Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Act 2023

No. 52, 2023

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

Contents

1 Short title 2

2 Commencement 2

3 Schedules 2

Schedule 1—Additional support for single parents 3

Social Security Act 1991 3

Schedule 2—Increase to working age payments 4

Part 1—Main amendments 4

Division 1—Disability support pension (under 21) 4

Social Security Act 1991 4

Division 2—Youth allowance 8

Social Security Act 1991 8

Division 3—Austudy payment 9

Social Security Act 1991 9

Division 4—Jobseeker payment 10

Social Security Act 1991 10

Division 5—Parenting payment (partnered) 12

Social Security Act 1991 12

Division 6—Application of amendments 13

Part 2—Other amendments 14

Social Security Act 1991 14

Schedule 3—Increased support for Commonwealth rent assistance recipients 16

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 16

Social Security Act 1991 19

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 31

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

[Assented to 10 August 2023]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title

This Act is the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Act 2023.
2 Commencement 1

Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information Commencement information Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
1. The whole of this Act The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 10 August 2023

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 2

Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedules

Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
Additional support for single parents

Social Security Act 1991

 1 Paragraph 500D(2)(c)

Omit “8”, substitute “14”.

 2 Subparagraph 1061PJ(2A)(b)(iii)

Omit “8”, substitute “14”.

 3 Paragraph 1061ZDA(1)(b)

Omit “8”, substitute “14”.

 4 Application of amendments 1

(1) The amendment of paragraph 500D(2)(c) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule applies in relation to working out whether a person is qualified for parenting payment for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 2

(2) The amendment of subparagraph 1061PJ(2A)(b)(iii) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule applies in relation to working out whether a person is qualified for a pensioner education supplement for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 3

(3) The amendment of paragraph 1061ZDA(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule applies in relation to working out whether a person is qualified for a pensioner concession card for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 Increase to working age payments

Social Security Act 1991

 1 Point 1066A-B1 (table B)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

 2 Point 1066B-B1 (table B)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

Social Security Act 1991

 3 Point 1067G-B2 (table BA)

Repeal the table (not including the note), substitute:

 4 Point 1067G-B3 (table BB)

Repeal the table (not including the note), substitute:

 5 Point 1067G-B4 (table BC)

Repeal the table (not including the note), substitute:

Social Security Act 1991

 6 Subpoint 1067L-B2(1) (table BA)

Repeal the table (not including the note), substitute:

 7 Point 1067L-B3 (table BB)

Repeal the table, substitute:

Social Security Act 1991

 8 Point 1068-B1 (table B)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

Social Security Act 1991

 9 Point 1068B-C2 (table C)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

 10 Application of amendments 1

(1) The amendments of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part apply in relation to working out the following:

 a

the rate of a person’s disability support pension, youth allowance, austudy payment, jobseeker payment or benefit PP (partnered) for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023;

 b

(b) the rate of a person’s farm household allowance under the Farm Household Support Act 2014 for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 2

For the purposes of indexing an amount:

 a

(a) specified in a table of the Social Security Act 1991 as substituted by an item of this Part; and

 b

on the first indexation day for the amount that occurs after the day this item commences;

the current figure for the amount immediately before that first indexation day is taken to be that specified amount.

Social Security Act 1991

 11 Paragraphs 1061Q(2B)(d), (3)(c), (3A)(c), (3F)(c) and (3G)(c)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 12 Paragraph 1061ZA(2)(a)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 13 Paragraph 1067L-C1(b)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 14 Point 1068-D3 (heading)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 15 Paragraph 1068-D3(a)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 16 Subparagraph 1068B-E1(d)(i)

Omit “60”, substitute “55”.

 17 Section 1190 (table item 2, column 4)

Omit “items 4A, 4B, 5, 7 and 9”, substitute “all amounts”.

