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Australia
| Total population (m.): | 21.5 |
| GDP per capita (USD): | 47370 |
Unemployment
Regulatory Framework
First law: 1944.
Current law: 1991 (Social Security, Job Search, and Newstart Amendment Act No. 68), with 1998 (Social Security Legislation (Youth Allowance Consequential and Related Measures) Act No. 45) amendment.
Type of program: Social assistance system.
Current law: 1991 (Social Security, Job Search, and Newstart Amendment Act No. 68), with 1998 (Social Security Legislation (Youth Allowance Consequential and Related Measures) Act No. 45) amendment.
Type of program: Social assistance system.
Coverage
Gainfully employed persons (also paid to those not previously gainfully employed who meet the qualifying conditions), including self-employed persons.
Source of funds
Insured person: None.
Self-employed person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: The total cost from general revenue.
Self-employed person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: The total cost from general revenue.
Qualifying conditions
Youth allowance (means-tested): Unemployed young people aged 16 to 20 (age 24 if a full-time student, age 15 or older if old enough to leave school) who undertake approved education, training, job search, or other activities to prepare for employment or are unable to work because of an illness or injury. Recipients who have not completed secondary school must concurrently study or undergo training to complete schooling requirements. Parental and personal income and assets are considered in the means test.
Health care card: Jobseeking youth allowance recipients.
Concession card: Jobseeking youth allowance recipients who are either single primary caregivers of a dependent child or assessed with a partial capacity for work.
Newstart allowance (means-tested): Age 21 up to the pensionable age and unemployed. Must reside permanently in Australia and be present in the country during the period of payment. Must be capable of undertaking and actively seeking work or temporarily unable to work because of an illness. If unemployed due to voluntarily leaving, a labor dispute, or the refusal of a suitable job offer, benefit may be reduced for up to 26 weeks or postponed for up to 8 weeks.
If exempt from having to actively seek work, the newstart allowance may be payable abroad for up to 13 weeks for some temporary absences.
Health care card: Provided to all newstart allowance recipients.
Concession card: Provided to newstart allowance recipients who are either single primary caregivers of a dependent child, assessed with a partial capacity to work, or older than age 60.
Partner allowance (means-tested): No new partner allowances have been awarded since September 20, 2003. Paid to a member of a couple (born on or before July 1, 1955) whose partner receives a social security pension or allowance. Must have had no recent workforce experience and no dependent children younger than age 16. Recipients are not required to look for work. A couple refers to cohabiting opposite-sex partners, regardless of marital status.
Health care card: Provided to all partner allowance recipients.
Parenting payment (income-tested): Paid for a child younger than age 16 who satisfies residency requirements.
Rent assistance (means-tested): Paid according to marital status and the level of rent. Special rules apply to people living in retirement villages. Single recipients younger than age 25 and living with their parents are not eligible.
Health care card: Provided to parenting payment recipients with partners.
Concession card: Provided to single parenting payment recipients.
Payment supplements: Paid to social security recipients depending on particular circumstances.
Health care card: Jobseeking youth allowance recipients.
Concession card: Jobseeking youth allowance recipients who are either single primary caregivers of a dependent child or assessed with a partial capacity for work.
Newstart allowance (means-tested): Age 21 up to the pensionable age and unemployed. Must reside permanently in Australia and be present in the country during the period of payment. Must be capable of undertaking and actively seeking work or temporarily unable to work because of an illness. If unemployed due to voluntarily leaving, a labor dispute, or the refusal of a suitable job offer, benefit may be reduced for up to 26 weeks or postponed for up to 8 weeks.
If exempt from having to actively seek work, the newstart allowance may be payable abroad for up to 13 weeks for some temporary absences.
Health care card: Provided to all newstart allowance recipients.
Concession card: Provided to newstart allowance recipients who are either single primary caregivers of a dependent child, assessed with a partial capacity to work, or older than age 60.
Partner allowance (means-tested): No new partner allowances have been awarded since September 20, 2003. Paid to a member of a couple (born on or before July 1, 1955) whose partner receives a social security pension or allowance. Must have had no recent workforce experience and no dependent children younger than age 16. Recipients are not required to look for work. A couple refers to cohabiting opposite-sex partners, regardless of marital status.
