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Assessable and Non – Assessable Income and Assets Tables

This document provides detailed information on assessable and non-assessable income and assets for both applicants and tenants.

Income and assets are assessable for all clients aged 18 years and over, or the tenant and/or their partner if aged under 18 years.

Tables 1 - 6 below provide information on assessable and non-assessable income and assets.

Table 1: Benefits and allowances paid by Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Abstudy

Assessable

Provides financial help to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians who are studying or undertaking an apprenticeship.

Abstudy Fares Allowance

Non -Assessable

Helps cover the cost of travel between a student’s permanent home and place of study if they are required to live away from home to study.

Abstudy Living Allowance

Non - Assessable

A fortnightly payment to assist in meeting the day to day living costs of students or apprentices.

Abstudy Youth Disability Supplement

Non - Assessable

Additional financial support for educational expenses for students who are undertaking full-time study.

Additional Child Care Subsidy

Non - Assessable

This subsidy is paid to clients in addition to the Child Care Subsidy. This subsidy will provide targeted additional fee assistance to families and children accessing affordable child care. The Additional Child Care Subsidy has four elements

  • Child wellbeing
  • Grandparents
  • Temporary Financial Hardship
  • Transition to Work

Age Pension

Assessable

Provides income support and access to a range of concessions for eligible older Australians.

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme (AIC)

Non - Assessable

A payment received by the client when a child is unable to attend a local government school because of geographical isolation, disability or special needs. The client will receive either a

  • Boarding Allowance
  • Second Home Allowance
  • Distance Education Allowance
  • Pensioner Education Supplement

Attendant Allowance (DVA)

Non - Assessable

Financial support for eligible veterans to assist with the cost of an attendant to help with daily living activities.

Austudy

Assessable

Provides financial help to full-time students and apprentices aged 25 years or over.

Bereavement Allowances Bereavement Payments

Funeral benefits

Non - Assessable

Where a partnered person receives the couple rate of a pension, and their partner dies, the surviving partner will continue to receive the equivalent couple rate up to a maximum period of 14 weeks.

During this period, the tenant or household member’s income is assessed at the appropriate single rate of Centrelink pension or benefit to which they would otherwise be entitled.

Carer Allowance

Non - Assessable

Carer allowance is an income supplement for clients who provide additional daily care to a person with a disability, severe medical condition or is frail aged.

Carer Payment

Assessable

An income support payment for people who provide constant care, in the home, to a person with a severe disability, medical condition, or who is frail aged.

Carer Supplement

Non - Assessable

An annual lump-sum payment to assist carers with the costs of caring for a person with a disability or medical condition.

Child Care Subsidy

Non - Assessable

Clients receive assistance to help with the cost of approved or registered child care fees.

Clothing Allowance (DVA)

Non - Assessable

This allowance will be paid to an eligible veteran, Member of the Forces, or member of a Peacekeeping Force to help offset the cost of wear and tear and damage to clothing resulting from war or defence-caused disabilities, or the treatment of those disabilities. For example, damage may be caused by the wearing of surgical aids and appliances.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)

Assessable

Public housing tenancies:

Public housing tenants and their partners are usually not eligible to receive CRA as they pay ‘government rent.’ However, where a household member, the tenant, or their partner receives CRA, the amount is included in the rent subsidy assessment and assessed at 100% of the CRA amount.

Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) tenancies:

Where AHO tenants and their household members are eligible for CRA, DCJ will assess the amount to which they are entitled, whether or not the person actually receives that amount.

CRA is included in the rent subsidy assessment and assessed at 100% of the CRA amount.

Social housing clients:

CRA is not included in the assessment of eligibility for social housing

Rentstart

CRA is included in the assessment of Rentstart affordability

COVID-19 Supplements, Special Payments, Disaster Payments, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, Service NSW Test and Isolate Support Payment

Non - Assessable

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Australian Government is making additional income payments and one-off payments for persons in receipt of Centrelink benefits.

The NSW State Government is also providing financial support.

Crisis Payment

Non - Assessable

A one off payment for clients that are experiencing severe financial hardship because of extreme circumstances.

Dad and Partner Pay

Assessable

Supporting dads or partners caring for a newborn or recently adopted child may be eligible for a maximum of two weeks’ pay.

