculator C—point 1066-C2— Table C—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 1066A (Pension Rate Calculator D—point 1066A-D3— Table D—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 1066B (Pension Rate Calculator E—point 1066B-D3— Table D—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$746.20

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

$28.70

 

 

 

 

".

 


SCHEDULE 2—continued

Section 1067 (Benefit Rate Calculator A—point 1067-E2—Table E— column 3):

Omit the column, substitute:

"

column 3
amount per
fortnight

 

 

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 1068 (Benefit Rate Calculator B—point 1068-E2—Table E— column 3):

Omit the column, substitute:

"

column 3
amount per
fortnight

 

 

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 1070 (Family Allowance Supplement Rate Calculator— point 1070-B1—Table B—column 3):

Omit the column, substitute:

"

column 3
amount per
fortnight

 

 

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

____________


 SCHEDULE 3 Section 10

AMENDMENTS OF THE VETERANS' ENTITLEMENTS
ACT 1986. RELATING TO CHILD AMOUNTS

Section 42 (Service Pension Rate Calculator Where There Are Dependent Children—point 42-C3—Table C-2—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

 

 

 

 

".

Section 43 (Service Pension Rate Calculator for Blinded Veterans— point 43-C3—Table C-2—columns 3 and 4):

Omit the columns, substitute:

"

column 3
rate per year

column 4
rate per fortnight

 

 

$1,580.80

$2,233.40

$884.00

$746.20

$60.80

$85.90

$34.00

$28.70

 

 

 

 

".

__________________________________________________________________________________

NOTES

1. No. 46, 1991, as amended. For previous amendments, see Nos. 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, 115, 116, 141, 175, 194 and 208, 1991.

2. No. 27, 1986, as amended. For previous amendments, see Nos. 106 and 130, 1986; Nos. 78, 88 and 130, 1987; Nos. 13, 35, 75, 99, 134 and 135, 1988; Nos. 59, 83, 84, 93, 163 and 164, 1989; Nos. 56, 84 and 119, 1990; Nos. 2, 72, 73, 74 and 208, 1991.

[Minister's second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 26 February 1992

Senate on 4 March 1992]

Overview

The Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. This legislation addresses gaps and problems related to social security benefits and veterans' entitlements by making specific amendments to these Acts. The amendments include adjustments to family allowance rates, removal of certain waiting periods for rent assistance, modifications to bereavement lump sums, and increases in child amounts for both social security and veterans' entitlements. The Act aims to provide more equitable and timely benefits to those in need, ensuring that the legislative framework better supports vulnerable populations, including families and veterans.

Scope and Application

The Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992 is a Commonwealth Act that amends the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. The Act applies to individuals and entities who receive payments under the amended Acts, specifically those pertaining to social security and veterans' affairs. These include individuals or approved care organisations eligible for family allowance, rent assistance, and bereavement payments, as well as veterans and their dependents who receive pensions or allowances under the Veterans' Entitlements Act. The Act's amendments have a national reach, as they apply throughout Australia, affecting all eligible recipients within the Commonwealth jurisdiction. The Act includes specific commencement dates for different sections, ensuring that amendments apply from particular dates specified within the Act. For instance, certain amendments related to family allowance and child amounts commence on 2 April 1992, while others relating to rent assistance and bereavement payments have earlier effective dates. Additionally, the Act extends its application through subordinate instruments, as indicated by the use of schedules that detail specific changes to the Principal Acts. These schedules outline the precise textual amendments to be made to the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, ensuring clarity and precision in the legislative changes.

Key Provisions

The Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 1992 amends the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Section 5 introduces a family allowance bonus for family payments made on 2 April 1992, with rates varying based on the number of family allowance (FA) children. This bonus applies only to family payments made on that specific date. Section 6 addresses lump sums payable in certain circumstances related to the death of a dependent child, specifically accounting for the family allowance bonus in the calculation. Section 7 removes certain waiting periods for rent assistance, making these benefits available sooner. Section 8 increases the child amounts for various social security payments, with new rates specified in Schedule 2. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Beneficiaries of family allowance and rent assistance must ensure their payments are correctly calculated according to the new rates and bonuses specified. Approved care organisations must accurately apply the increased family allowance rates for children in their care for the specified date. The Department of Social Security is responsible for correctly applying the new rates and bonuses in their calculations and disbursements. Veterans and their families must comply with the new child amount provisions in the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Breaches of the provisions outlined in this Act could result in civil or criminal consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of social security legislation can generally lead to financial penalties, recovery of overpayments, and in severe cases, criminal charges. The penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the breach, with potential maximum penalties applicable under the respective Acts for fraudulent claims or wilful defaults.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Social Security Law
Veterans' Affairs Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Increases in child amounts
Lump sum payable in some circumstances

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.