Social Security Amendment Act 1981
Social Security Amendment Act 1981
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Social Security Amendment Act 1981
Social Security Amendment Act 1981
Public Act |
1981 No 46 |
|
Date of assent |
14 October 1981 |
|
Contents
An Act to amend the Social Security Act 1964
BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1 Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Social Security Amendment Act 1981, and shall be read together with and deemed part of the Social Security Act 1964 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act).
Part I Monetary Benefits
2 Interpretation
Section 3(1) of the principal Act is hereby amended by repealing paragraph (c) of the definition of the term “benefit”
(as inserted by section 2(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 1978), and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(c)
Accommodation benefit payable under sections 61e and 61f of this Act:
“(ca)
Special benefit payable under section 61g of this Act:”.
3 Effect of deduction notices
(1)
Section 27z(1) of the principal Act (as inserted by section 7 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1980) is hereby amended by omitting the expression “27n”
, and substituting the expression “27y”
.
(2)
This section shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April 1981.
4 Unemployment benefits
Section 58(1) of the principal Act is hereby amended by repealing paragraph (b), and substituting the following paragraph:
“(b)
Is capable of undertaking and is willing to undertake suitable work, or is willing to undertake suitable work and is engaged in an employment-related training programme approved by the Commission for the purposes of this section; and”.
5 Period for which unemployment benefit payable
(1)
Section 60(3) of the principal Act (as substituted by section 11(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 1976) is hereby amended by inserting, after paragraph (c), the following paragraph:
“(ca)
The applicant or beneficiary has refused or failed, without a good and sufficient reason, to engage in a course of training for the improvement of his capacity or suitability for employment; or”.
(2)
The said section 60 is hereby further amended by repealing subsection (4), and substituting the following subsection:
“(4)
Except as provided in this section and unless the beneficiary becomes entitled to receive some other benefit, an unemployment benefit shall continue to be payable for such period as the Commission determines, and shall from time to time be renewed for such further period as the Commission determines, so long as the beneficiary satisfies the conditions prescribed by section 58 of this Act.”
6 Child supplement
Section 61a of the principal Act (as substituted by section 7(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 1979) is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:
“(2)
In this section and in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act, ‘child’ means a child in respect of whom a family benefit is payable under section 32 of this Act.”
7 Accommodation benefit
Section 61e of the principal Act (as inserted by section 10(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 1975) is hereby amended by omitting the words “additional benefit”
wherever they occur, and substituting in each case the words “accommodation benefit”
.
8 Rates of accommodation benefit
(1)
Section 61f of the principal Act (as so inserted) is hereby amended by omitting the words “additional benefit”
wherever they occur, and substituting in each case the words “accommodation benefit”
.
(2)
The said section 61f (as so inserted) is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:
“(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or of section 61e of this Act, the Commission may, in its discretion, refuse to grant an accommodation benefit or terminate or reduce any accommodation benefit already granted if the Commission is satisfied that the applicant has not realised any assets available for his personal use.”
(3)
The principal Act is hereby further amended by repealing the Eighteenth Schedule (as substituted by section 6(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980), and substituting the Eighteenth Schedule set out in the First Schedule to this Act.
(4)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, if any person was, immediately before the commencement of this section, in receipt of an additional benefit under section 61e of the principal Act, the Commission may, in its discretion, continue to assess such a benefit as if this section had not been enacted.
(5)
Any additional benefit continued under subsection (4) of this section shall be reassessed as an accommodation benefit in accordance with the provisions of the Eighteenth Schedule to the principal Act (as substituted by subsection (3) of this section) from the date such benefit is first renewed under section 80(4) of the principal Act or is first reviewed under section 81(1) of that Act, whichever is sooner.
9 Special benefit
(1)
The principal Act is hereby further amended by repealing section 61g (as so inserted), and substituting the following heading and section:
Special Benefit
“61g Special benefit
The Commission may, in its discretion, fix a special entitlement to a special benefit in respect of any person, whether or not that person is receiving any other benefit under this Part of this Act or any pension or allowance under the War Pensions Act 1954, if the Commission is satisfied that, after taking into account all of that person’s financial circumstances and commitments, including any benefit payable under this Part of this Act and any pension or allowance payable under the War Pensions Act 1954, such a special entitlement is justified.”
