Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016

Administered by Department of Social Services

Legislation au C2016A00085 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016

 

No. 85, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Main amendments

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2016

Schedule 2—Contingent amendments

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

Schedule 3—Other amendments

Social Security Act 1991

 

 

 

 

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016

No. 85, 2016

 

 

 

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

[Assented to 30 November 2016]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016.

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

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

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

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 December 2016

2.  Schedule 1

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 December 2016

3.  Schedule 2

At the same time as Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures) Act 2016 commences.

However, the provisions do not commence at all if that Part does not commence.

Never commenced

4.  Schedule 3

Immediately after the commencement of Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Act 2015.

1 January 2017

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted.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  Schedules

  Legislation 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—Main amendments

 

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

1  Subsection 107(1)

Omit “subsections (1A), (3A), (3B), (3C) and (3D)”, substitute “subsection (1AA)”.

2  Subsection 107(1)

Omit all the words after “date of effect of the review decision”, substitute “is the first day of the period to which the original decision relates”.

3  After subsection 107(1)

Insert:

 (1AA) If:

 (a) paragraphs (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) apply; and

 (b) the first day of the period to which the original decision relates is earlier than the first day (the cutoff day) of the income year before the income year in which the review decision was made;

then, despite subsection (1), the person cannot be paid any entitlement created or increased as mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) (including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement) in relation to any day earlier than the cutoff day.

4  Subsection 107(1A)

Omit “Subsection (1) does not limit the date of effect of a review decision, in respect of an original decision that relates to the payment to a person of family tax benefit by instalment,”, substitute “Subsection (1AA) does not apply”.

5  Subsections 107(3A), (3B), (3C) and (3D)

Omit “Subsection (1) does not limit the date of effect of a review decision, in respect of an original decision that relates to the payment to a person of family tax benefit by instalment,”, substitute “Subsection (1AA) does not apply”.

6  Subsection 109E(1)

Omit all the words after “date of effect of the review decision”, substitute “is the first day of the period to which the original decision relates”.

7  After subsection 109E(2)

Insert:

 (2AA) If:

 (a) paragraphs (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) apply; and

 (b) the first day of the period to which the original decision relates is earlier than the first day (the cutoff day) of the income year before the income year in which the application referred to in paragraph (1)(b) was made;

then, despite subsection (1), the person cannot be paid any entitlement created or increased as mentioned in paragraph (1)(d) (including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement) in relation to any day earlier than the cutoff day.

8  Subsection 109E(2A)

Omit “Subsection (1) does not limit the date of effect of”, substitute “Subsection (2AA) does not apply in relation to”.

9  After paragraph 109E(2A)(a)

Insert:

 (aa) the original decision is not a decision made under subsection 105(4) (including because of the operation of section 105A) or 109A(2); and

10  Subsection 109E(3)

Omit “Subsection (1) does not limit the date of effect of”, substitute “Subsection (2AA) does not apply in relation to”.

11  Subsection 125(1)

Omit all the words after “date of effect of the decision of the AAT”, substitute “is the first day of the period to which the original decision relates”.

12  At the end of section 125

Add:

 (3) If:

 (a) paragraphs (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) apply; and

 (b) the first day of the period to which the original decision relates is earlier than the first day (the cutoff day) of the income year before the income year in which the application referred to in paragraph (1)(b) was made;

then, despite subsection (1), the person cannot be paid any entitlement created or increased as mentioned in paragraph (1)(d) (including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement) in relation to any day earlier than the cutoff day.

13  Application provisions

Secretary initiated review

(1) The amendments made by items 1, 2, 3 and 5 apply in relation to a review decision made on or after the commencement of this Schedule, where the original decision (referred to in paragraph 107(1)(a) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a period that consists of, or is included in, the 201213 income year or a later income year.

(2) The amendment made by item 4 applies in relation to a review decision made on or after the commencement of this Schedule, where the original decision (referred to in paragraph 107(1)(a) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a samerate benefit period that consists of, or is included in, the 201516 income year or a later income year.

Applicant initiated review

(3) The amendments made by items 6, 7 and 10 apply in relation to a review decision made on or after the commencement of this Schedule, where the original decision (referred to in paragraph 109E(1)(a) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a period that consists of, or is included in, the 201213 income year or a later income year.

(4) The amendments made by items 8 and 9 apply in relation to a review decision made on or after the commencement of this Schedule, where the original decision (referred to in paragraph 109E(1)(a) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a samerate benefit period that consists of, or is included in, the 201516 income year or a later income year.

Review by Administrative Appeals Tribunal

(5) The amendments made by items 11 and 12 apply in relation to a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal made on or after the commencement of this Schedule, where the original decision (referred to in paragraph 125(1)(a) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a period that consists of, or is included in, the 201213 income year or a later income year.

