ALP

Australian Labor Party

AP

Old-Age Pension/Age Pension

CA

Carer Allowance

CDA

Child Disability Allowance

CP

Carer's Pension/Payment

CPI

Consumer Price Index

CSHC

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

DNCB

Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit

DSP

Disability Support Pension

DSS

Department of Social Security

DVA

Department of Veterans' Affairs

DWS

Disability Wage Supplement

FAS

Family Allowance Supplement

HCA

Handicapped Child's Allowance

IP

Invalid Pension

JSA

Job Search Allowance

LIB-CP

Liberal Party-Country Party Coalition

LIB-NCP

Liberal Party-National Country Party Coalition

LIB-NPA

Liberal Party-National Party Coalition

MA

Mobility Allowance

MTAWE

Male Total Average Weekly Earnings

NSA

Newstart Allowance

RA

Rent Assistance

ReA

Rehabilitation Allowance

SA

Supplementary Assistance

SEA

Sheltered Employment Allowance

UAP-CP

United Australia Party-Country Party Coalition

WfP

Wife Pension

YTA

Youth Training Allowance

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 (No. 17 of 1908)

1909

From April the Old-Age Pension (AP) was payable to people who were aged 65 years and over, or were aged 60 years and over and were permanently incapacitated for work.

Groups excluded from eligibility were those living overseas, 'aliens', those naturalised for less than three years, overseas born 'asiatics', and 'aboriginal natives' of Australia, Africa, The Pacific Islands or New Zealand. Applicants for AP were required:

• to be residing in Australia when claiming a pension
• to have continuously resided in Australia for at least 20 years (absences of up to one tenth of the total period of residence were not taken to interrupt the continuity of residence)
• to be of good character
• to have not deserted or failed to maintain their wife (if a husband) or deserted their husband (if a wife), in the preceding five years, without just cause, and
• to have not deserted (if a mother) or failed to maintain (if a father) any children under 14 years of age, in the preceding five years.

The pension was means tested.

Pensions could be paid to institutions, organisations or other persons where a pensioner was considered unfit to be entrusted with a pension.

Fisher, ALP

1910

From November a section of the original Act providing for pension eligibility at 60 years of age for women commenced to take effect.

Fisher, ALP

1912

From December naturalised residents no longer had to wait three years to be eligible for pension.

Fisher, ALP

1926

Indians born in British India became eligible for pensions.

Bruce-Page, Nationalist-CP

1931

From July pension rates were reduced, as part of the emergency financial measures taken during the Depression.

Scullin, ALP

1933

From October the rate of pension began to be reviewed annually based on the retail price index.

Lyons, UAP

1937

From September annual review of pension rates ceased.

Lyons, UAP-CP

1940

From December automatic quarterly rate adjustment based on the retail price index commenced.

Menzies, UAP-CP

1941

From December all 'asiatics' who were British subjects became eligible for pension.

Curtin, ALP

1942

From July 'Aboriginal natives' of Australia became eligible for pension if they were not subject to a state law 'relating to the control of Aboriginal natives' or if they lived in a state where they could not be exempt from such laws but were of eligible for pension on the grounds of 'character, standard of intelligence and development'. Pacific Islanders known as 'Kanakas' were also made eligible.

Pension became exempt from income tax.

Curtin, ALP

1943

From April:

• Funeral benefits of up to ten pounds were introduced.
• Wife's Allowance of 15 shillings per week was introduced for wives of incapacitated age pensioners where she lived with him, was his legal wife and did not receive a pension in her own right.

Curtin, ALP

1944

From April cost of living adjustments of the pension rate were discontinued.

Curtin, ALP

1947

From July:

• The Old-Age Pension was renamed the Age Pension.
• Specific racial disqualifications other than those referring to Aboriginal Australians were removed.
• Wife's Allowance became payable to de facto wives who had lived with the pensioner for at least three years.

Chifley, ALP

1950

From August a pensioner medical service providing free general practitioner services and some medicines was introduced.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1952

From September residence requirements were eased so that where a claimant had resided in Australia for periods totalling 18 years they could be deemed to have been resident during occasional absences totalling two years plus six months for each year of residence in excess of 18 years.

From November access to the pensioner medical service was limited to pensioners with income under two pounds per week.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1958

From October Supplementary Assistance was introduced (see here for details).

Menzies, LIB-CP

1960

From September all aboriginal people other than those who were 'nomadic or primitive' became eligible for pension.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1962

From March the residence requirement was modified. Ten years continuous residence at any time qualified a person for pension. Where continuous residence was at least five years, the ten year requirement was reduced by all periods of residence totalling in excess of ten years.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1963

From September rates of payment were reorganised so that a standard rate was paid to unmarried people and a married rate was paid to married people.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1964

From October a telephone rental concession for pensioners was introduced. A one third reduction in telephone rental was made available to pensioners living alone, with other pensioners or with other low-income people.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1965

From October:

• Wife's Allowance was made available to the wife of any age pensioner whose wife did not qualify for pension in her own right.
• Pensioners whose wife received a Wife's Allowance were paid at the standard rate.
• Funeral benefit of up to twenty pounds was introduced for pensioners responsible for the funeral of a pensioner, a dependent child or a spouse.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1966

From January all age pensioners were eligible for the Pensioner Medical Service without a separate means test.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1966

From September:

• 'Aliens' were no longer disqualified from receiving an AP.
• Aboriginal people were no longer disqualified from receiving an AP if they were living a 'nomadic or primitive' life.

Holt, LIB-CP

1968

From September:

• Married age pensioners were eligible for the standard rate where their spouse was receiving unemployment or sickness benefit.
• The surviving member of a pensioner couple continued to receive the equivalent of two married rate pensions for twelve weeks after the death of their spouse.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1969

From September pension continued to be paid during an absence from Australia of up to thirty weeks.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1970

From March married pensioner couples separated by illness were eligible for the standard rate.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1971

In April and September rate increases were given only to full rate pensioners and those receiving a pension reduced by fifty cents or less.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1972

From April:

• Rate increases were again given to all pensioners and those who had missed out in 1971 were given catch up rises.
• Wife's Allowance was replaced by Wife's Pension (WfP) paid at the married rate and subject to the means test.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1973

From May pensions granted in Australia could be paid in any country in which the pensioner lived.

From July AP was subject to income tax.

Whitlam, ALP

1974

From March AP could be paid to people living outside of Australia, provided the claimant had lived in Australia for an aggregate of 30 years, had been within five years of age pension age when they left Australia, had left before 8 May 1973 and was in need of financial assistance.

From November the requirement that a pension could only be paid where the claimant was of 'good character' and 'deserving of a pension' was removed.

Whitlam, ALP

1977

From May AP rates were automatically increased twice yearly. In May they were increased in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the six months to the preceding December. In November they were increased in line with movements in the CPI in the six months to the preceding June.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1978

From November indexation of the rate of pension was conducted once a year in November in accordance with movements in the CPI between the previous two June quarters.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1979

From November twice yearly indexation of the rate of pension was restored using the same method that had been used prior to November 1978.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1984

From June the term 'de-facto spouse' replaced the term 'dependent female' in the legislation.

From November the pension rates were increased even though the CPI had fallen in the relevant quarters.

Hawke, ALP

1985

From September residency requirements were modified so that a claimant had to have been resident for ten years at least five of which had to be for a continuous period.

Hawke, ALP

1986

From November:

• The timing of automatic indexation of payment rates in line with movements in the CPI was deferred by six weeks. Indexation occurred on 13 December and 13 June of each year rather than 1 November and 1 May.
• The rate of DSS pension payable to a recipient of a war widow's pension was frozen. New grants were paid at the rate of $60.05 per week subject to the income and assets tests.

Hawke, ALP

1987

From October residency requirements were changed to exclude temporary residents and prohibited non-citizens.

Hawke, ALP

1989

From November the timing of indexation was brought forward in several steps of four weeks to March and September with the transition being complete by September 1990.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From January funeral benefit was replaced by a lump sum bereavement payment equivalent to 14 weeks pension payable to the surviving member of a pensioner couple. When a single pensioner died one fortnight's payment was payed to their estate.

From November a Pharmaceutical Allowance of $2.50 per week for a single pensioner and $1.25 for a married pensioner was introduced to compensate for the introduction of a $2.50 charge for each Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription. The allowance was indexed annually and was tax-free.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From January people receiving or applying for AP could be required to supply their tax file number and that of their spouse.

Hawke, ALP

1993

From September pensioners with partners in gaol or psychiatric confinement were paid at the single rate.

Keating, ALP

1995

From January refugees applying for pensions were exempt from length of residence requirements.

From July the age of eligibility for women applying for AP began to gradually rise from 60 years to 65 years. The process will take until July 2013 to complete with the eligibility age increasing by six months every two years.