(2)
The following enactments are hereby consequentially repealed:
(a)
Section 15 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1976:
(b)
Section 12 of the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1977.
10 Disability allowance
(1)
Section 69c(1) of the principal Act (as inserted by section 12(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 1975) is hereby amended—
(a)
By omitting from paragraph (a) the words “or widow’s”
, and substituting the words “widow’s, or domestic purposes”
:
(b)
By repealing paragraph (b).
(2)
The principal Act is hereby further amended by repealing the Nineteenth Schedule (as substituted by section 6(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980), and substituting the Nineteenth Schedule set out in the Second Schedule to this Act.
(3)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, if any person was, immediately before the commencement of this section, in receipt of a disability allowance under section 69c of the principal Act, the Commission may, in its discretion, continue to assess such a benefit as if this section had not been enacted.
(4)
Any disability allowance continued under subsection (3) of this section shall be reassessed in accordance with the provisions of the Nineteenth Schedule to the principal Act (as substituted by subsection (2) of this section) from the date such allowance is first renewed under section 80(4) of the principal Act or is first reviewed under section 81(1) of that Act, whichever is sooner.
11 Beneficiaries in hospital
(1)
Section 75(3) of the principal Act (as added by section 22 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1978) is hereby repealed.
(2)
Section 22 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1978 is hereby consequentially repealed.
12 Beneficiaries in institutions under Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966
The principal Act is hereby further amended by inserting, after section 75, the following section:
“75a
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Part of this Act, where a beneficiary, or any other person in respect of whom a benefit is payable, is a resident of an institution certified under the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966 (not being a psychiatric hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1969) or of any institution which is fulfilling a similar purpose to an institution certified under that Act, the rate of any benefit payable in respect of the period of residence in such institution shall be determined by the Commission after taking into account all of the beneficiary’s financial circumstances and commitments.”
13 Effect of absence of beneficiary from New Zealand
(1)
The principal Act is hereby further amended by repealing section 77, and substituting the following section:
“77
(1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act but subject to the provisions of this section, a benefit shall not be payable in respect of any period during which the person in respect of whom the benefit is payable is absent from New Zealand unless the period of absence is of 13 weeks or less:
“Provided that the Commission may pay the benefit in respect of a period of 13 weeks if such person’s absence has been for more than 13 weeks and his absence for more than 13 weeks was due to circumstances beyond his control which arose while he was absent.
“(2)
Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) of this section, the Commission may determine, in the circumstances of any particular case, that a sickness, unemployment, or emergency benefit shall not be paid while the beneficiary is absent from New Zealand, notwithstanding that the period of absence is of 13 weeks or less.
“(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary in—
“(a)
Any agreement entered into by the Government of New Zealand with the Government of any other country, whether before or after the commencement of this subsection, providing for reciprocity in social security benefits between New Zealand and that other country; or
“(b)
The provisions of any Act giving effect to any such agreement.
“(4)
Before a beneficiary leaves New Zealand intending to be absent for more than 13 weeks, he shall inform an officer of the Department of his proposed absence from New Zealand and of such other details as may be reasonably required by the Commission to determine his eligibility for payment of a benefit during that absence under the provisions of this section.
“(5)
Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall affect the right of any beneficiary to receive a benefit in any of the following cases:
“(a)
In the case of a family benefit, by any period or periods a child in respect of whom the benefit is payable is absent from New Zealand for the purpose of furthering his education, provided the father and the mother or, as the case may be, the only parent of the child remain or remains ordinarily resident in New Zealand:
“(b)
In the case of a person who is in receipt of an invalid’s benefit in respect of his blindness, by any period or periods of temporary absence from New Zealand, not exceeding 2 years in the aggregate, undertaken for purposes of vocational or guide-dog training or of treatment in respect of his eyes:
“(c)
In the case of a person who is in receipt of a miner’s benefit, by any period or periods of temporary absence from New Zealand not exceeding 2 years in the aggregate.