Disability Allowance

(DVA)

Non - Assessable

A disability pension allowance may be paid to pensioners to provide financial assistance, compensation or reward for valour.

Disability Compensation Payment (DVA)

Non - Assessable

The Disability Compensation Payment previously known as the Disability Pension or War Disability Pension.

The Disability Compensation Payment is paid to compensate veterans for injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service on behalf of Australia.

There are four categories of disability compensation payment:

  • General rate,
  • Extreme disablement adjustment – for over 65 years of age
  • Intermediate rate
  • Special rate

If the total of the persons remaining assessable income is less than the amount of the Centrelink income to which they would otherwise be entitled DCJ will assess the person as though they receive the appropriate statutory benefit for their age and household composition.

Disability Support Pension

(Centrelink)

Assessable

Provides financial support for eligible people who have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that stops them from working or people who are permanently blind.

Disaster Recovery Allowance

Non - Assessable

A payment that provides short term income support to clients who have demonstrated their income has been affected as a result of a major disaster. Payment is for a maximum of 13 weeks.

Disaster Relief Payment

Non - Assessable

A one-off, non-means tested payment of $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children who have been adversely affected by a major disaster either in Australia or overseas.

Double Orphan Pension

Non - Assessable

A regular payment if the client is caring for a child whose parents can’t care for them or have died.

Education Entry Payment

Non - Assessable

A yearly payment to students, trainees or apprentices to assist with everyday cost of living and study expenses.

Educational Allowances paid for Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS)

Non - Assessable

Provides financial support to eligible parents towards the cost of an eligible child’s secondary education.

Energy Supplement

Assessable

A payment to help energy costs.

Where paid as a quarterly payment, the Supplement will be assessed based on the equivalent weekly payment.

Energy Supplements (DVA)AssessableThe energy supplements associated with Veterans Affairs Service Pensions and War Widows pension are assessable. All other DVA energy supplements are not assessable.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

Non - Assessable

A yearly payment to clients to help with the additional energy cost of running essential medical equipment, medically required heating or cooling, or both.

Family Tax Benefits Parts A & B

Assessable

Provides financial assistance to a parent or guardian for a child in their care.

Family Tax Benefits are assessable if they are paid on a fortnightly or recurrent basis.

Family Tax Benefits are assessable when back paid to a parent following the birth of a child.

A parent may receive Family Tax Benefits for their child over the age of 18 years. In these cases, the Family Tax Benefits are considered assessable income for the parent.

Tenancy

Some household members over the age of 18 years do not receive Centrelink income, have no other income, and a parent receives Family Tax Benefit on their behalf. These household members will pay a $5 minimum rent. (No Income Parent/Family Means Test code in HOMES)

Family Tax Benefits Parts A & B taken through the taxation system or as a lump sum

Non - Assessable

Family Tax Benefits taken through the taxation system or as a lump sum payment at the end of the financial year.

Fares Allowance

Non - Assessable

Helps with travel costs between your permanent home and your place of tertiary study in Australia

Foster Care Allowances

Non - Assessable

Foster carers are volunteers, so they are not paid a wage. Reimbursements received from DCJ or non-government organisations such as Barnardo’s to cover the day-to-day costs of looking after the child or young person in care.

Government Stimulus Payment

Non - Assessable

One-off payment of $750 paid to lower-income Australians, including pensioners, other social security and veteran income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. This is to help support economic activity.

Guardianship Allowance

Non - Assessable

An allowance given to guardians to enable them to meet the needs of a child or your person.

Incapacity Payments (DVA)Assessable

Incapacity payments are compensation for economic loss due to the inability (or reduced ability) to work because of an injury or disease that has been accepted as service related under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) or the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).

Incentive Allowance

Assessable

The Incentive Allowance is paid to disability support pensioners who previously received the Sheltered Workshop allowance.

Income Support Bonus (DVA)

Non - Assessable

The bonus is paid to eligible DVA clients who are in secondary or tertiary education. The bonus is paid every six months to assist with the cost of living and education expenses.

Income Support Supplement (ISS) (DVA)

Assessable

The Income support supplement is available to assist with the cost of everyday living for clients receiving the War Widow’s pension.