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2016

14  Subitem 21(3) of Schedule 2

Omit “items 13 to 20”, substitute “items 13 and 15 to 20”.

15  At the end of item 21 of Schedule 2

Add:

(4) The amendment made by item 14 applies in relation to:

 (a) a review decision made on or after the commencement of this Schedule and before the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016, where the original decision related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a samerate benefit period that consists of, or is included in, the income year in which this Schedule commences or a later income year; and

 (b) a review decision made on or after the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016, where the original decision related to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for a samerate benefit period that consists of, or is included in, the 201213 income year or a later income year.

Schedule 2—Contingent amendments

 

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

1  Subsection 107(1AA)

Omit “(including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement)”.

2  Subsection 109E(2AA)

Omit “(including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement)”.

3  Paragraph 109E(2A)(aa)

Omit “(including because of the operation of section 105A)”.

4  Subsection 125(3)

Omit “(including as a result of taking into account the FTB Part A supplement or the FTB Part B supplement)”.

5  Saving provisions

(1) Despite the amendments of sections 107 and 109E of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 made by this Schedule, those sections, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continue to apply on and after that commencement in relation to review decisions made before, on or after that commencement.

(2) Despite the amendment of subsection 125(3) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 made by this Schedule, that subsection, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply on and after that commencement in relation to decisions of the AAT made before, on or after that commencement.

Schedule 3—Other amendments

 

Social Security Act 1991

1  Point 1067GE1 (method statement, at the end of step 1)

Add “and then dividing the result by 26”.

2  Application provision

The amendment made by this Schedule applies in relation to working out rates of youth allowance for days on or after 1 January 2017.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 20 October 2016

Senate on 22 November 2016]

 

(161/16)

 

Overview

The Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, addresses gaps and issues within the existing family assistance and social security frameworks. The Act seeks to align and refine the administration and payment of family assistance, ensuring that benefits are accurately and efficiently distributed in accordance with policy objectives. The Act came into effect on 1 December 2016, with certain provisions contingent upon the commencement of related legislative amendments. The primary objective is to ensure that family assistance decisions and reviews adhere to the intended timelines and conditions, particularly in relation to the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and the administration of reviews by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This Act aims to streamline the processes and improve the accuracy of family assistance payments by making specific amendments to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 and the Social Security Act 1991.

Scope and Application

The Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016 amends the law relating to family assistance and social security, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act introduces amendments to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 and the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2016, as well as making other amendments to the Social Security Act 1991. The amendments affect the administration of family assistance, specifically targeting the calculation and payment of family tax benefits by instalment. The provisions of the Act apply to decisions made on or after their respective commencement dates, with specific reference to decisions relating to the payment of family tax benefit by instalment for periods starting from the 2012-13 income year onwards. Notably, the Act does not provide for any exclusions or exemptions from its application, and its provisions are to be interpreted and applied in accordance with the specified commencement dates. Additionally, the Act extends its application through subordinate instruments, as indicated by the contingent amendments and saving provisions outlined in the Schedules.

Key Provisions

The Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Act 2016 amends existing laws to refine the administration of family assistance and social security. Sections 1 to 3 and other unspecified provisions of this Act took effect on 1 December 2016, the day following Royal Assent (sections 2(1) and 2(2)). Other amendments in Schedules 1 and 3 commenced on 1 January 2017, contingent on the commencement of related parts in other legislation. The Act imposes specific obligations on entities involved in the administration of family assistance, such as the Department of Human Services, by modifying the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999. For instance, it alters the conditions under which family tax benefit payments can be made following a review decision (Schedule 1, items 1 to 13). It also amends the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2016 to adjust the scope of certain review decisions (Schedule 1, items 14 and 15). Entities governed by this Act must ensure compliance with the new provisions regarding the timing and conditions of family assistance payments, particularly focusing on the alignment of payment periods with income years. For example, they must adhere to the new cut-off dates for payments following a review decision, as stipulated in the amended subsections 107(1AA), 109E(2AA), and 125(3) (Schedule 1, items 1 to 13). These entities are also required to correctly apply the new method for calculating youth allowance rates, which involves dividing the result by 26 (Schedule 3, item 1). Failure to comply with these obligations can result in incorrect payments, which may need to be recovered. The Act includes specific penalties for breaches, although the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text. Generally, breaches of social security laws can lead to both civil and criminal consequences. Civil penalties might include financial penalties or the requirement to repay overpaid benefits. Criminal penalties can include fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the provided text but are typically outlined in the primary legislation affected by the amendments, such as the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Social Security Law
Taxation Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Savings Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Enforcement Powers
Compliance Obligations

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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.