“(6)
For the purposes of this section, if any person becomes entitled to receive a benefit while absent from New Zealand, any period of absence before he became entitled shall not be taken into account.”
(2)
Notwithstanding anything in section 77(1) of the principal Act (as substituted by subsection (1) of this section), where any benefit has been paid to or in respect of a person who became entitled to receive it while he was absent from New Zealand, and the date of such entitlement occurred on or after the 1st day of August 1979 but before the passing of this Act, that benefit shall be deemed to have been lawfully payable.
(3)
Section 10 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1979 is hereby consequentially repealed.
(4)
This section shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of August 1979.
14 Amending Social Security (Reciprocity with the United Kingdom) Act 1969
(1)
The Social Security (Reciprocity with the United Kingdom) Act 1969 is hereby amended by inserting, after section 2a, the following section:
“2b Effect of absence from New Zealand
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or in the agreement set out in the Schedule to this Act, a benefit shall not be payable in respect of any period during which the beneficiary is absent from New Zealand except in respect of such period and in such circumstances as are permitted by section 77 of the Social Security Act 1964.”
(2)
This section shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of August 1979.
15 Amending Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980
(1)
The Second Schedule to the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980 is hereby amended by adding the Sixteenth to Nineteenth Schedules to the principal Act set out in the Third Schedule to this Act.
(2)
This section and the Third Schedule to this Act shall be deemed to have been in force during the period commencing on the 23rd day of July 1980 and ending with—
(a)
The 21st day of July 1981, in respect of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Schedules to the principal Act set out in the said Third Schedule:
(b)
The day before the date on which this Act receives the Governor-General’s assent, in respect of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Schedules to the principal Act set out in the said Third Schedule.
16 Increasing rates of benefits in respect of period 7 January 1981 to 21 July 1981
(1)
Inrespect of the period commencing on the 7th day of January 1981 and ending with the 21st day of July 1981, the principal Act shall have effect as if each provision of that Act specified in the first column of the Fourth Schedule to this Act had been amended by omitting every expression set out in the second column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that provision, wherever that expression occurs, and substituting in each case the expression set out opposite to it in the third column of that Schedule.
(2)
This section and the Fourth Schedule to this Act shall be deemed to have come into force on the 7th day of January 1981.
17 Increasing rates of benefits and child supplements on and after 22 July 1981
(1)
The principal Act is hereby further amended by repealing the Third to Tenth, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Schedules (as substituted by section 6(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980), and substituting the Third to Tenth, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Schedules set out in the Fifth Schedule to this Act.
(2)
Subject to section 15(2) of this Act, sections 5 and 6 of, and the First and Second Schedules to, the Social Security Amendment Act (No. 2) 1980 are hereby consequentially repealed.
(3)
This section and the Fifth Schedule to this Act shall be deemed to have come into force on the 22nd day of July 1981.
Part II Medical and Hospital Benefits and Other Related Benefits
18 Immunisation benefit
(1)
Section 97a(1) of the principal Act (as inserted by section 35 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1972) is hereby amended by inserting, after the words “16 years of age”
, the words “, or, if in the course of a programme of immunisation against rubella approved by the Department, vaccine supplied by the Department is administered to a female person of child-bearing age,”
.
(2)
This section shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of September 1981.
FIRST SCHEDULE NEW EIGHTEENTH SCHEDULE TO PRINCIPAL ACT
Section 8(3)
“EIGHTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Accommodation Benefit
Sections 61e, 61f
1.To any unmarried person without a dependent child or children |
Two-thirds of the amount (but not exceeding $18 a week) by which the applicant’s weekly rent or weekly outgoings on any property, occupied by him as a home, exceeds $18 a week, or by which his weekly board payments exceed $35 a week, diminished by $1 a week in respect of each complete $1 of the applicant’s weekly income in excess of $5 a week. |
2.To any married couple or solo parent with a dependent child or children |
Two-thirds of the amount (but not exceeding $18 a week) by which the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly rent or weekly outgoings on any property, occupied by the couple or solo parent as a home, exceeds $18 a week, or by which the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly board payments exceed $58 a week, diminished by $1 a week in respect of each complete $1 of the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly income in excess of $8 a week. |
3.