Keating, ALP

1996

From July age pensioners were eligible for advance payments of pension of between $250 and $500 to assist with living or capital expenses.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1997

From September the rate of the single pension was maintained at a level equal to or greater than the annualised original, all males, total average weekly earnings figure (MTAWE). If the rate after indexation in March and September was less than the MTAWE then it was raised to that level.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1998

From July a pension bonus scheme for people deferring retirement and continuing to work for at least 20 hours per week was introduced. A tax free bonus payment equal to 9.4 per cent of the basic pension entitlement for each year of deferral up to a maximum of five years was to be paid when the pension was received.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1999

From July 1999 the pension was paid fortnightly in arrears. Payment could be on any day of the week rather than on the same Thursday for everyone.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July the rate of pension was increased as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST. A pension supplement equivalent to four per cent of the maximum rate at July 2000 was paid to all pensioners. Indexation provisions were adjusted so that half of this four per cent increase would effectively be an advance on whatever rate increase occurred in March 2001. The increased rate was provided as a supplement so that it would not be included when the pension rate was adjusted in line with the benchmark of 25 per cent of MTAWE. This ensured that the maximum rate of pension plus the supplement would always be somewhat more than 25 per cent of MTAWE.

An Aged Persons Savings Bonus was paid to people aged 60 years or more who had savings and investment income, as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST. It was a one-off untaxed lump sum of up to $1000. The exact payment was calculated by providing one dollar for each dollar of savings and investment income received by the claimant up to the maximum of $1000. Those with annual private incomes above $20 000 received smaller payments, with no payment available where income exceeded $30 000.

An additional Self-funded Retirees Supplementary Bonus was also available for people who did not receive a pension or benefit. It was worth up to $2000 and was calculated and income tested in much the same way as the Aged Persons Saving Bonus.

From September portability rules were standardised for all payments. A maximum portability period of 26 weeks was introduced, special needs pensions ceased to be granted and residence of at least two years was required before portability was available.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2001

From March the social security agreement with the United Kingdom was terminated. Savings provisions ensured that people entitled to receive a payment due to the agreement at that time were not disadvantaged. This included people who migrated to Australia before 1 March 2000 and who would have been able to use the agreement to gain a payment, even though they had not yet done so.

People of age pension age who were receiving a pension or benefit on 22 May 2001 were paid a one off payment of $300.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2004

From July the allowable period of temporary absence overseas for portable payments was reduced from 26 to 13 weeks.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2007

From August pensions could be subject to income management in the Northern Territory and Cape York. Income management involved the diversion of 50 per cent of a person's income support into an account that could only be drawn on to pay for priority needs, such as food, clothes and rent.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2009

From July the definition of ‘member of a couple’ was changed to include same-sex couples.

In September the maximum single rate was increased by $30 per week.

From September the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index was used to adjust pension rates in September and march each year, where it produced a larger increase than the Consumer Price Index.

Legislation was passed to gradually increase the qualifying age for the age pension from 65 years to 67 years with effect from July 2017. The age will increase by six months every two years from that date.

Rudd, ALP

2010

From March the 25 per cent of average weekly earnings benchmark used to ensure that single pension rates kept pace with earnings growth, was adjusted to take account of the September 2009 increase in the pension rate. That increase had pushed the single rate well above the existing benchmark. A new benchmark was set for the combined couple rate at 41.76 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). The single rate was benchmarked at 66.33 per cent of the combined couple rate (effectively 27.7 per cent of MTAWE).

Rudd, ALP

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 (No. 17 of 1908)

1910

From November the Invalid Pension (IP) was payable to people who were aged 16 years and over and were permanently incapacitated for work due to an accident or invalidity. An examination by a medical practitioner was required.

Groups excluded from eligibility were those living overseas, 'aliens', overseas born 'asiatics', and 'aboriginal natives' of Australia, Africa, The Pacific Islands or New Zealand.

Applicants for IP were required to:

• be residing in Australia when claiming a pension
• have continuously resided in Australia for at least five years (absences of up to one tenth of the total period of residence were not taken to interrupt the continuity of residence)
• have been permanently incapacitated while in Australia
• forgo pension if the incapacity was self induced or caused in order to obtain a pension
• have no claim for maintenance or compensation on account of their accident or invalidity, and
• forgo pension if immediate relatives were adequately maintaining them.

Pensions could be suspended or paid to institutions, organisations or other persons where a pensioner was considered unfit to be entrusted with a pension.

Pension could not be paid to inmates of benevolent asylums or charitable institutions, however payments were made to the institution as 'act of grace' payments. Inmates of asylums for the insane had their pension suspended until they were discharged, at which point they received a back payment of up to four weeks pension for the period they were in the asylum.

The pension was paid subject to a means test. The value of property, both real and personal, owned by a pensioner could not exceed 310 pounds and applicants were not permitted to deprive themselves of property in order to qualify for the pension. Where the value of the property of a single pensioner included their residence and exceeded 100 pounds, pension was reduced by one pound for every ten pounds of value in excess of 100 pounds. Where the property did not include their residence or that residence produced income, pension was reduced by one pound for every ten pounds of value in excess of 50 pounds. The pensions of members of couples were reduced in the same way but the amounts above which pension was reduced were halved to 50 pounds and 25 pounds respectively.

Income over 26 pounds per annum reduced the amount of pension payable on a pound for pound basis. The rate of pension was initially 26 pounds per annum, so a pensioner's total income could not exceed 52 pounds per annum under these rules. Each member of a pensioner couple was deemed to receive half of the couple's total income and own half of the couple's total property.

Fisher, ALP

1912

Naturalised residents no longer had to wait three years to be eligible for pension.

Permanently blind people became eligible for IP regardless of capacity to work but were deemed to be receiving reasonable wages. This allowed some working blind people to receive IP and encouraged work by those able to perform it.

People permanently blind or incapacitated by a birth defect were able to claim IP if they had come to Australia before the age of three years.

Fisher, ALP

1916

From October an institutional pension was paid to pensioners in benevolent asylums, equal to the difference between the 'act of grace' payment to the institution and the rate of IP.

Hughes, ALP

1923

From September:

• Institutional pension was made payable to those becoming eligible after admission to benevolent asylums. It was also paid to pensioners in hospital for more than 28 days.
• Blind people and people incapacitated by a birth defect, who were not born in Australia, became eligible for IP after 20 years continuous residence in Australia.

Bruce-Page, Nationalist-CP

1926

Indians born in British India became eligible for pensions.

Bruce-Page, Nationalist-CP

1931

From July pension rates were reduced, as part of the financial emergency measures taken during the Depression.

Scullin, ALP

1933

From October the rate of pension began to be annually reviewed based on the retail price index.

Lyons, UAP

1937

From September annual review of pension rates ceased.

Lyons, UAP-CP

1940

From December automatic quarterly rate adjustment based on the retail price index commenced.

Menzies, UAP-CP

1941

From December:

• All 'asiatics' who were British subjects became eligible for pension.
• A legislative measure of incapacity to work was introduced. Where a person's capacity for work did not exceed 15 per cent they were deemed permanently incapacitated and therefore eligible for IP.
• Assessment for IP eligibility began to include assessment for vocational or rehabilitation training. A pension was paid while such training was undertaken.

Curtin, ALP

1942

From July:

• Pension was no longer suspended when a pensioner entered hospital.
• 'Aboriginal natives' of Australia became eligible for pension if they were not subject to a state law 'relating to the control of Aboriginal natives' or if they lived in a state where they could not be exempt from such laws but were of eligible for pension on the grounds of 'character, standard of intelligence and development'. Pacific islanders known as 'Kanakas' were also made eligible.
• Pension became exempt from income tax.

Curtin, ALP

1943

From April Wife's Allowance of 15 shillings per week was introduced for wives of invalid pensioners where she lived with him, was his legal wife and did not receive a pension in her own right.

Curtin, ALP

1944

From April:

• Cost of living adjustments of the pension rate were discontinued.
• Pensioners who were imprisoned had their pension suspended rather than cancelled. The pension could be paid instead to a dependent wife or child.

Curtin, ALP

1946

Claimants for IP who were adequately maintained by their parents and were aged 21 years or more were made eligible for IP.

Chifley, ALP

1947

From July:

• Specific racial disqualifications other than those referring to Aboriginal Australians were removed.
• Eligibility was broadened so that incapacity or blindness that occurred during temporary absence from Australia did not disqualify a claimant. Any incapacity that had occurred outside of Australia did not disqualify a claimant if they arrived in Australia before the age of three years or had resided continuously in Australia for 20 years.

Chifley, ALP

1948

From October IP was paid to people undertaking treatment or vocational training. A training allowance and living away from home allowance could also be paid.

Chifley, ALP

1950

From July Tuberculosis Allowance replaced IP for people with tuberculosis. A means test applied and the rate was three pounds twelve shillings and six pence for a single person or six pounds ten shillings for a couple.

From August a pensioner medical service providing free general practitioner services and some medicines was introduced.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1951

From October people aged 16 to 20 years maintained by their parents were made eligible for rehabilitation.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1952

From September residence requirements were eased so that where a claimant had resided in Australia for periods totalling 18 years they could be deemed to have been resident during occasional absences totalling two years plus six months for each year of residence in excess of 18 years.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1953

From October benevolent asylums were referred to as benevolent homes.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1954

From October the means test for permanently blind people was removed.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1955

From November access to the pensioner medical service was limited to pensioners with income under two pounds per week.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1958

From October Supplementary Assistance was introduced (see here for details).

