4.2.2 Benefits Income Test & Limits

Introduction

This section contains one topic describing the ordinary income (1.1.O.30) test as it applies to benefits.

This section covers the following matters:

applicable payments,
calculating personal and partner income,
partner income free area limits,
the benefits income test,
the effect of the IMP (1.1.I.60),
variation of payment for FHS and DRP, and
variation for SA.

Applicable payments

The benefits income test applies to the following payments:

newstart allowance,
sickness allowance,
PA, UNLESS the primary benefit is SpB,
widow allowance,
youth allowance,
austudy payment, and
parenting payment (partnered).

The income test for PPP is described in a separate topic.

The rate paid to a dependent YA recipient is also subject to a parental income test. This is described in a separate topic.

Policy reference: SS Guide 4.2.8.50 Full-time Students - Personal Income Test, Limits & Student Income Bank, 4.2.4.20 Benefit PP (partnered) Income & Assets Tests & Limits, 4.2.8 YA Means Tests & Limits

Calculating personal & partner income

A person's rate of benefit is worked out using their own income, calculated on a fortnightly basis.

If the person is a member of a couple (1.1.M.120), the rate is also worked out using excess partner income, worked out on a fortnightly basis. The calculation of both the amount of the person's own income and the excess partner income is affected by the type of payment received by the person's partner (1.1.P.70).

The following table shows the way in which income is calculated for benefit purposes for members of a couple.

If the partner receives...	Personal income is...	Excess partner income is...
a social security benefit (1.1.S.190), other than dependent YA,	their own income,	the amount by which the partner's income exceeds the partner income free area.
no payment,	their own income,	the amount by which the partner's income exceeds the partner income free area.
a social security pension (1.1.S.220) or a service pension (1.1.S.90),	half the couple's combined income,	zero.
dependent YA (1.1.D.100),	their own income,	zero.

The income used in rate calculations is after any modifications made by the working credit or student income bank arrangements.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.11 Working Credit, 4.2.8.50 Full-time Students - Personal Income Test, Limits & Student Income Bank, 1.1.M.130 Member of a YA couple (YA)

Partner income free area limits

The partner income free area is the MAXIMUM amount of ordinary income a person's partner may have without affecting the person's benefit. The following table shows partner income free area limits.

If a partner is...	And has...	Then the partner income free area is the amount of the partner's income, rounded up to the nearest dollar, beyond which...
NOT receiving a social security benefit (section 23(1)-'social security benefit'),	NOT turned 22,	YA would not be payable to the partner if the partner were qualified for YA and were not undertaking full-time study. (The cut out point for job seeker YA recipients is used even where the partner is a student).
	turned 22,	NSA would not be payable to the partner if the partner were qualified for NSA.
	turned age pension age,	NSA would not be payable to the partner if the partner were qualified for NSA. Note: The partner is assumed to be qualified for NSA even though the person is above the upper age limit for that payment. In such a case the rate of NSA is assumed to include the applicable amount of pension supplement payable under Module BA of Benefit Rate Calculator B to persons of age-pension age.
receiving a social security benefit,	-	the amount of the partner's income beyond which the benefit would not be payable to the partner.

Act reference: SSAct section 23(1)-'social security benefit'

Benefits income test

The following table shows the 7 steps involved in applying the income test for benefits.

Step	Action
1	Determine the person's fortnightly ordinary income.
2	Does the person's ordinary income exceed the ordinary income free area of $62.00 per fortnight (pf), or $143 for YA job seeker, or $400.00 pf for full-time YA students (including Australian apprentices) and Austudy recipients? - If NO, the ordinary income excess is NIL. - If YES, the difference is THE ORDINARY INCOME EXCESS. If the recipient is a member of a couple, determine the partner income free area.
3	Determine the ordinary income reduction by using step 4A if the person is a full-time YA student (including Australian apprentices) or an Austudy recipient, or step 4B for YA job seeker, or step 4C for NSA single principal carer parents and 4D for other cases. (The ordinary income reduction is the amount that will be deducted from the person's rate of payment in respect of their own income.)
4A	For any income between $400.00 and $480.00 pf, multiply by 0.5. The result is amount A. For remaining income above $480.00 pf, multiply by 0.6. The result is amount B. Add amount A and amount B. - RESULT: THE ORDINARY INCOME REDUCTION. Go to step 5.
4B	For any income between $143.00 and $250.00 pf, multiply by 0.5. The result is amount A. For remaining income above $250.00 pf, multiply by 0.6. The result is amount B. Add amount A and amount B -RESULT: THE ORDINARY INCOME REDUCTION. Go to Step 5
4C	For any income of $62.00 and over, multiply by 0.4. - RESULT: THE ORDINARY INCOME REDUCTION. Go to step 7.
4D	For any income between $62.00 and $250.00 pf, multiply by 0.5. The result is amount A. For remaining income above $250.00 pf, multiply by 0.6. The result is amount B. Add amount A and amount B. - RESULT: THE ORDINARY INCOME REDUCTION.
5	If the person is a member of a couple, determine the excess partner income (see the tables under the previous headings for an explanation of this concept).
6	Multiply the excess partner income by 0.6. RESULT: THE PARTNER INCOME REDUCTION.
7	Determine the person's income reduction by adding: - the person's ordinary income reduction - the partner income reduction. - RESULT: THE PERSON'S INCOME REDUCTION.

For examples of calculations refer to 5.5 Samples of Rate Calculations.

Act reference: SSAct section 1068-G1 Effect of ordinary income on maximum payment rate

Effect of IMP

Lump sum leave or termination payments received by a person (or their partner) on paid leave or on termination of employment and not rolled over are treated as income over a period equivalent to that covered by the payment. People are expected to use leave and termination payments to support themselves before being paid a full rate of allowance. For some people, this will mean their rate of payment will be nil. However, some people may have a reduced rate payable for the period covered by the IMP as a result of applying the income test.

Policy reference: SS Guide 4.3.4 Income Maintenance Period

Variation of payment for FHS & DRP

FHS and DRP are paid under the Farm Household Support Act on behalf of the former Department of Primary Industries and Energy.

The maximum rate of FHS and the rate of DRP is calculated by adding:

the amount of NSA that would have been payable to the person if they were qualified for NSA, and
the amount of PA that would have been payable to the person's partner.

This means that FHS and DRP are also subject to the personal and partner income test. However, FHS and DRP will continue to be paid as a single payment to the farmer.

Variation for SA

Payments from approved friendly societies (1.1.A.215) for the incapacity for which SA is paid are NOT defined as income for SA.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.5.50 Payability of SA - Payments from an Employer

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Last reviewed: 2 January 2013

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