For the purposes of clauses 1 and 2 of this Schedule, an applicant’s or couple’s or solo parent’s weekly income shall be deemed to be his or their actual income (other than that derived from cash assets) plus $1 a week for each $100 of his or their cash assets.
4.
In computing for the purposes of this Schedule the income of a solo parent receiving a widow’s or domestic purposes benefit, the Commission may, in its discretion, disregard as income some or all of that part of his or her personal earnings (not exceeding $20 a week) used to meet the cost of placing a dependent child or children of the beneficiary in a day care centre registered under the Child Care Centre Regulations 1960, or in any other day care facility approved by the Commission for the purpose.
5.
After computing, in accordance with this Schedule, the amount of additional benefit payable, that amount may be rounded up to the next complete 50 cents.”
SECOND SCHEDULE NEW NINETEENTH SCHEDULE TO PRINCIPAL ACT
Section 10(2)
“NINETEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Handicapped Child’s Allowance Payable in Respect of a Seriously Handicapped Child and Disability Allowance Payable to a Disabled Person
Sections 39a and 69c
1.Rate of handicapped child’s allowance |
$8 a week. |
2.Maximum rate of disability allowance |
$11 a week.” |
THIRD SCHEDULE SIXTEENTH TO NINETEENTH SCHEDULES TO PRINCIPAL ACT ADDED TO SECOND SCHEDULE TO SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENT ACT (NO. 2) 1980 AS FROM 22 JULY 1980
Section 15(1)
“SIXTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Domestic Purposes Benefits
Sections 27b, 27c, 27b
1.To a beneficiary without dependent children |
$3,196.96 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
2.To a beneficiary with 1 or more dependent children |
$3,196.96 a year, increased, in the discretion of the Commission, by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate amount specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act, and diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year: Provided that in computing for the purposes of this clause the income of a solo parent the Commission may, in its discretion, disregard as income some or all of that part of his or her personal earnings (not exceeding $20 a week) used to meet the cost of placing a dependent child or children of the beneficiary in a day care centre registered under the Child Care Centre Regulations 1960, or in any other day care facility approved by the Commission for the purpose. |
“SEVENTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Domestic Purposes Benefits
Sections 27g, 27h
1.To an unmarried beneficiary under the age of 18 years |
$2,432.04 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
2.To any other unmarried beneficiary |
$3,196.96 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
3.To a married beneficiary whose wife or husband is granted, in her or his own right, a benefit (other than national superannuation) under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954. |
$2,663.96 a year, diminished by 20c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 40c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year. |
4.To any other married beneficiary |
$2,663.96 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and the spouse of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year: Provided that, if the spouse of the beneficiary is not in receipt of national superannuation under Part I of this Act, the rate of the domestic purposes benefit payable to the beneficiary shall not be less than the aggregate of the rates of domestic purposes benefits that would be payable if the beneficiary and the spouse of the beneficiary were both entitled to receive a domestic purposes benefit, but the rate of benefit payable hereunder shall not exceed $2,663.96 a year. |
“EIGHTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Additional Benefit
Sections 61e, 61f
1.To any unmarried person without a dependent child or children |
Two-thirds of the amount (but not exceeding $16 a week) by which the applicant’s weekly rent or weekly outgoings on any property, occupied by him as a home, exceeds $16 a week, or by which his weekly board payments exceed $35 a week, diminished by $1 a week in respect of each complete $1 of the applicant’s weekly income. |
2.To any married couple or solo parent with a dependent child or children |
Two-thirds of the amount (but not exceeding $16 a week) by which the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly rent or weekly outgoings on any property, occupied by the couple or solo parent as a home, exceeds $16 a week, or by which the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly board payments exceed $58 a week, diminished by $1 a week in respect of each complete $1 of the couple’s or solo parent’s weekly income in excess of $8 a week. |
3.