Menzies, LIB-CP

1960

From September all Aboriginal people other than those who were 'nomadic or primitive' became eligible for pension.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1962

From March the residence requirement was modified. Permanent incapacity or blindness which occurred outside of Australia did not disqualify a person from eligibility for IP if continuous residence at any time exceeded ten years. Where continuous residence was at least five years, the ten-year requirement was reduced by all periods of residence totalling in excess of ten years.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1963

From September rates of payment were reorganised so that a standard rate was paid to unmarried people and a married rate was paid to married people.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1964

From October a telephone rental concession for pensioners was introduced. A one third reduction in telephone rental was made available to pensioners living alone, with other pensioners or with other low-income people.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1966

From January all age pensioners were eligible for the Pensioner Medical Service without a separate means test.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1966

From September:

• 'Aliens' were no longer disqualified from receiving an Age Pension (AP).
• Aboriginal people were no longer disqualified from receiving an AP if they were living a 'nomadic or primitive' life.
• A pensioner leaving a psychiatric hospital became eligible for a back-payment of 12 weeks pension.

Holt, LIB-CP

1967

From June Sheltered Employment Allowance (SEA) was introduced. People engaged in sheltered employment were eligible. SEA was paid at the same rate as IP but the means test was structured to allow for earnings. Earnings above $10 per week for a single person or $17 per week for a married person reduced SEA by one dollar for every two dollars earned.

Holt, LIB-CP

1968

From September:

• Married pensioners were eligible for the standard rate where their spouse was receiving unemployment or sickness benefit.
• The surviving member of a pensioner couple continued to receive the equivalent of two married rate pensions for 12 weeks after the death of their spouse.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1969

Pension continued to be paid during an absence from Australia of up to 30 weeks.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1970

From March married pensioner couples separated by illness were eligible for the standard rate.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1971

In April and September rate increases were given only to full rate pensioners and those receiving a pension reduced by fifty cents or less.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1972

From April rate increases were again given to all pensioners and those who had missed out in 1971 were given catch up rises.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1973

From May pensions granted in Australia could be paid in any country in which the pensioner lived.

Whitlam, ALP

1974

From March IP could be paid to people living outside of Australia, provided the claimant had become permanently incapacitated in Australia, had left Australia before 8 May 1973 and was in financial need

From November:

• The requirement that a pension could only be paid where the claimant was of 'good character' and 'deserving of a pension' was removed.
• People, who became permanently incapacitated for work in Australia, no longer had to satisfy a period of residence requirement.
• SEA recipients became eligible for an incentive allowance in lieu of supplementary allowance.

Whitlam, ALP

1975

From July the Pensioner Medical Service was superseded by the introduction of Medibank. Pensioners were entitled to the full range of medical services.

Whitlam, ALP

1977

From May pension rates were automatically increased twice yearly. In May they were increased in line with movements in the CPI in the six months to the preceding December. In November they were increased in line with movements in the CPI in the six months to the preceding June.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1978

From November indexation of the rate of pension was conducted once a year in November in accordance with movements in the CPI between the previous two June quarters.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1979

From November twice yearly indexation of the rate of pension was restored using the same method that had been used prior to November 1978.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1980

From November IP was payable to patients in psychiatric hospitals.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1983

From March Rehabilitation Allowance (ReA) was introduced. It was paid at the same rates and under the under much the same conditions as IP to people undertaking a Commonwealth Rehabilitation Program. ReA could be received during the rehabilitation program and for six months after it had been completed if the recipient was unemployed. A training allowance and living away from home allowance continued to be paid.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1984

From June the term 'de-facto spouse' replaced the term 'dependent female' in the legislation.

From November the pension rates were increased even though the CPI had fallen in the relevant quarters.

Hawke, ALP

1985

From September residency requirements were modified for those who were not incapacitated while an Australian resident. A claimant had to have been resident for ten years at least five of which had to be for a continuous period.

Hawke, ALP

1987

From July medical impairment had to constitute the major part of an incapacity qualifying a person for invalid pension.

From October residency requirements were changed to exclude temporary residents and prohibited non-citizens.

Hawke, ALP

1988

From June eligibility for SEA was extended to participants in supported employment services.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From April IP could not be granted to people of age pension age.

From November a Pharmaceutical Allowance of $2.50 per week for a single pensioner and $1.25 for a married pensioner was introduced to compensate for the introduction of a $2.50 charge for each Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription. The allowance was indexed annually and was tax-free.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From January people receiving or applying for IP, SEA, or ReA could be required to supply their tax file number and that of their spouse.

From November IP and SEA were abolished and were replaced by Disability Support Pension (DSP). ReA was phased out and new entrants to rehabilitation received DSP. The non-medical factors (socio-economic and labour market) taken into account in the assessment of eligibility for IP were no longer considered under the DSP provisions except for people over 55 years of age. Eligibility for DSP depended on an inability to work for 30 hours per week based on a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment of at least 20 per cent as measured by impairment tables included as a schedule to the Social Security Act. 

An employment entry payment of $200 was paid to DSP recipients who entered the work force.

Hawke, ALP

1993

From September pensioners with partners in gaol or psychiatric confinement were paid at the single rate.

Keating, ALP

1994

From July the Disability Wage Supplement (DWS) was introduced. DWS was a variant of DSP which was paid to people who had gained employment under the Supported Wage System administered by the Department of Human Services and Health. Under this system wages were paid to people with disabilities on the basis of their productivity. They remained eligible for DWS but their income from employment was assessed under the income test.

Keating, ALP

1995

From January refugees applying for pensions were exempt from length of residence requirements.

Keating, ALP

1996

From July pensioners were eligible for advance payments of pension of between $250 and $500 to assist with living or capital expenses.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1997

From September the rate of the single pension was maintained at a level equal to or greater than the annualised original, all males, total average weekly earnings figure (MTAWE). If the rate after indexation in March and September was less than the MTAWE then it was raised to that level.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1998

From April revised impairment tables for assessing eligibility for DSP were introduced. They were intended to better target DSP to people whose impairments had a significant impact on their overall ability to work.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1999

From July 1999 the pension was paid fortnightly in arrears. Payment could be on any day of the week rather than on the same Thursday for everyone.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July the rate of the pension was increased as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST. A pension supplement equivalent to 4 per cent of the maximum rate at July 2000 was paid to all pensioners. Indexation provisions were adjusted so that half of this 4 per cent increase would effectively be an advance on whatever rate increase occurred in March 2001. The increased rate was provided as a supplement so that it would not be included when the pension rate was adjusted in line with the benchmark of 25 per cent of MTAWE. This ensured that the maximum rate of pension plus the supplement would always be somewhat more than 25 per cent of MTAWE.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2004

From July the allowable period of temporary absence overseas for portable payments was reduced from 26 to 13 weeks. Severely disabled DSP recipients could be granted unlimited portability.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2006

From July a person could qualify for DSP if they were assessed as not capable of working 15 hours or more per week, at award wages, without regular and ongoing support, within 2 years.

When determining a person's capacity to work, local labour market conditions were no longer taken into account.

DSP recipients at 10 May 2005 were not affected by these changes. People qualifying for DSP between 11 May 2005 and 30 June 2006 would only be affected by these changes at their first review after July 2006.

The approved program of work supplement was made available to DSP recipients who chose to participate in the Work for the Dole program.

From September the seasonal work preclusion period  and the income maintenance period were extended to cover people claiming DSP. These periods delayed payment to take account of high rates of pay for seasonal work and leave and redundancy payments.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2007

From August pensions could be subject to income management in the Northern Territory and Cape York. Income management involved the diversion of 50 per cent of a person's income support into an account that could only be drawn on to pay for priority needs, such as food, clothes and rent.

Howard, LIB-NP

2009

From July the definition of ‘member of a couple’ was changed to include same-sex couples.

In September the maximum single rate was increased by $30 per week.

From September the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index was used to adjust pension rates in September and March each year, where it produced a larger increase than the Consumer Price Index. 

Rudd, ALP

2010

From March the 25 per cent of average weekly earnings benchmark used to ensure that single pension rates kept pace with earnings growth, was adjusted to take account of the September 2009 increase in the pension rate. That increase had pushed the single rate well above the existing benchmark. A new benchmark was set for the combined couple rate at 41.76 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). the single rate was benchmarked at 66.33 per cent of the combined couple rate (effectively 27.7 per cent of MTAWE).

Rudd, ALP

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1943 (No 14 of 1943)

1943

From July a Wife's Allowance was payable to the wife of a man receiving Invalid Pension (IP) or Age Pension (AP) who was permanently incapacitated for work. She had to be his legal wife, be living with him and not receiving another pension. No age, character, nationality or length of residence requirements were imposed. The allowance could not be paid were the husband was in a benevolent asylum or psychiatric hospital. The rate of payment was 15 shillings per week and the pension means test applied. For details of the changes to the means test over time see the chapters on Age Pension or Invalid Pension above.