Health care card: Provided to all partner allowance recipients.
Parenting payment (income-tested): Paid for a child younger than age 16 who satisfies residency requirements.
Rent assistance (means-tested): Paid according to marital status and the level of rent. Special rules apply to people living in retirement villages. Single recipients younger than age 25 and living with their parents are not eligible.
Health care card: Provided to parenting payment recipients with partners.
Concession card: Provided to single parenting payment recipients.
Payment supplements: Paid to social security recipients depending on particular circumstances.
Cash benefits for insured workers
Youth allowance (means-tested): A$206.30 to A$493.90 is paid every 2 weeks depending on age, living arrangements, marital status, and whether the recipient has dependent children. A child is assessed as dependent according to specified criteria, including the legal relationship with the claimant; the child's age, income, and residency status; and whether the child is a full-time student or receives social security benefits.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Newstart allowance (means-tested): Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks for each member of a couple older than age 21; A$462.80 if single, older than age 21, and with no dependents; A$500.70 if single with dependents; or A$500.70 if single, older than age 60, and has the allowance for at least 9 months. The allowance is paid after a 7-day waiting period for as long as the person is qualified.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Partner allowance (means-tested): Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks. The allowance is paid after a 7-day waiting period for as long as the person is qualified.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Parenting payment: Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks for parents living as a couple; A$601.30 for a single parent. Couples separated by illness, respite care, or prison can receive up to A$500.70 every 2 weeks.
Rent assistance (means-tested): Up to A$148.80 is paid every 2 weeks, according to family situation and level of rent. Special rules apply to people living in retirement villages. Single recipients younger than age 25 and living with their parents are not eligible for rent assistance.
Remote area allowance: A$18.20 is paid every 2 weeks for a single person; A$15.60 each for a couple. A$7.30 is paid every 2 weeks for each dependent.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Payment supplements: Various small allowances, for example for pharmaceutical costs, are paid.
Benefit adjustment: Most benefits are adjusted in March and September according to changes in the consumer price index.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Newstart allowance (means-tested): Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks for each member of a couple older than age 21; A$462.80 if single, older than age 21, and with no dependents; A$500.70 if single with dependents; or A$500.70 if single, older than age 60, and has the allowance for at least 9 months. The allowance is paid after a 7-day waiting period for as long as the person is qualified.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Partner allowance (means-tested): Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks. The allowance is paid after a 7-day waiting period for as long as the person is qualified.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Parenting payment: Up to A$417.70 is paid every 2 weeks for parents living as a couple; A$601.30 for a single parent. Couples separated by illness, respite care, or prison can receive up to A$500.70 every 2 weeks.
Rent assistance (means-tested): Up to A$148.80 is paid every 2 weeks, according to family situation and level of rent. Special rules apply to people living in retirement villages. Single recipients younger than age 25 and living with their parents are not eligible for rent assistance.
Remote area allowance: A$18.20 is paid every 2 weeks for a single person; A$15.60 each for a couple. A$7.30 is paid every 2 weeks for each dependent.
Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.
Concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and concessions for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.
Payment supplements: Various small allowances, for example for pharmaceutical costs, are paid.
Benefit adjustment: Most benefits are adjusted in March and September according to changes in the consumer price index.
Administrative organization
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs (http://www.fahcsia.gov.au) provides general supervision.
Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
GPO Box 7576,
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia
Centrelink (http://www.centrelink.gov.au) administers the programs through 401 customer service centers and 16 area support offices.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (http://www.deewr.gov.au) administers newstart allowance, sickness allowance, youth allowance, partner payment, and parenting payment.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9880,
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia
Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
GPO Box 7576,
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia
Centrelink (http://www.centrelink.gov.au) administers the programs through 401 customer service centers and 16 area support offices.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (http://www.deewr.gov.au) administers newstart allowance, sickness allowance, youth allowance, partner payment, and parenting payment.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9880,
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia
Last survey reply: 01 July 2010
Last ISSA update: 01 July 2010
Exchange rate: US$1.00 = 1.17 Australian dollars (A$).