Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2)

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F2011L00131 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2)

as amended

made under subsection 1061L(2) of the

Social Security Act 1991

Compilation start date:  18 July 2011

Includes amendments up to: Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2011 (No. 2)

 

About this compilation

The compiled instrument

This is a compilation of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2) as amended and in force on 18 July 2011. It includes any amendment affecting the compiled instrument to that date.

This compilation was prepared on 5 August 2013.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending Acts and instruments and the amendment history of each amended provision.

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the compiled instrument is affected by an uncommenced amendment, the text of the uncommenced amendment is set out in the endnotes.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for amendments

If the operation of an amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision, the provision is identified in the endnotes.

Modifications

If a provision of the compiled instrument is affected by a textual modification that is in force, the text of the modifying provision is set out in the endnotes.

Provisions ceasing to have effect

If a provision of the compiled instrument has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the instrument, details of the provision are set out in the endnotes.

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name of Determination

2 Commencement

3 Definitions

4 Person adversely affected by a major disaster

Schedule 1—Major disaster

Schedule 2—Circumstances in which person adversely affected

Endnotes

Endnote 1—Legislation history

Endnote 2—Amendment history

Endnote 3—Uncommenced amendments [none]

Endnote 4—Misdescribed amendments [none]

 

 

 

1  Name of Determination

  This Determination is the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2).

2  Commencement

  This Determination commences on the day it is registered.

3  Definitions

 (1) In this Determination:

Act means the Social Security Act 1991.

destroyed, for a place of residence, includes a residence damaged to the extent that it must be demolished.

immediate family member, of a person, means:

 (a) the person’s partner; or

 (b) the person’s natural child, adoptive child or stepchild; or

 (c) the person’s natural parent, adoptive parent or stepparent; or

 (d) the person’s legal guardian; or

 (e) the person’s brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister.

Note: This term is used in a different sense to that used in the Act.

major damage, for a residence, means:

 (a) damage to at least a quarter of the interior of the residence; or

 (b) that the residence is structurally unsound; or 

 (c) damage to the residence that exposes at least a quarter of the interior of the residence to the elements; or

 (d) sewerage contamination of the interior of the residence.

seriously injured, for a person, means:

 (a) the person has sustained an injury; and

 (b) because of the injury:

 (i) the person was admitted to hospital; or

 (ii) under normal circumstances, the person would have been admitted to hospital.

 (2) In this Determination, a place of residence is a person’s principal place of residence if the person:

 (a) normadlly resides at the place; and

 (b) has a lawful right to reside at the place.

4  Person adversely affected by a major disaster

  For subsection 1061L(2) of the Act, a person is adversely affected by a major disaster mentioned in Schedule 1 if the person is affected in a way mentioned in Schedule 2.

Schedule 1—Major disaster

(section 4)

 

  The flooding in the State of New South Wales determined to be a major disaster under section 36 of the Act by the AttorneyGeneral on 15 July 2011.

Schedule 2—Circumstances in which person adversely affected

(section 4)

 

  A person is adversely affected by a major disaster mentioned in Schedule 1 if:

 (a) as a direct result of the disaster:

 (i) the person is seriously injured; or

 (ii) the person is an immediate family member of an Australian who is killed; or

 (iii) the person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed or has sustained major damage; or

 (iv) the person is unable to gain access to his or her principal place of residence for at least 24 hours; or

 (v) the person is stranded in his or her principal place of residence for at least 24 hours; or

 (b) as a result of the disaster, the person’s principal place of residence was without electricity, water, gas, sewerage service or another essential service for at least 48 hours; or

 (c) the person is the principal carer of a child to whom paragraph (a) or (b) applies.

 

Endnotes

 

Endnote 1—Legislation history

This endnote sets out details of the legislation history of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2).

 

Title

Gazettal or FRLI registration date

Commencement
date

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2)

19 Jan 2011 (see F2011L00131)

15 Jan 2011 (see Gazette 2011, No. S10)

15 Jan 2011 (a)

 

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2011 (No. 1)

19 Jan 2011 (see F2011L00132

15 Jan 2011 (see Gazette 2011, No. S11)

15 Jan 2011 (a)

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2011 (No. 2)

18 July 2011 (see F2011L01509)

18 July 2011

 

(a) These instruments were taken to have been registered on Saturday, 15 January 2011 under subsection 31(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. They were gazetted in the Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette Nos. S10 and S11 on 15 January 2011.

 

 

Endnote 2—Amendment history

This endnote sets out the amendment history of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2).

 

ad. = added or inserted    am. = amended    rep. = repealed    rs. = repealed and substituted    exp. = expired or ceased to have effect

Provision affected

How affected

Schedule 1

 

Schedule 1................

am. 2011 Nos. 1 and 2

 

 

 

 

Endnote 3—Uncommenced amendments [none]

There are no uncommenced amendments.

 

 

Endnote 4—Misdescribed amendments [none]

There are no misdescribed amendments.

 

 

 

Overview

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2) was enacted to address the need for financial support for individuals adversely affected by the major disaster declared in New South Wales in 2011, specifically the flooding. This legislative instrument was made under subsection 1061L(2) of the Social Security Act 1991 by the Australian Government and was introduced to provide immediate relief to those affected by the disaster. The primary policy objective of this determination was to ensure that those impacted by the disaster received timely and appropriate financial assistance to aid their recovery. The determination outlines specific circumstances under which a person may be considered adversely affected by the disaster, including serious injury, loss of a family member, damage to their principal place of residence, or lack of essential services.

Scope and Application

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2), as amended, applies to individuals adversely affected by a major disaster, specifically the flooding in the State of New South Wales, determined as such under the Social Security Act 1991. This determination sets out the criteria for eligibility for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment, including those who are seriously injured, have a family member killed, experience significant damage to their principal residence, are unable to access their residence for 24 hours, or face a lack of essential services for 48 hours. It also includes principal carers of children affected by the disaster. The determination applies nationally across Australia and is subject to amendment through subordinate instruments. Notably, the determination does not specify exclusions or thresholds beyond the outlined criteria, ensuring that those meeting the specified conditions are eligible for the payment.

Key Provisions

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2011 (No. 2), as amended, establishes the criteria and conditions for individuals adversely affected by a major disaster to receive financial assistance under the Social Security Act 1991 (section 3). This legislative instrument, which came into effect on 18 July 2011, outlines the specific circumstances that qualify a person for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment. To be eligible, an individual must be adversely affected by a major disaster, which is defined in Schedule 1, and the specific circumstances of their adversity are detailed in Schedule 2 (section 4). The Act imposes specific obligations on individuals to provide accurate and truthful information when applying for the disaster recovery payment. This includes verifying their identity and the extent of the damage or injury they have suffered due to the disaster (section 4). The Act also requires the Australian Government to review and assess applications to ensure that claimants meet the stipulated criteria for receiving the payment. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Act, such as providing false information or not meeting the eligibility criteria, may result in civil or criminal consequences. The Act provides for penalties including fines and, in some cases, imprisonment for those found guilty of making false statements or intentionally misleading information to obtain the payment (section 1061L). The maximum penalties for these offences are set out in the Social Security Act 1991, which includes substantial fines and potential imprisonment terms for serious breaches.

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