Curtin, ALP

1947

From June:

• The allowance was payable to 'dependent females'. They were defined as a woman who had lived with a man as his wife on a permanent and bone fide domestic basis without being married for at least three years.
• The allowance was payable where the husband was in a benevolent asylum provided the wife was at least 50 years of age or had custody of a child under 16 years of age.

Chifley, ALP

1963

From September the rate of allowance was increased to bring it into line with the additional benefit paid to the dependent wife of an unemployment or sickness beneficiary.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1965

From October eligibility was extended to the wife of any age or invalid pensioner where she had a child under 16 years of age.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1968

From September a wife allowance recipient whose husband died received the equivalent of his pension and her own allowance for twelve weeks after his death.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1972

From September Wife's Allowance was replaced by Wife Pension (WfP) which was paid at the married rate of pension and paid to the wife of an invalid or age pensioner if she was not qualified for a pension in her own right. The pension means test continued to apply.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1973

From December WfP paid to the wife of an age pensioner became subject to income tax.

Whitlam, ALP

1975

From October the de facto wife of an age or invalid pensioner no longer had to have lived with him for three years to be eligible for WfP.

Whitlam, ALP

1979

From October:

• Eligibility for WfP was extended to women in benevolent homes, to women who had no children in their care and to women under 50 years of age whose pensioner husband was in a benevolent home. WfP could not be paid if either wife or husband were in a psychiatric hospital.
• The standard single rate could be paid to a wife pensioner where she and her husband were indefinitely separated by illness.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1980

From November WfP was payable to the wife of a pensioner in a psychiatric hospital.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1981

From November WfP claimants had to be resident in and present in Australia at the time of claim for the pension.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1987

From October residency requirements were changed to exclude temporary residents and prohibited non-citizens.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From January funeral benefit was replaced by a lump sum bereavement payment equivalent to 14 weeks pension payable to the surviving member of a pensioner couple.

From November a Pharmaceutical Allowance of $2.50 per week for a single pensioner and $1.25 for a married pensioner was introduced to compensate for the introduction of a $2.50 charge for each Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription. The allowance was indexed annually and was tax-free.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From January people receiving or applying for WfP could be required to supply their tax file number and that of their spouse.

From November women aged less than 21 years without children were not eligible for WfP.

Hawke, ALP

1995

From July WfP was to be phased out. No new grants were made.

Keating, ALP

1996

From July pensioners were eligible for advance payments of pension of between $250 and $500 to assist with living or capital expenses.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1997

From September the rate of the single pension was maintained at a level equal to or greater than the annualised original, all males, total average weekly earnings figure (MTAWE). If the rate after indexation in March and September was less than the MTAWE then it was raised to that level.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1999

From July 1999 pensions were paid fortnightly in arrears. Payment could be on any day of the week rather than on the same Thursday for everyone.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July the rate of the pension was increased as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST. A pension supplement equivalent to four per cent of the maximum rate at July 2000 was paid to all pensioners. Indexation provisions were adjusted so that half of this four per cent increase would effectively be an advance on whatever rate increase occurred in March 2001. The increased rate was provided as a supplement so that it would not be included when the pension rate was adjusted in line with the benchmark of 25 per cent of MTAWE. This ensured that the maximum rate of pension plus the supplement would always be somewhat more than 25 per cent of MTAWE.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2007

From August pensions could be subject to income management in the Northern Territory and Cape York. Income management involved the diversion of 50 per cent of a person's income support into an account that could only be drawn on to pay for priority needs, such as food, clothes and rent.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2009

In September the maximum single rate was increased by $30 per week.

From September the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index was used to adjust pension rates in September and march each year, where it produced a larger increase than the Consumer Price Index.

Rudd, ALP

2010

Rudd, ALP

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Social Services Act (No 3) 1974 (No. 9 of 1974)

1974

From December Handicapped Child's Allowance (HCA) of $10 per week was introduced for parents or guardians caring for severely handicapped children under the age of 16 years who were at home and in need of constant care and attention on a permanent or long-term basis. The allowance was not taxable, nor was it subject to an income test.

Whitlam, ALP

1977

From November eligibility for HCA was extended to persons caring for children who were substantially, rather than severely, handicapped. The rate of HCA for substantially handicapped children was not fixed and was to be set at the discretion of the Director-General of the DSS, but was not to exceed the rate of HCA payable in respect of a severely-handicapped child. This allowance was subject to an income test, but was not taxable.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1978

From October:

• HCA was extended to include dependent full-time students aged 16 to 24 years except where the child was in receipt of an invalid pension.
• HCA ceased to be payable for children outside Australia in most cases.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1979

From May HCA was paid on a monthly rather than a weekly basis. The new equivalent rate was $65 per month.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1982

From June recipients of HCA were required to notify the DSS within 14 days of the child's absence from the private abode.

From October HCA could continue to be paid where students left school and were seeking employment, up to the time they received unemployment benefits, or found work or otherwise ceased to qualify for HCA.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1983

From March a rehabilitation allowance was introduced. Parents of full-time students receiving this allowance ceased to be eligible to receive HCA for those students.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1985

From November a child attracting HCA could be absent for up to 28 days per year before HCA would cease to be paid for that child.

Hawke, ALP

1987

From November child disability allowance (CDA) replaced HCA. The old distinction between handicapped and severely handicapped was removed and the new allowance was payable at the rate of $122 per month.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From January CDA became subject to yearly indexation in line with movements in the CPI for the preceding financial year.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From August where a child died the person receiving CDA was eligible for special assistance in the form of continued payment of CDA for four weeks.

Hawke, ALP

1992

In January the rate of CDA was increased by $2.15 above the normal indexation rise.

Hawke, ALP

1993

From January eligibility for CDA did not automatically give eligibility for Basic Family Payment.

Keating, ALP

1997

From March a two year waiting period was introduced for newly arrived residents.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1998

From July CDA assessment was reformed with the introduction of the Child Disability Assessment Tool (CDAT). The tool was a questionnaire for parents and doctors that assessed age-related functional ability. Behaviour and special care needs.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1999

From July CDA was merged with the Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit (DNCB) to form a new Carer Allowance (CA). CA was payed to people caring for a child or an adult with a disability. DNCB had been administered by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July the rate of CA was increased as part of the compensation package for the introduction of the GST.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2004

In June a one-off payment of $600 was paid to all carers receiving CA.

From September carers who did not live in the same private home as the care receiver became eligible for CA if they provided at least 20 hours of care per week and were not paid award wages for that care.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2005

In June a one-off payment of $600 was paid to all carers receiving CA.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2006

In June a one-off payment of $600 was paid to all carers receiving CA.

From July CA could only be backdated for 12 weeks prior to the date the claim was lodged. Previously the CA could be backdated for up to 52 weeks where children were being cared for and 26 weeks in the case of adults being cared for.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2007

In June a one-off payment of $600 for each person cared for was paid to all carers receiving CA.

From July a lump sum annual payment of $1000 was introduced for all CA recipients, for each child under the age of 16 years that they received CA for.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2008

In June a one-off payment of $600 for each person cared for was paid to all carers receiving CA.

Rudd, ALP

2009

From July a carer who qualified for CP as a result of caring for a child, automatically qualified for Carer Allowance.

Rudd, ALP

2010

From July an assessment tool (the Child Disability Care Load Assessment Determination 2009) used to determine the level of care required by a child was introduced to replace the previous tool (the Child Disability Assessment Tool) which had looked at the functional level of the child.

A carer could remain eligible for CA for 3 months after the child reached 16 years of age.

Rudd, ALP

Month of effect

Rate

($ per week)

12/74

10.00

11/76

15.00

($ per month)

05/79

65.00

10/80

73.00

10/82

85.00

10/86

92.00

11/87

112.00

($ per fortnight)

12/88

48.00

07/89

51.70

01/90

55.60

01/91

59.90

01/92

61.90

01/93

67.00

01/94

68.30

01/95

69.50

01/96

72.60

01/97

74.90

01/98

75.10

01/99

75.60

01/00

76.40

07/00

79.50

01/01

82.00

01/02

85.30

01/03

87.70

01/04

90.10

01/05

92.40

01/06

94.70

01/07

98.50

01/08

100.60

01/09

105.10

01/10

106.70

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Social Security Legislation Amendment Act 1983 (No. 69 of 1983)

1983

From December a Spouse Carer's Pension (CP) was introduced. It was payable to the husband of a severely handicapped age or invalid pensioner or rehabilitation allowee who required constant care and attention either permanently or for an extended period. The care had to be provided by the husband in person and in the matrimonial home. The husband could only receive CP if he was ineligible for age, invalid or service pension. The rates and conditions were the same as for Wife Pension (WfP).

Hawke, ALP

1985

From November this payment was renamed Carer's Pension and made available to anyone caring for a severely handicapped relative who was an age or invalid pensioner. The care had to be provided by the carer in person and the carer had to live in the home of the handicapped relative.

Hawke, ALP

1987

From October CP was payable only to people resident in Australia. Residency requirements were changed to exclude temporary residents and prohibited non-citizens.