Independent Living AllowanceNon – AssessableA fortnightly payment to assist eligible young people who have recently left out-of-home care. Payment to assist with accommodation and essential living expenses. See Transition to Independent Living Allowance which is another payment type.

Isolated Children Scheme

Non - Assessable

A payment for parents and carers of children who cannot go to a local government school due to:

  • geographical isolation
  • have a special education need
  • no reasonable access to a school
  • meet a continuity condition
JobSeekerAssessableProvides financial assistance for clients aged 22 and over, but under the age pension eligibility age. The payment is to assist clients who are looking for work or participating in approved activities that may increase their chances of finding a job.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program Supplement

Non - Assessable

The supplement is to assist clients with the additional costs associated with participating in this training.

Mobility Allowance

Non - Assessable

A payment for people with disability, illness or injury who cannot use public transport without substantial assistance and who participate in approved activities.

This allowance will be closed to new applicants from 1 July 2020 as this program is transitioning to the NDIS.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS allowance)

Assessable

Provides eligible job seekers interested in starting and running a small business with:

  • business mentoring
  • financial assistance
  • training in small business management

Newborn Upfront Payment or Newborn Supplement

Non - Assessable

This payment may be paid for multiple births.

Newstart Allowance

Assessable

Newstart Allowance ceased from 20 March 2020 and existing recipients transferred to the JobSeeker Payment.

Orphans Allowance / Pension  (DVA)

Non - Assessable

To compensate the eligible dependent children of a deceased veteran or member of the Forces.

Parental Leave Pay

Assessable

This entitlement is for eligible working parents to provide financial support for up to 18 weeks to help parents take time off work to care for a newborn or recently adopted child.

Parenting Payment

Assessable

Income support for parents or guardians to help with the costs of raising children.

Partner Allowance

Assessable

No new grants since 20 September 2003

PaTH Internship Incentive

Non - Assessable

A payment to help young people gain skills and work experience they need to get and keep a job.

Pension Supplement (Centrelink and DVA)

Non - Assessable

Regular extra income support payment to help eligible clients meet the costs of medical and living expenses.

Permanent Impairment Payment (DVA)

Non - Assessable

Permanent Impairment payments can be paid to people who have served in the Australian Defence Force on or after 1 July 2004 under the MRCA or those who served prior to 1 July 2004 under the DRCA. The payment can be made as a lump sum payment, a pension or a combination of both depending under which Act the condition is accepted.

Pharmaceutical Allowance

Non - Assessable

This allowance is to help with the cost of buying prescription medicines. Paid to eligible income support recipients with their regular fortnightly Centrelink payment.

Prisoner Of War Recognition Supplement (DVA)

Non - Assessable

A fortnightly payment that provides special recognition of former surviving Australian prisoners of war (POWs), both veteran and civilian, for the severe hardships and deprivations.

Remote area allowance

Non - Assessable

A regular payment if the client lives in a remote area and receives specified income support payments.

Service and Age Pension (DVA)

Assessable

Also known as War Service Pension is paid to eligible veterans on the grounds of age or invalidity or to eligible partners, widows and widowers.

Sickness Allowance

Assessable

Closed to new grants From 20 March 2020. Support for people temporarily incapacitated for work or study will provided through the Jobseeker payment.

Special Rate Disability Pension (MRCA)Non - AssessableSpecial Rate Disability Pension is an ongoing payment that can be made to an eligible former member instead of incapacity payments. SRDP is not automatically granted. If a former member becomes eligible for SRDP he or she will be offered the choice between SRDP or continuing to receive incapacity payments

Special Benefit

Assessable

A payment for clients who are in severe financial hardship for reasons beyond their control, are not able to support themselves and unable to receive another income support payment from Centrelink.

Statutory Care Allowance or Supported Care Allowance

Non - Assessable

Formerly known as Fostering and Boarding Out Allowance.

Stillborn Baby Payment

Non - Assessable

Payment to provide assistance with extra costs associated with a stillborn child.

Telephone allowance

Non - Assessable

A payment to assist with phone and internet costs for people who receive specified income support payments.

