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.

Persons who are not gainfully employed, including the self-employed.

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: None.

Employer: None.

Government: The total cost is financed from general revenue.

Youth allowance (means tested): Unemployed young people aged 16 to 21 (aged 18 to 24 if a full-time student), in an approved education or training program, searching for a job, participating in other activities to prepare for employment, or 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. If the individual is a dependent, parental and personal income and assets are considered in the means test.

Health care card: Job-seeking youth allowance recipients.

Pensioner concession card: Job-seeking 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 22 up to the pensionable age and unemployed. Must reside permanently in Australia and be present in the country during the payment period. Must be capable of undertaking and actively seeking work, prepared to enter into an employment pathway plan and meet activity-test requirements. 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 eight 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.

Pensioner 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.

Parenting payment (income tested): Paid to a single parent caring for at least one child younger than age 8; if caring for a least one child with a partner the child must be younger than age 6. Must be an Australian resident.

Rent assistance (means tested): Paid according to marital status, number of dependents, 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.

Pensioner concession card: Provided to single parenting payment recipients.

Payment supplements: Paid to social security recipients depending on particular circumstances.

Youth allowance (means tested): A$220.40 to A$527.50 is paid every two 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.

Pensioner concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, public transportation and for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.

Newstart allowance (means tested): Up to A$447.70 is paid every two weeks for each member of a couple older than age 22; A$492.60 if single, older than age 22, and with no dependents; A$533 if single with dependents; or A$533 if single, older than age 60, and has the allowance for at least nine months (September 2012).

Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.

Pensioner concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and for certain Commonwealth, state or territory and local government services.

Parenting payment: Up to A$447 is paid every two weeks for parents living as a couple; A$663.70 for a single parent. Couples separated by illness, respite care, or prison can receive up to A$533 every two weeks.

Rent assistance (means tested): Up to A$160.44 is paid every two 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 (September 2012).

Remote area allowance: A$18.20 is paid every two weeks for a single person; A$15.60 for each member of a couple. A$7.30 is paid every two weeks for each dependent child.

Health care card: Provides reduced medical and prescription costs.

Pensioner concession card: Provides reduced costs for medical services, medicine, and 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.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs (http://www.fahcsia.gov.au) provides general supervision.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
GPO Box 7576,
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia

Department of Human Services (http://www.humanservices.gov.au) delivers social and health-related payments and services.

Department of Human Services
137-153 Crown Street,
Sydney
NSW 2010,
Australia
Tel.: +61 13 28 50

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