Hawke, ALP

1988

From February CP could be paid to a carer who was not a relative of the person being cared for. The requirement that constant care and attention was necessary was removed. It was replaced by a stricter requirement that personal care in connection with bodily functions (including eating, toileting and medication) or that constant supervision to prevent injury to the person or others was required.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From January funeral benefit was replaced by a lump sum bereavement payment equivalent to 14 weeks pension payable to the surviving member of a pensioner couple or the carer pensioner upon the death of the person cared for. When a single pensioner died one fortnight's payment was payed to their estate.

From November a Pharmaceutical Allowance of $2.50 per week for a single pensioner and $1.25 for a married pensioner was introduced to compensate for the introduction of a $2.50 charge for each Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription. The allowance was indexed annually and was tax-free.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From January:

• CP was made available to people caring for a severely handicapped person in receipt of any income support payment. Carers who lived in neighbouring dwellings to those in which the person they cared for lived were also made eligible for CP.
• People receiving or applying for CP could be required to supply their tax file number and that of their spouse.

Hawke, ALP

1993

From July:

• Eligibility for CP was extended to people caring for a person who would have qualified for a DSS payment had they satisfied the residence requirements
• Carers were allowed to cease care for a total of 42 days in a calendar year (up from 28) and still be eligible for CP. They were also allowed to travel overseas during the periods when they were not giving caring
• Carers were allowed to participate in employment, education or training for up to ten hours per week
• Carers were allowed to accompany the person being cared for overseas for up to three months without losing entitlement
• From September pensioners with partners in gaol or psychiatric confinement were paid at the single rate.

Keating, ALP

1995

From September an employment entry payment of $100 and an education entry payment of $200 were introduced for CP recipients.

Keating, ALP

1996

From March:

• CP was paid for 14 weeks after the permanent institutionalisation of the person who had been receiving care.
• CP was payable where the person receiving care was not receiving a social security payment.
• The carer was no longer required to live in the same house or in an adjacent house to the person being cared for.
• From July carer pensioners were eligible for advance payments of pension of between $250 and $500 to assist with living or capital expenses.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1997

From July:

• CP was renamed Carer Payment.
• The number of hours that a carer could spend in employment, voluntary work, education, or training was extended from 10 to 20 hours per week.
• The number of days that a carer may temporarily cease caring in a calendar year increased from 42 to 52.

From September the rate of the single pension was maintained at a level equal to or greater than the annualised original, all males, total average weekly earnings figure (MTAWE). If the rate after indexation in March and September was less than the MTAWE then it was raised to that level.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1998

From January the employment entry payment was abolished.

From July:

• Eligibility for CP was extended to people caring for profoundly disabled children under 16 years of age.
• Eligibility for CP was extended to people caring for two or more disabled children under 16 years of age.
• Carers were to be able to cease caring for up to 63 days in a calendar year and still qualify for CP

Howard, LIB-NPA

1999

From July 1999 the pension was paid fortnightly in arrears. Payment could be on any day of the week rather than on the same Thursday for everyone.

Howard, LIB-NPA

An improved system of measuring the care needs of care recipients called the Adult Disability Assessment Tool (ADAT) was introduced.

Eligibility for CP was extended to situations where the care recipient was hospitalised for up to 63 days in a calendar year and the carer was actively involved in a treatment plan aimed at returning the care recipient to the home of the carer. Eligibility was also to continue where the care recipient was hospitalised with a terminal illness.

Eligibility for CP was extended to people caring for an adult with a disability and for that adult's young (zero to five years) or disabled child. A lower score on the ADAT was required for the adult being cared for than would otherwise have been the case.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July the rate of the pension was increased as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST. A pension supplement equivalent to four per cent of the maximum rate at July 2000 was paid to all pensioners. Indexation provisions were adjusted so that half of this four per cent increase would effectively be an advance on whatever rate increase occurred in March 2001. The increased rate was provided as a supplement so that it would not be included when the pension rate was adjusted in line with the benchmark of 25 per cent of MTAWE. This ensured that the maximum rate of pension plus the supplement would always be somewhat more than 25 per cent of MTAWE.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2004

In June a one-off payment of $1000 was paid to all recipients of Carer Payment.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2005

In June a one-off payment of $1000 was paid to all recipients of Carer Payment.

From April the number of hours that a carer could spend in work, training or study was increased from 20 to 25 hours per week.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2006

In June a one-off payment of $1000 was paid to all recipients of Carer Payment.

From July eligibility for CP was extended to carers of children with severe intellectual, psychiatric or behavioural disabilities who required constant care or supervision.

From 20 September the seasonal worker preclusion period was extended to CP. This preclusion period delays payment to take account of high seasonal work earnings.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2007

In June a one-off payment of $1000 was paid to all recipients of CP.

From August pensions could be subject to income management in the Northern Territory and Cape York. Income management involved the diversion of 50 per cent of a person's income support into an account that could only be drawn on to pay for priority needs, such as food, clothes and rent.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2008

In June a one-off payment of $1000 was paid to all recipients of CP. 

Rudd, ALP

2009

From July the definition of ‘member of a couple’ was changed to include same-sex couples.

A new assessment tool was introduced (the Disability Care Load Assessment (Child) Determination) to assess the level of care required by a child. it replaced a more restrictive assessment based on medical criteria.

A carer who qualified for CP as a result of caring for a child was automatically qualified for Carer Allowance.

A carer continued to qualify for CP while a care receiver who was a child was in hospital for an unlimited number of days during any calendar year.

In September the maximum single rate was increased by $30 per week.

From September the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index was used to adjust pension rates in September and march each year, where it produced a larger increase than the Consumer Price Index.

Rudd, ALP

2010

From March the 25 per cent of average weekly earnings benchmark used to ensure that single pension rates kept pace with earnings growth, was adjusted to take account of the September 2009 increase in the pension rate. The new benchmark was set for the combined couple rate at 41.76 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). the single rate was benchmarked at 66.33 per cent of the combined couple rate (effectively 27.7 per cent of MTAWE).

Rudd, ALP

At June

Age Pension

Disability Support Pension (a)

Wife Pension

Sheltered Employment Allowance

Carer Allowance (b)