Transition to Independent Living Allowance

Non - Assessable

A one off payment to assist eligible young people to cover basic costs as they move from formal care to independent living. See Independent Living Allowance which is another payment type.

Transitional Pension SupplementAssessableWife Pension (WP) clients who transfer to JobSeeker (JSP) will retain their existing WP payment rate, which will be grandfathered to ensure they are not worse off. The rate will be preserved until the normal JSP rate catches up to the transitional rate, with the difference between the WP and JSP rates paid as the Transitional Pension Supplement (TPNSP).

Utilities allowance

Non - Assessable

A quarterly payment to assist eligible clients to meet the costs of regular bills such as gas, electricity and water.

Veterans’ Income Support Supplement (ISS) (DVA)

Assessable

A fortnightly payment to war widows in addition to their war widows pension.

Veteran Payment  (DVA)

AssessableA payment to eligible Veterans while their claim for a mental health condition is assessed.

Veterans Supplement  (DVA)

Non - AssessableA regular payment to help with the costs of medicines.

War Widow's or Widower Pension (DVA)

Assessable

A pension that is paid to compensate a widowed partner and or dependent children of veterans who have died as a result of war service.

Widow Allowance

Assessable

No new grants since 1 July 2018.

Widow B Pension

Assessable

No new grants since 20 March 1997.

Wife Pension

Assessable

No new grants since 1 July 1995.

Work for the Dole Supplement

Non - Assessable

Income support payments for job seekers in approved work programs that benefit local communities.

Working Credits

Assessable

A Centrelink scheme where the client continues to receive their Centrelink payment in addition to wages as an incentive to work.

Note: both the working credits and wages are considered assessable income.

Youth Allowance

Assessable

An allowance that is paid to full time students, and apprentices aged 16-24.

Youth Disability Allowance

Non - Assessable

An extra payment for an eligible client with a disability and under 21.

Table 2: Income from wages/salary/superannuation and other payments

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Child support payments, maintenance or maintenance in kind

Assessable

Assessable if received by the client.

Where a client advises they are not receiving the child support/maintenance payments that:

Have been agreed to in a private arrangement, or

Were determined by the Child Support Agency (CSA) or Family Court,

The client must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that payments have not been received. The documentation will vary depending on the situation, but will generally include one or more of the following:

  • Bank statements.
  • CSA Assessment letter showing the amount that should be received and the CSA transaction history showing the amount actually received.
  • Family Court orders.
  • Current income details from Centrelink with recalculated Family Tax Benefits.

When the client provides this information, the assessable income relating to the child support component will be assessed as:

  • The reduced child support payment and Family Tax Benefit Entitlement, or
  • Where no child support payments have been received, the relevant Family Tax Benefit entitlement.

‘Maintenance in kind’ is a non-cash support payment, made in lieu of cash payment, and most often associated with essentials such as food, school fees and other education expenses, or items such as medical insurance or expenses.

Birthday presents, gifts, pocket money, and ad hoc purchases are not considered ‘maintenance in kind’, so these items are not considered allowable to be deducted from gross income.

Child support payments, maintenance or maintenance in kind

Non - Assessable

If paid by the client or a household member, the payment amount is deducted from the gross assessable income.

Clothing Allowance, Laundry Allowance

Non - Assessable

Payments made by employers to reimburse their staff for clothing or laundry expenses.

Community Development Program (CDP)

Assessable

Remote employment and community development program, supporting job seekers since 1 March 2019.

Dust Diseases Board Compensation payments

Assessable

Compensation payment paid as a lump sum is not assessable; however any income generated from the investment of that lump sum is assessable.

Payments paid by instalments will be assessed as income. If this income is less than the Centrelink income to which the client would otherwise be entitled, the income will be assessed as though they receive the relevant Centrelink income.

These rules apply even if the client has disposed of the lump sum payment.

Earnings from a business

Assessable

The earnings received are assessable. See self-employed income below.

Fringe Benefit Tax payments

Assessable

If a client receives a fringe benefit, such as (but not limited to) car repayments or payment of school fees, the amount will be added to the gross assessable income.

Honorarium

Non - Assessable

Honorarium, sitting fees or other payments for services as a director or on a volunteer board.

Other Income

Assessable

Any regular income received that is not specified in this table such as study grants, lottery, crowd funding.