 18 Application of amendments 1

(1) The amendments of Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part apply in relation to each telephone allowance payday for a person, that occurs on or after 20 September 2023, on which telephone allowance is payable to the person.section 1061Q of the

2

(2) The amendment of paragraph 1061ZA(2)(a) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to working out whether a person is qualified for a pensioner concession card for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 3

(3) The amendment of paragraph 1067L-C1(b) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to working out the rate of a person’s austudy payment for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 4

(4) The amendment of paragraph 1068-D3(a) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to working out the rate of a person’s jobseeker payment for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 5

(5) The amendment of subparagraph 1068B-E1(1)(d)(i) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to working out the rate of a person’s benefit PP (partnered) for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 6

(6) The amendment of Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to indexing an amount on each indexation day for the amount that occurs after the day this item commences.section 1190 of the

Increased support for Commonwealth rent assistance recipients

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

 1 Subparagraph 38C(1)(f)(i) of Schedule 1

Omit “$3,073.30”, substitute “$4,807.05”.

 2 Subparagraph 38C(1)(f)(ii) of Schedule 1

Omit “$4,547.90”, substitute “$7,102.90”.

 3 Subparagraphs 38C(1)(f)(iii) and (iv) of Schedule 1

Omit “$3,073.30”, substitute “$4,807.05”.

 4 Subparagraph 38C(1)(fa)(i) of Schedule 1

Omit “$2,332.35”, substitute “$3,657.30”.

 5 Subparagraph 38C(1)(fa)(ii) of Schedule 1

Omit “$3,806.95”, substitute “$5,945.85”.

 6 Subparagraphs 38C(1)(fa)(iii) and (iv) of Schedule 1

Omit “$2,332.35”, substitute “$3,657.30”.

 7 Clause 38D of Schedule 1 (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 8 Clause 38E of Schedule 1 (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

Social Security Act 1991

 9 Subsection 1070L(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 10 Subsection 1070M(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 11 Subsection 1070N(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 12 Subsection 1070P(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 13 Subsection 1070Q(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 14 Subsection 1070R(2) (table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

 15 Subsection 1070T(1)

Omit “$82.80”, substitute “$140.40”.

 16 Subsection 1070T(3) (example)

Omit “$82.80” (wherever occurring), substitute “$140.40”.

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

 17 Point SCH6-C6 of Schedule 6 (table C-1)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

 18 Subpoint SCH6-C8(1) of Schedule 6 (table C-2)

Repeal the table (not including the notes), substitute:

 19 Application of amendments

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

the current figure for the amount immediately before that first indexation day is taken to be that specified amount.

Social Security Act 1991

the current figure for the amount immediately before that first indexation day is taken to be that specified amount.

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

the current figure for the amount immediately before that first indexation day is taken to be that specified amount.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 25 May 2023

Senate on 13 June 2023]

(70/23)

 1

(1) The amendments of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 made by this Schedule apply in relation to working out a person’s Part A rate of family tax benefit for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 2

For the purposes of indexing an amount:

 a

(a) specified in a table of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 as substituted by an item of this Schedule; and

 b

on the first indexation day for the amount that occurs after the day this item commences;

 3

(3) The amendments of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule apply in relation to working out:

 a

the rate of a person’s social security payment for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023; and

 b

(b) the rate of a person’s farm household allowance under the Farm Household Support Act 2014 for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 4

For the purposes of indexing an amount:

 a

(a) specified in subsection 1070T(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 as amended by an item of this Schedule or in a table of that Act as substituted by an item of this Schedule; and

 b

on the first indexation day for the amount that occurs after the day this item commences;

 5

(5) The amendments of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 made by this Schedule apply in relation to working out the rate of a person’s service pension, income support supplement or veteran payment for days occurring on or after 20 September 2023.

 6

For the purposes of indexing an amount:

 a

(a) specified in a table of Schedule 6 to the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 as substituted by an item of this Schedule; and

 b

on the first indexation day for the amount that occurs after the day this item commences;