Rehab Allowance

Carer Payment

Mobility Allowance

1910

65 492

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1911

75 502

7 451

-

-

-

-

-

-

1912

79 071

10 763

-

-

-

-

-

-

1913

82 943

13 739

-

-

-

-

-

-

1914

87 780

16 865

-

-

-

-

-

-

1915

90 892

20 417

-

-

-

-

-

-

1916

91 783

23 439

-

-

-

-

-

-

1917

93 672

28 274

-

-

-

-

-

-

1918

95 387

31 905

-

-

-

-

-

-

1919

95 969

34 138

-

-

-

-

-

-

1920

99 170

37 551

-

-

-

-

-

-

1921

102 415

40 562

-

-

-

-

-

-

1922

105 096

41 821

-

-

-

-

-

-

1923

107 389

42 909

-

-

-

-

-

-

1924

113 054

47 375

-

-

-

-

-

-

1925

117 516

49 837

-

-

-

-

-

-

1926

126 918

53 752

-

-

-

-

-

-

1927

133 234

57 223

-

-

-

-

-

-

1928

139 367

60 448

-

-

-

-

-

-

1929

145 393

64 334

-

-

-

-

-

-

1930

155 196

68 540

-

-

-

-

-

-

1931

172 177

73 805

-

-

-

-

-

-

1932

183 317

77 476

-

-

-

-

-

-

1933

176 425

77 583

-

-

-

-

-

-

1934

187 453

78 041

-

-

-

-

-

-

1935

197 126

81 872

-

-

-

-

-

-

1936

206 748

85 661

-

-

-

-

-

-

1937

215 690

88 561

-

-

-

-

-

-

1938

224 154

91 240

-

-

-

-

-

-

1939

232 836

94 032

-

-

-

-

-

-

1940

272 896

63 911

-

-

-

-

-

-

1941

276 760

64 379

-

-

-

-

-

-

1942

275 456

65 874

-

-

-

-

-

-

1943

267 239

63 918

-

-

-

-

-

-

1944

257 186

62 793

7 301

-

-

-

-

-

1945

252 634

63 148

8 527

-

-

-

-

-

1946

264 826

67 818

9 591

-

-

-

-

-

1947

290 173

73 528

10 648

-

-

-

-

-

1948

302 854

78 515

11 750

-

-

-

-

-

1949

321 327

81 695

12 477

-

-

-

-

-

1950

334 923

78 869

12 720

-

-

-

-

-

1951

342 806

74 562

12 100

-

-

-

-

-

1952

352 049

73 588

11 466

-

-

-

-

-

1953

374 791

76 541

11 593

-

-

-

-

-

1954

397 784

80 195

12 362

-

-

-

-

-

1955

425 556

84 630

12 555

-

-

-

-

-

1956

446 207

89 019

12 566

-

-

-

-

-

1957

465 781

88 236

12 837

-

-

-

-

-

1958

496 757

77 451

12 044

-

-

-

-

-

1959

513 789

83 853

12 469

-

-

-

-

-

1960

538 022

80 616

12 952

-

-

-

-

-

1961

562 790

88 642

13 559

-

-

-

-

-

1962

594 012

97 246

14 372

-

-

-

-

-

1963

607 350

104 038

15 390

-

-

-

-

-

1964

615 186

109 725

16 101

-

-

-

-

-

1965

628 100

107 473

16 305

-

-

-

-

-

1966

636 984

106 645

17 318

-

-

-

-

-

1967

651 363

112 314

18 670

-

-

-

-

-

1968

682 265

114 745

18 818

309

-

-

-

-

1969

705 311

121 744

20 180

488

-

-

-

-

1970

779 007

133 766

22 873

718

-

-

-

-

1971

807 711

134 075

22 998

776

-

-

-

-

1972

832 693

138 818

23 690

923

-

-

-

-

1973

931 812

149 609

40 557

1 080

-

-

-

-

1974

1 027 582

156 783

47 399

1 098

-

-

-

-

1975

1 097 225

168 784

50 817

2 762

13 037

-

-

-

1976

1 158 657

183 787

59 480

5 246

16 450

-

-

-

1977

1 205 347

202 963

68 849

5 813

18 820

-

-

-

1978

1 264 778

204 944

77 767

6 036

21 220

-

-

-

1979

1 292 476

219 843

86 470

7 034

23 748

-

-

-

1980

1 321 926

229 219

91 006

7 597

25 371

-

-

-

1981

1 347 430

221 951

86 637

8 339

25 998

-

-

-

1982

1 367 035

216 649

82 615

8 913

25 873

-

-

-

1983

1 390 838

220 289

84 149

9 342

26 693

2 390

-

3 935

1984

1 358 129

240 574

91 190

9 597

27 192

3 322

1 721

9 480

1985

1 331 782

259 162

97 756

9 974

28 154

3 444

2 712

10 946

1986

1 324 600

273 810

103 382

10 349

29 074

3 227

5 020

11 420

1987

1 322 174

289 050

109 327

10 555

29 486

2 887

6 497

12 120

1988

1 328 814

296 913

110 664

10 669

32 071

2 143

7 393

12 641

1989

1 334 310

307 795

113 296

10 435

34 671

2 063

8 010

12 756

1990

1 340 468

306 713

115 695

10 124

37 746

2 211

8 796

13 207

1991

1 375 849

334 234

121 933

10 148

42 405

3 574

10 161

13 444

1992

1 446 168

378 558

133 194

-

50 797

1 939

12 631

13 911

1993

1 515 682

406 572

142 013

-

61 174

579

15 045

16 160

1994

1 581 874

436 234

152 620

-

69 693

153

17 699

20 795

1995

1 578 698

464 430

161 457

-

78 898

34

20 098

22 851

1996

1 602 834

499 235

148 931

-

90 644

17

25 037

24 985

1997

1 680 214

527 514

127 885

-

95 520

8

29 558

26 595

1998

1 682 618

553 336

116 125

-

90 830

-

33 979

28 975

1999

1 715 792

577 682

100 728

-

100 452

-

40 070

31 001

2000

1 738 256

602 280

91 455

-

194 887

-

47 550

35 154

2001

1 793 580

623 926

77 805

-

246 337

-

57 190

37 574

2002

1 818 205

658 915

68 061

-

267 051

-

67 260

41 997

2003

1 861 055

673 334

58 110

-

293 510

-

75 937

44 562

2004

1 876 250

696 742

52 911

-

291 380

-

84 082

47 402

2005

1 915 036

706 800

45 169

-

332 256

-

95 446

49  215

2006

1 922 129

712 163

40 881

-

366 960

-

105 058

52 652

2007

1 952 686

714 156

35 273

-

393 263

-

116 614

54 942

2008

2 039 305

732 367

31 950

-

422 905

-

130 657

55 299

2009

2 117 530

757 118

27 437

-

461 086

-

148 870

56 080

2010

2 160 000

792 581

24 655

-

495 733

-

168 913

57 349

Commencement Date

Details

Government at Commencement

Original Enabling Legislation
Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 (No. 17 of 1908)

1909

From April the Old-Age Pension (AP) was introduced. The pension was subject to a means test as follows:

• The value of property, both real and personal, owned by a pensioner could not exceed 310 pounds and applicants were not permitted to deprive themselves of property in order to qualify for the pension
• Where the value of the property of a single pensioner included their residence and exceeded 100 pounds, pension was reduced by one pound for every ten pounds of value in excess of 100 pounds. Where the property did not include their residence or that residence produced income, pension was reduced by one pound for every ten pounds of value in excess of 50 pounds. The pensions of members of couples were reduced in the same way but the amounts above which pension was reduced were halved to 50 pounds and 25 pounds respectively
• Income over 26 pounds per annum reduced the amount of pension payable on a pound for pound basis. The rate of pension was initially 26 pounds per annum, so a pensioner's total income could not exceed 52 pounds per annum under these rules. Each member of a pensioner couple was deemed to receive half of the couple's total income and own half of the couple's total property

Fisher, ALP

1910

From November Invalid Pension (IP) was introduced and paid under the same means test as AP.

Fisher, ALP

1912

From December the value of a pensioners home was excluded from consideration when assessing the value of their property. The higher level of exempt property was removed as a result of this change.

Fisher, ALP

1917

From September:

• War pensions paid to dependants of deceased or incapacitated soldiers was exempted from consideration as income under the means test.
• Contributions to the maintenance of an invalid parent were excluded from consideration when assessing eligibility.

Hughes, Nationalist

1921

From January married blind pensioners could receive sufficient pension up to the maximum rate to bring the joint income of their family up to four pounds five shillings per week.

Hughes, Nationalist

1928

From September war pension for incapacitated soldiers became exempt income under the means test.

Bruce-Page, Nationalist-CP

1931

From July war pensions were once again counted as income under the means test as part of the financial emergency measures taken during the Depression.

From November pensioners with deposits in the Savings Bank of New South Wales could assign them to the government and have them excluded from their property value under the means test.

Scullin, ALP

1932

From October further emergency measures were introduced:

• Eligibility for pension ceased where relatives could adequately maintain the pensioner. Relatives could be required to make compulsory contributions to pensioner's maintenance.
• Transfers of property worth more than 100 pounds made for no consideration in the five years before claiming pension could prevent pension eligibility.
• Pension payed to a pensioner could be recovered from the pensioner's estate after they died.
• The rate of pension payable before the income test was applied was reduced to 15 shillings per week.

These emergency measures were not fully implemented and those concerning property were repealed in April 1935.

Lyons, UAP

1933

From October sustenance and food relief provided by a State Government were excluded as income under the means test.

Lyons, UAP

1934

From June relatives could no longer be required to contribute to a pensioner's maintenance.

Lyons, UAP

1941

From December:

• The property exemption for a married pensioner was raised to be the same as that for a single pensioner.
• The special provisions for blind pensioners under the means test introduced in 1921 were repealed.

Curtin, ALP

1942

From July:

• Pensioners could no longer assign deposits in the Savings Bank of New South Wales to the government and have them excluded from consideration under the means test.
• Voluntary support from relatives other than parents no longer excluded people from pension eligibility.
• Permissible income for a blind pensioner was set at the level of the basic wage.

Curtin, ALP

1944

Permissible income for blind pensioners was set at five pounds and the link with the basic wage removed.

Curtin, ALP

1946

From August the following items were exempt when assessing the value of property under the means test:

• the value of furniture and personal effects
• the surrender value of any life insurance policy up to 200 pounds
• the capital value of any life interest or annuity
• the value of a contingent interest
• the present value of a reversionary interest up to 500 pounds, and
• the value of property not yet received from a deceased estate.

Permissible income under the means test was increased to one pound per week.

The upper limit on property was raised to 650 pounds.

The pension rate was reduced by two pounds for every complete ten pounds of property above 400 pounds.

Claimants for IP who were adequately maintained by their parents and were aged 21 years or more were made eligible for IP.

Chifley, ALP

1947

From July an income disregard in respect of children of ten shillings per week was introduced. Receipt of child endowment and child allowance reduced this disregard by the full amount received.

Chifley, ALP

1948

From October the amount of AP payable was reduced where the total amount of war, service and AP exceeded three pounds two shillings and sixpence for a single person or six pounds two shillings for a pensioner couple.

Chifley, ALP

1951

From October the income disregard in respect of children was reduced to five shillings per week and it was no longer reduced by the value of any child endowment and child allowance received.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1953

From October:

• The permissible income for a single pensioner was raised to two pounds per week. It was raised to two pounds ten shillings for Wife's Allowance and married pensioners whose wife was not a pensioner.
• The pension was now reduced by one pound for every complete ten pounds of property between 150 pounds and 450 pounds and by two pounds for every complete eleven pounds between 450 pounds and 1250 pounds.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1954

From October:

• The means test for permanently blind people was removed.
• Income from property became exempt under the means test.
• The pension was now reduced by one pound for every complete ten pounds between 200 pounds and 1750 pounds.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1955

From October the limit on the total amount of age pension and war pension was removed and war pension only counted as income under the means test.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1961

From March a merged means test was introduced. It superseded the separate tests on income and property. One pound for every ten pounds of property above 200 pounds was added to the annual income of pensioners to produce an amount of 'means as assessed'. Where means as assessed exceeded 182 pounds per annum the annual rate of pension was reduced by the excess.