Rent or other income generated by leasing or letting a property

Assessable

Includes income from an investment property (including retail or commercial property), or short-term or holiday letting or similar, for the whole or part of a property.

Salary Sacrifice

Assessable

Salary sacrifice in lieu of part of the salary will be included and added to the gross assessable income.

Salary/Wages

Assessable

The gross amount paid to the client or household member i.e. the amount paid before tax and any other deductions such as Garnishee Orders.

Note: Where the client has lost their job and they are being paid a wage through the JobKeeper scheme DCJ will not assess $550 of the fortnightly $1500. (Applicable during 2020 only)

Self Employed

Assessable

DCJ will determine the deductible and non-deductible business expenses and income for the self-employed client.

For further information refer to Legitimate business expenses.

DCJ will determine how a hobby or business will be treated for the purposes of rent subsidy assessment.

Generally, the difference between a hobby and a business is:

  • the activities are not undertaken for commercial reasons i.e. not aimed at making a profit
  • the activity is undertaken irregularly, is small in size, scale and permanency
  • the activity is conducted usually in the client’s spare time
  • client does not intend to or actually does not make a profit.

Superannuation

(Non-Preserved)

Assessable

Superannuation benefits include ‘preserved’ and ‘non-preserved’ funds.

Preserved funds are not usually accessible and do not generally allow withdrawal from the funds until retirement age is reached. Non-preserved funds can be withdrawn at any time.

Superannuation benefits taken at retirement age are assessed in the following manner:

As income - if the superannuation generates an income stream, such as an allocated pension or annuity.

As Savings (i.e. a financial asset) - if taken in a lump sum and not invested in an income stream product.

Superannuation funds not taken at retirement or withdrawn before retirement are assessed as savings.

Superannuation

(Preserved)

Non - Assessable

Where the amount is ‘preserved’ funds i.e. not usually accessible and generally do not allow withdrawal from the fund until retirement age is reached.

Superannuation access due to COVID19

Non - Assessable

People financially affected by COVID-19 may be able to access some of their superannuation early (up to $10,000 in 2019–20 and up to a further $10,000 in 2020–21).

Where a tenant or client does this, the money (including any interest accrued) is not included as assessable income for the purposes of a rental subsidy or eligibility for social housing.

Travel and sustenance allowance, including car allowance

Non - Assessable

Payments made by employers to reimburse staff for expenses incurred in travelling on official business and in performing specific duties at a temporary work location.

Circumstances covered by travel and sustenance allowance include:

Payment made to an employee to cover the cost of accommodation, food, drink or incidental expenses

Payment made to cover travel expenses when travelling for work.

Wages/Salary

Assessable

The gross amount paid to the client or household member for a payment earned for work or services. The assessable income is the amount paid before tax and any other deductions such as Garnishee Orders.

Work Cover Payments

Assessable

Workers compensation is a payment to the client or a household member if they have been injured at work or become sick due to their work. The payment to the client covers their wages while they are not fit for work.

Table 3: Income from investments

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Dividends

Assessable

The dividends received from shares and investments are assessable.

Earnings from a business

(legal / cannot be accessed)

Non - Assessable

Earnings from business that are tied up in a legal dispute and cannot be accessed are not assessable.

Financial assets such as savings bank or credit union accounts, term deposits, managed funds, winnings, money from inheritance, gift or deceased estate including a life interest trust accounts, rollover funds, cryptocurrencies, investments that are used to generate an income stream.

Assessable

The first $5000 of each client’s total amount of savings or financial assets is exempt from assessment.

Interest is calculated on the balance of savings and financial assets after exempting the first $5000.

DCJ deems the interest rate. This rate is aligned to the lowest deeming rate assessed by Centrelink.

A lump sum investment that is used to generate income is not assessable. The income generated from the lump sum is assessable income.

Funeral Bond

Non - Assessable

Up to the Centrelink Allowable Limit.

Income stream generated from allocated pensions or annuities

Assessable

Only the income generated is assessable. The lump sum from which the allocated pension or annuity is derived is not assessable.

Lump sum investments

Non - Assessable

A lump sum or capital amount that is used to generate income is not assessable.

