EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Veterans' Entitlements (Child-Related Rent Assistance Payments) Determination

2005 No R5 

(Paragraph 10(4)(b) of Schedule 5 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986)

The Purpose and Operation of the Attached Instrument

Clause 10 of Schedule 5 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act), a "savings provision", applies to some persons who were, immediately before 1 January 1998, receiving service pension or income support supplement at a rate which was increased because of a dependent child.  If those persons would have been disadvantaged by starting to receive their child-related payments as part of their family payment under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, those child-related payments continue to be paid as part of their service pension or income support supplement.

One of the child-related payments affected by the savings provision is rent assistance. From 1 July 2000 on, the amount of rent assistance payable at any time to pensioners who are renting and to whom paragraph 10(4)(b) of Schedule 5 of the Act applies is the amount determined by the Repatriation Commission, having regard to the indexation of the Part A rate of family tax benefit at that time under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

This Instrument is a determination under that paragraph.  It will specify the amount of rent assistance payable to those to whom the provision applies, on and from 20 March 2005 to 19 September 2005. The amount of rent assistance payable to those to whom the provision applies is equal to the amount of rent assistance payable as part of the Part A rate of family tax benefit.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

(i) the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

Document (i) is available on Scaleplus at:

http://scaletext.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/3/3300/top.htm

Consultation

No. The instrument is of a minor nature and does not substantially alter existing arrangements.