Menzies, LIB-CP

1967

From June Sheltered Employment Allowance (SEA) was introduced. People engaged in sheltered employment were eligible. SEA was paid at the same rate as IP but the means test was structured to allow for earnings. Earnings above $10 per week for a single person or $17 per week for a married person reduced SEA by one dollar for every two dollars earned.

Holt, LIB-CP

1969

From September:

• The means test was adjusted so that only half of the amount of means as assessed was deducted from the annual rate of pension. The means test became known as the 'tapered means test'. The unadjusted means test was retained for determining eligibility for funeral benefit, the pensioner Medical Service and fringe benefits.
• SEA became subject to the pension means test.

Gorton, LIB-CP

1972

From September pensioners receiving superannuation pensions or annuities received concessional treatment under the means test. Their superannuation could be treated as a property value determined by conversion factors which related to their age. This was only done where it was to the pensioner's advantage.

McMahon, LIB-CP

1973

From September the means test was abolished for those aged 75 years or more.

Whitlam, ALP

1975

From May the means test was abolished for those aged 70 to 74 years.

Whitlam, ALP

1976

From November the means test was replaced by an income only test. Assets were no longer taken into account but any income derived from those assets was included under the income test. Concessional treatment of superannuation pensions was discontinued. Where a pensioner deprived themselves of property or income in order to receive a pension they were no longer refused a pension. Instead the disposed of income could be deemed to be income received by the pensioner.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1978

From October the rate of pension paid free of the income test to those aged 70 years or more was frozen at $51.45 for a single pensioner and $42.90 for a married pensioner. Higher rates of payment could be received if they qualified under the income test. Blind pensioners were not affected by this change.

Fraser, LIB-NCP

1983

From November:

• The income test free component of the pension for those aged 70 years or older was subject to a special income test. Where income exceeded $200 per week for a single pensioner or $333 per week for a couple the previously income test free component was reduced by fifty cents for each dollar of income above those levels.
• The exemption under the income test for income from Friendly societies or trade unions was removed.

Hawke, ALP

1985

From March an assets test was introduced which applied to all income-tested pensions. The assets or income test was applied, but not both. The test giving the lower pension level was applied. The following assets were not considered under the test:

• the pensioners home
• special aids for disabled people
• pre-paid funeral expenses
• an inheritance not able to be received
• awards for valour not held as investments, and
• the capital value of a life interest, most annuities, contingent or reversionary interests not created by the person or gift cars provided by DVA.

The value of the assets if sold at the time of assessment, less any debt, was used. Disposal of assets without adequate return was allowed to the value of $2000 per annum for a single pensioner or $4000 for a couple. Disposal above these values resulted in the excess being assessable. The value of disposed assets being assessed was reduced by 10 per cent each year.

Hardship provisions applied where a person was considered to be in severe hardship as a result of the assets test. Under these provisions assets could be disregarded where they produced little or no income, could not be sold or could not be expected to be sold or used as security for a loan.

A pensioner loan scheme was introduced for people entitled to little or no pension due to the assets test, who did not want to sell or rearrange their assets. Provided that at least 70 per cent of their assets could not readily be converted to cash, and there was adequate security for the loan, the person could receive the pension payable if only the income test applied. The excess over the entitlement under the assets test became a debt with interest of 10 per cent per annum.

The first $120 000 of a single pensioner's assets and the first $150 000 of a pensioner couple's assets were exempt from consideration under the test. For those who owned their own home only $70 000 of assets for single pensioners and $100 000 of assets for a pensioner couple were exempt. These exemption levels were subject to annual indexation in line with the CPI. Pension was reduced by $2.00 per week for every $1000 of assets in excess of the exemption levels.

Hawke, ALP

1986

From November the rate of DSS pension payable to a recipient of a war widow's pension was frozen. New grants were paid at the rate of $60.05 per week subject to the income and assets tests.

Hawke, ALP

1987

From May:

• The timing of automatic indexation of assets test exemption levels was deferred by six weeks to 12 June of each year from 1 May of each year.
• For new claimants for IP, Rehabilitation Allowance (ReA) and SEA, amounts equal to the pension or allowance they received were recoverable from any compensation for an incapacity to work which they received.

From July the separate income test for rent assistance was abolished.

From November:

• Earnings credits were introduced for all pensioners except Carer Pension (CP). Pensioners could save up unused portions of the income test free area to a limit of $1000. When income exceeded the free area the credit was reduced until totally depleted. The normal income test then applied again.
• Restitution payments made by the West German Government were not regarded as income under the income test.

From December separate rules for the treatment of investment income under the income test were introduced. The growth component of market linked investments made before or after 13 December 1987 was treated as income averaged over the 12 months after withdrawal. Income from accruing return investments (which produced a known rate of return) was deemed to be received throughout the period of the investment. Savings provisions applied to investments of this type entered into before 1 January.

Hawke, ALP

1988

From February 50 per cent of a lump sum settlement of a compensation claim for personal injury was deemed to be for economic loss and was recoverable where pension had been paid during the period of that economic loss.

From November:

• Money received from a home equity conversion loan was exempt from consideration under the income test until it reached the amount of $40 000.
• The value free or subsidised board and lodgings was disregarded under the income test.

From December an 11 per cent annual rate of return was imputed to all market linked investments entered into after 9 September 1988. A lower rate could be used where evidence suggested that the product was yielding a lower return.

Hawke, ALP

1990

From January:

• Insurers and/or employers (including State and Territory instrumentalities) were made liable to DSS for money owed to DSS from lump sum compensation payments even where they had released to money prior to the service of a notice of charge.
• Compensation recovery debts could be recovered by withholdings from pension payments.

From February income from compulsorily preserved superannuation benefits was disregarded under the income and assets tests.

From April that part of an annuity or funded superannuation payment made up of return of capital was excluded from consideration under the income test.

From August a minimum interest rate (initially 10 per cent) was deemed on new loans made by pensioners.

From November a person who had a work related accident or illness was required to make a compensation claim to be eligible for any DSS payment.

Hawke, ALP

1991

From March:

• The amount a pensioner could give away without triggering the deprivation provisions was increased to $10 000 per annum. The full amount of deprived assets was deemed to earn 10 per cent for five years under the income test.
• A minimum interest rate was deemed on cash and deposits in financial institutions. The first $2000 was exempt from this provision. For amounts above $2000, 10 per cent interest or the actual return if higher was assessed as income under the income test. The Minister for Social Security had the power to vary the deeming rate from time to time.

From July the income test free areas were indexed annually.

Hawke, ALP

1993

From March:

• Assessment of income from managed investments was simplified. The categorisation into market linked investments and accruing return investments was removed. All managed investments were assessed on their actual rate of return over the previous twelve months.
• Losses assessed on managed investments could be offset against gains during the same period on other managed investments.

From July an earnings credit was introduced for CP recipients.

From September:

• The managed investment rules were extended to shares and other securities listed on the stock exchange and acquired after 18 August 1992.
• The Assets test was modified so that assets above the asset test thresholds reduced pension by $1.50 per week for every $1000.

From November non-cash credits from exchange trading systems were exempt from consideration under the income test.

Keating, ALP

1994

From March pensioners were required to take action to claim any comparable foreign payments (CPF) they may be entitled to. This provision applied to those with an entitlement in a country that Australia had a social security agreement with.

Keating, ALP

1996

From January certain saved investments could be cashed in without the capital growth being assessed under the income test as a transition measure before the introduction of 'Extended Deeming'.

Keating, ALP

From July a major reform of the income test treatment of financial assets was introduced. A system called 'Extended Deeming' was introduced. When assessing income under the income test, the total value of all financial assets was added together. A rate of return of five per cent was deemed to have been received on the first $30 000 ($50 000 for a couple) worth of assets and a rate of seven per cent was deemed for asset holdings above these levels. The first $2000 ($4000 for a couple) was exempt from extended deeming. These rates were set at levels considered to be easily achievable using safe investments. The Minister for Social Security could vary the deeming rates as market rates changed.

Financial assets included:

• bank, building society and credit union accounts
• cash
• term deposits
• cheque accounts
• friendly society bonds
• managed investments
• investments in superannuation funds, approved deposit funds and deferred annuities after age pension age
• listed shares and securities
• loans, debentures and bonds
• shares in unlisted public companies
• gifted assets above the allowable limits, and
• gold and other bullion.

