Explanatory Statement
Issued by the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Social Services
Social Security Act 1991
Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026
Purpose
The Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026 (the Determination) sets out the maximum amount of a special disability trust’s income and assets that may be used for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, but are purposes other than the primary purpose of the special disability trust. The primary purpose of a special disability trust is described in subsection 1209N(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act).
The maximum value of the trust’s income and assets that can be used for purposes other than the primary purpose is known as the Discretionary Spending Limit. The Discretionary Spending Limit allows special disability trusts greater flexibility to meet additional costs relating to the beneficiary's health, wellbeing, recreation, independence and social inclusion.
The Discretionary Spending Limit is indexed each year on 1 July by the growth in the consumer price index (CPI) in the twelve months to the preceding December. The CPI grew by 3.6% in the 12 months to December 2025.
The Discretionary Spending Limit was $14,750 in the 2025-26 financial year. Applying the growth of 3.6%, rounded to the nearest $250, the Discretionary Spending Limit for the 2026-27 financial year is $15,250. This amount is specified in the Determination.
The Determination repeals and replaces the Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2025 (the 2025 Determination), which specified the Discretionary Spending Limit for the 2025-26 financial year.
Background
Division 1 of Part 3.18A of the Act sets out provisions for the private financial provision for certain people with disabilities, which includes special disability trusts. Special disability trusts are defined in section 1209L of the Act, which sets out certain requirements that must be met for a trust to be classified as a special disability trust. Some of these requirements relate to the purpose of the trust and the expenditure of trust assets and income.
The primary purpose of a special disability trust must be to meet reasonable care and accommodation needs of the beneficiary, as set out in subsection 1209N(1) of the Act. Subsection 1209N(2) states that the trust may have other purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary. Note 2 following subsection 1209N(2) states that the use of trust assets and income for these other purposes is dealt with by section 1209RA.
Subsection 1209RA(1) provides that the total value of the income and assets from a special disability trust that may be used for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, other than the primary purpose, cannot exceed the value specified in a determination made under subsection 1209RA(3) for a financial year.
The Secretary, or delegate, may make a determination under subsection 1209RA(3). The maximum value specified in the determination is generally indexed to the CPI each financial year on 1 July and rounded to the nearest $250. This is the same rounding base used to determine the assets value limit of special disability trusts under sections 1190, 1191 and 1209Y of the Act.
The Determination, made under subsection 1209RA(3), provides that the maximum value of income and assets from a special disability trust that may be used in the 2026‑27 financial year for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, but are purposes other than the primary purpose, is $15,250.
Authority
The Determination is made under subsection 1209RA(3) of the Act.
Section 1209RA makes provision for the limit on expenditure of a special disability trust for purposes other than the primary purpose of a special disability trust. A determination under subsection 1209RA(3) determines the total value of income and assets of a special disability trust in a specified financial year that may be used for purposes other than the primary purpose of the special disability trust.
Under subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument. The Secretary (or delegate) has the power under subsection 1209RA(3) to repeal the 2025 Determination and make the Determination.
The Determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 and is subject to disallowance.
Commencement
The Determination commences on 1 July 2026.
Consultation
The indexation of the threshold occurs in July each year in accordance with current government policy set out in part 4.14.3.35 of the Social Security Guide on the Department of Social Services’ website at https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/4/14/3/35.
The Department of Social Services consulted with Services Australia and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the intention to make this Determination. These agencies did not raise any concerns.
The Department did not consult with persons likely to be affected by the Determination due to its beneficial and technical nature.
Availability of independent review
A decision made under the social security law, as informed by the Determination, is subject to internal and external merits review under Parts 4 and 4A of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.
Explanation of the provisions
Details of the Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026
Section 1 – Name
This section states how this instrument is to be cited, that is, as the Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026.
Section 2 – Commencement
This section provides that the Determination commences on 1 July 2026.
Section 3 – Authority
This section provides that the Determination is made under subsection 1209RA(3) of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act).
Section 4 – Schedules
This section provides that each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1 repeals the Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2025 (see below).
Section 5 – Definitions
This section lists the definitions of the terms used in the Determination.
A note alerts the reader that some terms used in the Determination are defined in the Act.
Section 6 – Trust expenditure requirements
This section provides that for the purposes of subsection 1209RA(3) of the Act, the maximum value of the special disability trust’s income and assets that can be spent for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, other than the primary purpose, is $15,250 for the 2026-27 financial year.
Schedule 1 – Repeals
Item 1
Item 1 repeals the whole of the Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2025. This instrument specified the amount of the Discretionary Spending Limit for the 2025-26 financial year. The Determination remakes this instrument and continues to provide the maximum value of the special disability trust’s income and assets that can be spent for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, other than the primary purpose.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Social Security Act 1991
Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026
The Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Discretionary Spending) Determination 2026 (the Determination) is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the legislative instrument
The purpose of the Determination is to set out the maximum amount of a special disability trust’s income and assets that may be used for purposes that are primarily for the benefit of the principal beneficiary, but are purposes other than the primary purpose of the special disability trust. The primary purpose of a special disability trust is set out in subsection 1209N(1) of the Social Security Act 1991.
The maximum value of the trust’s income and assets that can be used for purposes other than the primary purpose is known as the Discretionary Spending Limit. The Discretionary Spending Limit is indexed each year on 1 July by the growth in the consumer price index (CPI) in the twelve months to the preceding December. The CPI grew by 3.6% in the 12 months to December 2025.
The Discretionary Spending Limit was $14,750 in the 2025-26 financial year. Applying the growth of 3.6%, rounded to the nearest $250, the Discretionary Spending Limit for the 2026-27 financial year is $15,250. This amount is specified in the Determination.
Human rights implications
The Determination engages the following human rights:
- the right to social security as recognised in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); and
- the right to an adequate standard of living as recognised in Article 11 of ICESCR and Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Determination promotes the right to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living for those people whose social security entitlements are affected by the receipt of income from a special disability trust. These rights are promoted by determining the amount of discretionary use of special disability trust funds before the trust loses its status as a ‘special disability trust’.
The Determination provides for an increase in this amount that is consistent with the CPI, and is therefore beneficial and technical in nature.
Conclusion
The Determination is compatible with human rights because it promotes the right to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living.
Kirsty Johnson, Branch Manager, Payment Structures and Seniors Branch
Delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Social Services