The income generated from the lump sum is assessable income.

Shares

(income/dividend)

Assessable

The income or dividend generated from shares is assessable income. The share value itself is not assessable.

Shares

Non - Assessable

The share value itself is not assessable.

Income or dividend generated from the shares is assessable income.

Table 4: Special Purpose Payments

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Chilean Pension of Mercy

Non - Assessable

The Chilean Pension of Mercy is paid by the Chilean Government to compensate and repair the moral suffering of the victims and relatives of victims of human rights abuse or political violence that occurred in Chile between 11 September 1973 and 10 March 1990 under the Pinochet Regime.

F-111 Deseal/Reseal Program ex-gratia lump sum payment (Australian Defence Forces) (DVA)

Non - Assessable

This payment is made in recognition of the special circumstances associated with deseal/reseal activities. It recognises that those who worked inside the F-111 fuel tanks for significant periods of time experienced greater concentrations of the chemicals and solvents associated with the F-111 deseal/reseal process.

Japanese Internment Act payment

Non - Assessable

A one-off payment of $25,000 to Australian service personnel and civilians held as prisoners of war between 7 December 1941 and 29 October 1945, or to their surviving partners.

Jury attendance or court appearances

Non - Assessable

Payments for the reimbursement for out of pocket expenses.

Jury service

Assessable

Wage or fee paid to jurors or expert witnesses, or payments made to cover wages or salary lost during the court sitting.

Korean Internment payment

Non - Assessable

One-off payment of $25,000 to veterans who were interned by the North Korean military forces between 27 June 1950 and 19 April 1956, or their surviving partner.

Lump sum compensation payments

Assessable

A lump sum payment may preclude a client from receiving a Centrelink payment for a period of time. The client should obtain a letter from Centrelink confirming the exclusion period.

In these circumstances, income for rent assessment purposes is based on the client’s assumed Centrelink income appropriate to their age and household composition.

Compensation payment paid as a lump sum is not assessable; however any income generated from the investment of that lump sum is assessable.

Lump sum payments paid by instalments will be assessed as income. If this income is less than the Centrelink income to which the client would otherwise be entitled, the income will be assessed as though they receive the relevant Centrelink income.

These rules apply even if the client has disposed of the lump sum payment.

National Redress Scheme

Non - Assessable

A specific payment received from the National Redress Scheme (NRS) for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, or a civil compensation payment in relation to institutional child sexual abuse.

Overseas pensions or benefits paid by an overseas government

Assessable

These amounts will be assessed in Australian dollars:

as documented in a recent assessment obtained through the Centrelink Income Confirmation Scheme (ICS), or

at the foreign exchange rate at the date of assessment.

DCJ will use the foreign exchange rate provided by Commonwealth Bank at the date of assessment.

Overseas restitution/compensation payment or allowance

Non - Assessable

A specific payment by the German, Swiss, Austrian or other European Government.

Red Cross Emergency Relief PaymentsNon - Assessable

Emergency relief is to help people meet their basic needs, like food, medicine or shelter.

Australian Red Cross has received NSW Government funding specifically to support people who do not have access to Commonwealth income support (including Job Seeker and SRSS).

The support is for temporary and provisional visa holders, as well as people who may not currently hold a valid visa, in extreme financial hardship.

Emergency relief payments are not income support. They are limited and may not meet all needs.

Scholarships, prizes and grants

Assessable

Any living component, including accommodation expenses, is assessable.

There are a wide range of scholarships, prizes and grants awarded by Governments, universities and schools. The type and purpose of each payment will determine how it is treated for rent assessment purposes.

DCJ Scholarships are not assessable.

New South Wales Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme, Funeral Assistance Fund compensation payments, the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (TSGRS), and the Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package.

Non - Assessable

The New South Wales Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme provides ex gratia payments of $75,000 to living Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families and committed to the care of the NSW Aborigines Protection or Welfare Boards. This payment is made in recognition of the harm these removals caused.

The Funeral Assistance Fund provides one-off payments of $7,000 to Stolen Generations survivors to assist with the cost of funerals.

The Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (TSGRS) seeks to recognise the harm and trauma experienced by Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families or communities in the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory or the Jervis Bay Territory.

