Post by Banjo on Mar 27, 2012 10:53:28 GMT 7
Overview of changes – January 2012 to March 2012
This Update Bulletin sets out the major changes to social security legislation, family assistance legislation and policy guidelines that came into effect between January 2012 and March 2012. The update incorporates changes such as:
a new International Agreement with the Slovak Republic;
changes to Centrelink’s policy to refer requests for review back to the original decision maker; and
changes to the social security and family assistance rates and means tests.
Some changes anticipated to come into effect on 1 July 2012 include:
an increase in the Newstart Allowance age of qualification from 21 to 22;
a change in penalty rates for failure to attend an interview with a provider or failure to attend an activity or job interview, aligned to one-tenth of the fortnightly payment;
an increase in the work experience phase from two days a week for six months, to two days a week for 11 months;
activity testing of under 35s on Disability Support Pension;
indefinite portability for Disability Support Pensioners with a severe and permanent disability and no future capacity to work;
place based changes affecting new applicants and existing recipients of Parenting Payment under 23 on payments for more than two years;
the expansion of income management in five new locations for child protection, vulnerable of voluntary categories; and
changes to the income test for Youth Allowance and Abstudy.
The July online update will incorporate these anticipated changes.
Upcoming hardcopy 7th edition of the Handbook
The Welfare Rights Centre is currently preparing the 7th edition of the Independent Social Security Handbook, with an anticipated publication in September 2012. Much of the information contained in this March online update has been reviewed for accuracy and currency by caseworkers in preparation for the upcoming hard copy publication.
To pre-order a copy of the book contact the Centre on 9211 5300 and ask for a pre-order form from the Centre’s Office Manager.
We are keen to hear feedback of any information contained in the Handbook online which you find useful or about any information not currently included which you think would be helpful. To provide feedback, please call the Centre on 9211 5300.
Summary of the main changes to social security law since January 2012
New International Agreement
A new International Agreement with the Slovak Republic is now in force.
Other agreements which have been signed and are expected to come into force in 2012 include with Hungary and Latvia.
For details about current International Agreements, see Chapter 47.
Changes to Centrelink’s policy to refer requests for review back to the original decision maker
Previously a request for review of a Centrelink decision may be referred back to the original decision maker (or ODM). From March 2012, requests for review will instead be referred to a “Subject Matter Expert”, or “SME”. Review may then be need to be sought from an Authorised Review Officer (ARO) within 13 weeks where a person is not satisfied with the SME decision.
The appeals process is dealt with in Part 20 of the Handbook.
Changes to social security and family assistance rates and means tests
There were a number of changes to rates and means tests effective 20 March 2012 including changes to:
fortnightly payment amounts for pensions, allowances (Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance), and Parenting Payment;
quarterly payment amounts for Utilities Allowance;
pension disqualifying income and asset limits;
disqualifying income limits for Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance;
the income free areas for Parenting Payment;
Rent Assistance, maximum payments, rent thresholds and the minimum rent to get the maximum payment;
the low income earner health care card income test.
These changes are found throughout the Handbook.
Next Update
The next Update will be published in July 2012.
Special acknowledgements
The publication of the Independent Social Security Handbook ONLINE and each quarterly update would not be possible without the knowledge, commitment and contributions of the staff of the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney. Whilst the bulk of the research and drafting work is completed by the Handbook Researcher,####################and #############, make invaluable contributions to the content of Updates. The Centre’s Office Manager, #######, is responsible for design and production of the publication.
###############
Editor
The Independent Social Security Handbook
Director, Welfare Rights Centre
This Update Bulletin sets out the major changes to social security legislation, family assistance legislation and policy guidelines that came into effect between January 2012 and March 2012. The update incorporates changes such as:
a new International Agreement with the Slovak Republic;
changes to Centrelink’s policy to refer requests for review back to the original decision maker; and
changes to the social security and family assistance rates and means tests.
Some changes anticipated to come into effect on 1 July 2012 include:
an increase in the Newstart Allowance age of qualification from 21 to 22;
a change in penalty rates for failure to attend an interview with a provider or failure to attend an activity or job interview, aligned to one-tenth of the fortnightly payment;
an increase in the work experience phase from two days a week for six months, to two days a week for 11 months;
activity testing of under 35s on Disability Support Pension;
indefinite portability for Disability Support Pensioners with a severe and permanent disability and no future capacity to work;
place based changes affecting new applicants and existing recipients of Parenting Payment under 23 on payments for more than two years;
the expansion of income management in five new locations for child protection, vulnerable of voluntary categories; and
changes to the income test for Youth Allowance and Abstudy.
The July online update will incorporate these anticipated changes.
Upcoming hardcopy 7th edition of the Handbook
The Welfare Rights Centre is currently preparing the 7th edition of the Independent Social Security Handbook, with an anticipated publication in September 2012. Much of the information contained in this March online update has been reviewed for accuracy and currency by caseworkers in preparation for the upcoming hard copy publication.
To pre-order a copy of the book contact the Centre on 9211 5300 and ask for a pre-order form from the Centre’s Office Manager.
We are keen to hear feedback of any information contained in the Handbook online which you find useful or about any information not currently included which you think would be helpful. To provide feedback, please call the Centre on 9211 5300.
Summary of the main changes to social security law since January 2012
New International Agreement
A new International Agreement with the Slovak Republic is now in force.
Other agreements which have been signed and are expected to come into force in 2012 include with Hungary and Latvia.
For details about current International Agreements, see Chapter 47.
Changes to Centrelink’s policy to refer requests for review back to the original decision maker
Previously a request for review of a Centrelink decision may be referred back to the original decision maker (or ODM). From March 2012, requests for review will instead be referred to a “Subject Matter Expert”, or “SME”. Review may then be need to be sought from an Authorised Review Officer (ARO) within 13 weeks where a person is not satisfied with the SME decision.
The appeals process is dealt with in Part 20 of the Handbook.
Changes to social security and family assistance rates and means tests
There were a number of changes to rates and means tests effective 20 March 2012 including changes to:
fortnightly payment amounts for pensions, allowances (Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance), and Parenting Payment;
quarterly payment amounts for Utilities Allowance;
pension disqualifying income and asset limits;
disqualifying income limits for Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance;
the income free areas for Parenting Payment;
Rent Assistance, maximum payments, rent thresholds and the minimum rent to get the maximum payment;
the low income earner health care card income test.
These changes are found throughout the Handbook.
Next Update
The next Update will be published in July 2012.
Special acknowledgements
The publication of the Independent Social Security Handbook ONLINE and each quarterly update would not be possible without the knowledge, commitment and contributions of the staff of the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney. Whilst the bulk of the research and drafting work is completed by the Handbook Researcher,####################and #############, make invaluable contributions to the content of Updates. The Centre’s Office Manager, #######, is responsible for design and production of the publication.
###############
Editor
The Independent Social Security Handbook
Director, Welfare Rights Centre