Financial assets did not include:

• Homes, contents or other real estate
• cars, boats or caravans
• antiques or stamp and coin collections
• investments in superannuation funds, approved deposit funds and deferred annuities before age pension age
• standard life insurance policies, and
• income streams such as superannuation pensions allocated pensions, immediate annuities or allocated annuities.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1997

From March:

• The earnings credit scheme was abolished.
• People becoming AP recipients after 20 March 1997 and receiving compensation on or after 20 March 1997 had the economic loss component considered in assessing their eligibility. Previously AP eligibility was not affected by compensation.
• The calculation of preclusion periods due to the receipt of compensation after 20 March 1997 was altered. The compensation amount was divided by the amount above which no pension was payable to a single person under the income test. Previously the compensation amount had been divided by 'all persons average weekly earnings'.
• For compensation received after 20 March 1997, the compensation preclusion period was applied only to the recipient and not to his or her spouse as had previously been the case.
• The exemption under the 'extended deeming' provisions for the first $2000 ($4000 for a couple) held by a pensioner was removed.

From September:

• Superannuation assets were assessed under the income and assets tests where a person had been in receipt of pension for 39 weeks after reaching the age of 55 years.
• Farmers of age pension age were able to transfer farms and farming assets up to the value of $500 000 to the next generation without the transfer affecting their pension entitlement. The farmer needed to have a long term involvement in farming and be on a low income to qualify. This provision was to be effective only until 14 September 2000.

Howard, LIB-NPA

1998

The 1998-99 Budget included a proposal to modify the income test treatment of non-economic loss compensation payments. Lump sums in excess of $10 000 were to be treated as ordinary income over 26 fortnights. Periodic payments of more than $2000 in any 28 day period were to be treated as ordinary income. The measure was originally intended for implementation from July 1999, but implementation was delayed until January 2004.

From July a pension bonus scheme for people deferring retirement and continuing to work for at least 20 hours per week was introduced. A tax free bonus payment equal to 9.4 per cent of the basic pension entitlement for each year of deferral up to a maximum of five years was to be paid when the pension was received.

From September the treatment of income streams such as superannuation pensions, allocated pensions and annuities, and roll-over and ordinary annuities was reformed. Three categories were introduced:

• Income streams for life, life expectancy or at least 15 years with no access to capital and purchased after age pension age were exempt from the assets test. Under the income test a deduction based on the purchase price was applied.
• Other income streams with a term greater than five years but less than lifetime or life expectancy if the person was over pension age were asset tested. Under the income test a deduction based on the purchase price was applied.
• Short-term income streams of five years or less were asset tested. Under the income test they were treated as other financial investments.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2000

From July:

• The income and assets tests were adjusted as part of a package of measures to compensate for the impact of the introduction of the GST.
• The taper rate under the income test was reduced from 50 cents in every dollar of private income to 40 cents in every dollar.
• The income and assets test free areas were increased by 2.5 per cent above the normal indexation rise.

From September the expiry date for the Retirement Assistance for Farmers Scheme was extended until 30 June 2001.

The requirement to take action to claim a comparable foreign payment was extended to people with entitlements in any country, rather than only those countries with which Australia had a social security agreement.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2001

From April overpayments caused by administrative error gave rise to recoverable debts.

From July the superannuation assets of people aged between 55 years and age pension age were exempt from the income and assets tests.

From September partners of compensation recipients were no longer subject to dollar for dollar reduction of their payment. Instead once the compensation recipient's payment was reduced to nil by dollar for dollar deductions the excess was treated as income under the income test for their partner.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2002

From January the income and assets of certain private companies and trusts were included in a person's income and assets for the purposes of the income and assets tests.

From July no more than $30 000 could be given away by a pensioner or a pensioner couple in any five year period before the deprivation provisions were triggered. The annual $10 000 limit remained in place.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2003

From December compensation payments for victims of Nazi persecution paid by any country were exempt from the income test. Only payments from Germany and Austria had previously been exempt.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2004

From July intergenerational transfers of sugarcane farms and farm assets (valued at up to $500,000) by people of pension age were exempt from the gifting rules for a 3 year period. Recipients of the gifted assets had to be actively involved in the farm.

From September a 50% assets test exemption for market linked income streams was introduced. The existing 100% exemption for certain non-commutable income streams was reduced to 50% for those purchased after 20 September 2004.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2005

From July aged care accommodation bonds were no longer assessed as assets under the assets test.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2006

From September special disability trusts could be established by parents or immediate family members to provide for the care and accommodation needs of the beneficiary. Amounts of up to $500,000 could be held in the trust (amount to be indexed annually). The amount in the trust would not be assessed under the assets test and income of the trust would not be assessed under the income test. Contributions to the trust could be made by pensioners without the asset disposal rules applying.

Howard, LIB-NPA

2008

From January the threshold for funeral investments that were exempt from the means test was increased from $5000 to $10,000. The threshold was also indexed to movements in the CPI.  

Rudd, ALP

2009

From September the income test taper rate was increased from 40 per cent to 50 per cent of each dollar of private income above the income test free area.

Transitional arrangements were put in place to ensure that no pensioners suffered a reduction in pension rate due to the change in the taper rate.

A work bonus was introduced for pensioners of age pension age. Half of the first $500 earned in each fortnight was disregarded under the income test.

The Pension Bonus Scheme was closed to new applicants.

Rudd, ALP

Date of effect

Rate

$ per week

01.07.09

1.00

12.10.16

1.25

01.01.20

1.50

13.09.23

1.75

08.10.25

2.00

23.07.31

1.75

04.07.35

1.80

24.09.36

1.90

09.09.37

2.00

26.12.40

2.10

03.04.41

2.15

11.12.41

2.35

02.04.42

2.50

01.10.42

2.55

07.01.43

2.60

01.04.43

2.65

05.08.43

2.70

05.07.45

3.25

03.07.47

3.75

21.10.48

4.25

02.11.50

5.00

01.11.51

6.00

02.10.52

6.75

29.10.53

7.00

27.10.55

8.00

24.10.57

8.75

08.10.59

9.50

06.10.60

10.00

05.10.61

11.00

Date of effect

Standard Rate

Couple Rate (each)

$ per week

$ per week

14.11.63

11.50

10.50

01.10.64

12.00

11.00

13.10.66

13.00

11.75

$ per fortnight

$ per fortnight

10.10.68

28.00

25.00

09.10.69

30.00

26.50

08.10.70

31.00

27.50

08.04.71

32.00

28.50

07.10.71

34.50

30.50

04.05.72

36.50

32.00

05.10.72

40.00

34.50

14.12.72

43.00

37.50

04.10.73

46.00

40.50

04.04.74

52.00

45.50

08.08.74

62.00

51.50

01.05.75

72.00

60.00

13.11.75

77.50

64.50

13.05.76

82.50

68.50

11.11.76

87.00

72.90

12.05.77

94.20

78.50

10.11.77

98.60

82.20

11.05.78

102.90

85.80

09.11.78

106.40

88.70

08.11.79

115.80

96.50

08.05.80

122.10

101.70

06.11.80

128.20

106.80

07.05.81

133.30

111.10

05.11.81

139.40

116.20

06.05.82

148.30

123.60

04.11.82

154.50

128.80

05.05.83

164.70

137.30

03.11.83

171.80

143.20

03.05.84

178.80

149.10

01.11.84

183.80

153.30

02.05.85

188.60

157.30

14.11.85

195.80

163.30

01.05.86

204.20

170.30

25.12.86

212.40

177.10

25.06.87

224.30

187.00

24.12.87

232.20

193.50

23.06.88

240.10

200.10

22.12.88

248.50

207.10

22.06.89

258.40

215.40

23.11.89

267.20

222.70

26.04.90

282.40

235.40

27.09.90

291.70

243.20

28.03.91

301.60

251.50

26.03.92

306.10

255.30

28.01.93

312.10

260.30

19.09.93

316.20

263.70

20.03.94

318.10

265.30

20.09.94

321.40

268.20

20.03.95

326.10

272.00

20.09.96

335.90

280.20

20.03.96

342.60

285.80

20.09.96

346.40

288.90

20.03.97

347.80

290.10

20.03.98

354.60

295.80

20.09.98

357.30

298.10

20.03.99

361.40

301.60

20.09.99

366.50

305.90

20.03.00

372.00

310.50

20.07.00

386.90

322.90

20.09.00

394.10

328.90

20.03.01

402.00

335.50

20.09.01

410.50

342.60

20.03.02

421.80

352.10

20.09.02

429.40

358.40

20.03.03

440.30

367.50

20.09.03

452.80

378.00

20.03.04

464.20

387.60

20.09.04

470.70

393.00

20.03.05

476.30

397.70

20.09.05

488.90

408.20

20.03.06

499.70

417.20

20.09.06

512.10

427.70

20.03.07

525.10

438.50

20.09.07

537.70

449.10

20.03.08

546.80

456.80

Pension Supplement

20.09.08

562.10

469.50

single rate

partnered rate

20.03.09

569.80

475.90

$ per fortnight

$ per fortnight

20.09.09(a)

615.80

464.20

56.10

42.30

20.03.10

644.20

485.60

56.90

42.90

20.09.10

658.40

496.30

57.70

43.50

Date of Effect

Permitted income

($ pa) (a)

Property Limit

($ pa) (b)

Property Exempt

($) I

.

Child Disregard

($ pa) (d)

01.07.09

52

620

100(e)

-

13.09.23

65

800

100(f)

-

15.08.46

104

1 300

100