For the purposes of clauses 1 and 2 of this Schedule, an applicant’s or couple’s or solo parent’s weekly income shall be deemed to be his or their actual income (other than that derived from cash assets) plus $1 a week for each $100 of his or their cash assets.
4.
In computing for the purposes of this Schedule the income of a solo parent receiving a widow’s or domestic purposes benefit, the Commission may, in its discretion, disregard as income some or all of that part of his or her personal earnings (not exceeding $20 a week) used to meet the cost of placing a dependent child or children of the beneficiary in a day care centre registered under the Child Care Centre Regulations 1960, or in any other day care facility approved by the Commission for the purpose.
5.
After computing, in accordance with the Schedule, the amount of additional benefit payable, that amount may be rounded up to the next complete 50 cents.
“NINETEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Handicapped Child’s Allowance Payable in Respect of a Seriously Handicapped Child and Disability Allowance Payable to a Disabled Person
Sections 39a, 69c
1.Rate of handicapped child’s allowance |
$8 a week. |
2.Maximum rate of disability allowance |
$8 a week.” |
FOURTH SCHEDULE Amendments to Principal Act Increasing Rates of Benefits in Respect of Period 7 January 1981 to 21 July 1981
Section 16(1)
| Provisions Amended | Expressions Omitted | Expressions Substituted |
| Third Schedule— | $ | $ |
| Clause 1 | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Clause 2 | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Fourth Schedule | 1,583.40 | 1,697.80 |
| Sixth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1(a) | 2,432.04 | 2,610.92 |
| Clause 1(b) | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Clause 1(c) | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
| Clause 1(d) | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
| Clause 1(e) | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
| Clause 2 | 4,275.96 | 4,472 |
| 533 | 572 | |
| Seventh Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1(a) | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
| Clause 1(b) | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Clause 2 | 3,113.76 | 3,348 |
| Eighth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1(a) | 46.77 | 50.21 |
| Clause 1(b) | 61.48 | 66 |
| Clause 1(c) | 51.23 | 55 |
| Clause 1(d) | 51.23 | 55 |
| Clause 1(e) | 51.23 | 55 |
| Clause 1(f) | 51.23 | 55 |
| Clause 2 | 40.98 | 44 |
| Ninth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1(a) | 46.77 | 50.21 |
| Clause 1(b) | 61.48 | 66 |
| Clause 1(c) | 51.23 | 55 |
| Clause 2 | 40.98 | 44 |
| Fourteenth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1(a)(i) | 1,818.96 | 1,976 |
| Clause 2(a)(i) | 34.98 | 38 |
| Sixteenth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1 | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Clause 2 | 3.196.96 | 3,432 |
| Seventeenth Schedule— | ||
| Clause 1 | 2,432.04 | 2,610.92 |
| Clause 2 | 3,196.96 | 3,432 |
| Clause 3 | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
| Clause 4 | 2,663.96 | 2,860 |
FIFTH SCHEDULE NEW THIRD TO TENTH, TWELFTH, FOURTEENTH, SIXTEENTH, AND SEVENTEENTH SCHEDULES TO PRINCIPAL ACT (Effective on and after 22 July 1981)
Section 17(1)
“THIRD SCHEDULE Rates of Widow’s Benefits
Section 21, 24
1.To a beneficiary without dependent children |
$3,679 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of her total annual income in excess of $2,080 a year. |
2.To a beneficiary with 1 or more dependent children |
$3,679 a year, increased, in the discretion of the Commission, by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate amount specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act, and diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of her total annual income in excess of $2,080 a year: Provided that in computing for the purposes of this clause the income of a widow, the Commission may, in its discretion, disregard as income some or all of that part of her personal earnings (not exceeding $20 a week) used to meet the cost of placing a dependent child or children of the beneficiary in a day care centre registered under the Child Care Centre Regulations 1960, or in any other day care facility approved by the Commission for the purpose. |
“FOURTH SCHEDULE Maximum Rates of Orphan’s Benefits
Section 29
| In every case | $1,820 a year, diminished by $3 for every complete $4 of the total annual income of the orphan in excess of $260 a year. |
“FIFTH SCHEDULE Rates of Family Benefits
Section 34
| In respect of each child | $6 a week. |