The TSGRS provides financial and wellbeing support to Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families or communities in the:

  • Northern Territory, before 1 July 1978 or
  • Australian Capital Territory, before 11 May 1989 or
  • Jervis Bay Territory.

The Scheme opened on 1 March 2022 and will close on 30 June 2026.

The Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package helps to address the trauma and suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, community, culture, identity and language. For successful applicants, one or more of the following financial and restorative reparations can be chosen:

  • a lump sum payment of $100,000
  • a personal apology from the Victorian Government
  • supported access to healing programs such as family reunions, reconnection to Country and language programs
  • an opportunity to record and share your story and experience
  • access to trauma-informed counselling
  • access records held by the State about your removal.

Victims Support scheme

Non - Assessable

Recognition payments is a State Government program and forms part of the victim support package. The scheme recognises the trauma suffered by a victim due to the act of violence.

Table 5: Assessable and Non – Assessable Assets

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Collections - hobby, trading or investment

Assessable

A Collection may comprise items such as art, bullion, coins, or stamps.

A collection is an assessable asset for rent subsidy assessment purposes. The gross value of the collection will be treated as a financial asset and deemed interest income will apply.

Other Asset – for example: gold, silver or platinum bullion

Assessable

Bullion is an assessable asset..

Whether or not income is derived, the value of the asset will be treated as a financial asset and the deemed interest will apply.

Personal assets

Non - Assessable

Includes assets such as cars, caravans, boats, jewellery, clothing, furniture, computers, personal mobility equipment, etc.

Property assets such as land, residential, retail, commercial, industrial, infrastructure or agricultural farming real estate.

Assessable

Including assets owned by a client and/or partner or any member of the household:

  • in full, jointly, or in part-share
  • located within Australia or overseas
  • privately or in a business structure
  • where a dwelling or other building is under construction
  • subject to covenant or caveat such as a mortgage or loan
  • a life interest in an asset

We include real estate or other property assets which a client and/or partner or any member of the household:

  • generates an income by renting, leasing or letting the property
  • leaves vacant for any period of time
  • allows someone else live in the property rent free
  • uses for farming, agricultural or other primary production purposes

The property value is the market value, not the amount of any mortgage secured against it.

Property asset Assessment rules

For client and/or partner:

Property owned (or the value, if the property can be sold)  that could provide a viable alternative to social housing

Applies to property located within Australia

Not eligible for

Social Housing

Not eligible for a rent subsidy

Property that does not provide a viable alternative social housing and where no income is generated.

Applies to tenant and/or partner

Applies to property located within Australia

The property is treated as a financial asset and at market value.

Deemed income is calculated on the market value of the property (or part-share of the property) using the deemed interest rate.

Property owned by a household member other than tenant and/or partner. Income (such as rent) generated by the property is considered assessable income.

A part-share in the property where income is generated.

Applies to tenant and/or partner or household member

The part-share of any income generated by the property is an assessable income

A part-share in a property where no income is generated.

Applies to tenant and/or partner or household member

That share of the property is treated as a financial asset and at market value.

Deemed income is calculated on the part-share using the deemed interest rate.

Property located overseas.

Applies to tenant and/or partner or household member

Apples to full or part-ownership of the property

Income (such as rent) generated by the property is considered assessable income, including the part-share of income generated.

Real estate

Non - Assessable

Conditions where a  property might not be considered a viable alternative for social housing or for rent subsidy purposes:

Certain types of vacant land that are excluded from assessable assets for rent subsidy purposes. Subject to legal dispute such as a marital property settlement and income cannot be generated from it, or

Is a burial plot

Table 6: Non – Assessable payments by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants

Income Type

Rule

Description / further rules if applicable

Self-managed budget

Non - Assessable

Payment/s to the participant or the participant’s nominee for the purchase of reasonable and necessary disability support services.

Agency managed budget

Non - Assessable

Payment/s to a participant’s support provider to pay for reasonable and necessary disability support services.

Plan managed budget

Non - Assessable

Payment/s to a Plan Manager to pay for reasonable and necessary disability support services.

Automated Transport Budget

Non - Assessable

Automated payment/s to a participant’s nominated bank account. Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on a participant’s support package.

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Last updated: 04 Jun 2024