“SIXTH SCHEDULE Rates of Invalids’ Benefits
Section 42, 43
| 1. (a) To an unmarried beneficiary under the age of 18 years | $2,799.16 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| (b) To any other unmarried beneficiary | $3,679 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| (c) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is granted, in his or her own right, a benefit (other than national superannuation) under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954 | $3,065.92 a year, diminished by 20c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $1,300 a year, but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 40c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| (d) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is not granted, in his or her own right, a benefit under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954 | $3,065.92 a year, increased by $3,065.92 a year in respect of his or her spouse, the total rate to be diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| (e) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is granted, in his or her own right, national superannuation under Part I of this Act | $3,065.92 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year: |
Provided that if the beneficiary has the care of a dependent child or children, the rate of benefit specified in this Schedule may, in the discretion of the Commission, be increased by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate rate specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act:
Provided also that, in computing for the purposes of this clause the income of any totally blind person, the Commission shall take no account of the personal earnings of that person:
Provided further that the rates specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause shall be reduced by the amount of any family benefit payable under Part I of this Act in respect of the beneficiary.
| 2. Maximum amount from all sources where subsidy paid on earnings of blind invalid, in every case | $4,677.92 a year, increased by $613.08 a year if the beneficiary is an unmarried person. |
“SEVENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Miners’ Benefits and Miners’ Widows’ Benefits
Section 49, 53
1.
| (a) To a married miner | $3,065.92 a year increased by $3,065.92 a year in respect of his wife. |
| (b) In any other case | $3,679 a year. |
| 2. To a miner’s widow | $3,595.80 a year. |
“EIGHTH SCHEDULE Rates of Sickness Benefits
Sections 54a(3), 55
| 1. (a) To an unmarried beneficiary under the age of 18 years without dependants | $53.83 a week, diminished by 8c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 16c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary in excess of $40 a week. |
| (b) To any other unmarried beneficiary | $70.75 a week, diminished by 8c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 16c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary in excess of $40 a week. |
| (c) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is granted, in his or her own right, a benefit (other than national superannuation) under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954 | $58.96 a week, diminished by 4c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 8c for every complete 20c of such income in excess of $40 a week. |
| (d) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is not granted, in his or her own right, a benefit under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954 | $58.96 a week, increased by $58.96 a week in respect of his or her spouse, the total rate to be diminished by 8c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 16c for every complete 20c of such income in excess of $40 a week. |
| (e) To a married beneficiary whose spouse is granted, in his or her own right, national superannuation under Part I of this Act | $58.96 a week, diminished by 8c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 16c for every complete 20c of such income in excess of $40 a week. |
| (f) To a married person under section 54a | $58.96 a week, diminished by 8c for every complete 20c of the total weekly income of the beneficiary in excess of $25 a week but not in excess of $40 a week, and by 16c for every complete 20c of such income in excess of $40 a week: |
Provided that for the purposes of paragraphs (a) to (e) of this clause, if the beneficiary has the care of a dependent child or children, the rate of benefit specified in this Schedule may, in the discretion of the Commission, be increased by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate rate specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act.
Provided also that the rates specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause shall be reduced by the amount of any family benefit payable under Part I of this Act in respect of the beneficiary.
| 2. Maximum increase in respect of a housekeeper | $47.17 a week. |
“NINTH SCHEDULE Maximum Rates of Unemployment Benefits
Sections 59
| 1. (a) To an unmarried beneficiary under the age of 20 years without dependants | $53.83 a week. |
| (b) To any other unmarried beneficiary | $70.75 a week. |
| (c) To a married beneficiary | $58.96 a week, increased by $58.96 a week in respect of his or her spouse. |
| 2. Maximum increase in respect of a housekeeper | $47.17 a week: |
Provided that, if the beneficiary has the care of a dependent child or children, the rate of benefit specified in this Schedule may, in the discretion of the Commission, be increased by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate rate specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act.
“TENTH SCHEDULE Special Income Exemption in Respect of Sick Benefits From Friendly or Like Society (National Superannuation Payable Under Section 16 of this Act, Invalids’, Widows’, Domestic Purposes, and Sickness Benefits Only)
Sections 66
| Maximum rate | $2 a week in the case of a sickness benefit, and $104 a year in any other case. |
“TWELFTH SCHEDULE Maximum Increase in Rate of Benefit Payable to Parent of Deceased Member of Forces or Mercantile Marine
Sections 69
| Maximum rate | $1 a week. |
“FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE Child Supplements
Sections 61a
| 1. To any person receiving an emergency benefit payable otherwise than by weekly instalments, or a widow’s, domestic purposes, or invalid’s benefit— | |
| (a) At the rate payable to an unmarried beneficiary— | |
| (i) On account of first or only dependent child | $2,140.84 a year. |
| (ii) On account of each additional dependent child after the first | $260 a year. |
| (b) At the rate payable to a married beneficiary on account of each dependant child | $260 a year. |
| 2. To any person receiving an emergency benefit payable by weekly instalments, or a sickness or unemployment benefit— | |
| (a) At the rate payable to an unmarried beneficiary— | |
| (i) On account of first or only dependent child | $41.17 a week. |
| (ii) On account of each additional dependent child after the first | $5 a week. |
| (b) At the rate payable to a married beneficiary—on account of each dependent child | $5 a week. |
“SIXTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Domestic Purposes Benefits
Sections 27b, 27g, 27h
| 1. To a beneficiary without dependent children | $3,679 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| 2. To a beneficiary with 1 or more dependent children |
$3,679 a year, increased, in the discretion of the Commission, by a child supplement not exceeding the appropriate amount specified in the Fourteenth Schedule to this Act, and diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year: Provided that in computing for the purposes of this clause the income of a solo parent the Commission may, in its discretion, disregard as income some or all of that part of his or her personal earnings (not exceeding $20 a week) used to meet the cost of placing a dependent child or children of the beneficiary in a day care centre registered under the Child Care Centre Regulations 1960, or in any other day care facility approved by the Commission for the purpose. |
“SEVENTEENTH SCHEDULE Rates of Domestic Purposes Benefits
Sections 27g, 27h
| 1. To an unmarried beneficiary under the age of 18 years | $2,799.16 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| 2. To any other unmarried beneficiary | $3,679 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| 3. To a married beneficiary whose wife or husband is granted, in her or his own right, a benefit (other than national superannuation) under Part I of this Act, or an economic pension, war veteran’s allowance, or war service pension under the War Pensions Act 1954 | $3,065.92 a year, diminished by 20c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 40c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year. |
| 4. To any other married beneficiary |
$3,065.92 a year, diminished by 40c for every complete $1 of the total annual income of the beneficiary and the spouse of the beneficiary in excess of $1,300 a year but not in excess of $2,080 a year, and by 80c for every complete $1 of such income in excess of $2,080 a year: Provided that, if the spouse of the beneficiary is not in receipt of national superannuation under Part I of this Act, the rate of the domestic purposes benefit payable to the beneficiary shall not be less than the aggregate of the rates of domestic purposes benefits that would be payable if the beneficiary and the spouse of the beneficiary were both entitled to receive a domestic purposes benefit, but the rate of benefit payable hereunder shall not exceed $3,065.92 a year.” |
This Act is administered in the Department of Social Welfare.
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Versions
Social Security Amendment Act 1981
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