Benefit Programs

Benefit Programs#

Comprehensive documentation of Australian social security and family assistance programs.

Age Pension#

Eligibility#

  • Age: 67 years (born after 1 January 1957)

  • Residence: 10 years Australian residence, including 5 continuous years

Payment Rates (March 2024)#

Category

Basic Rate

Pension Supplement

Energy Supplement

Total (fortnight)

Single

$1,144.40

$85.20

$14.10

$1,243.70

Couple (each)

$862.60

$64.20

$10.60

$937.40

Couple separated (illness)

$1,144.40

$85.20

$14.10

$1,243.70

Means Testing#

Income Test#

  • Free Area: \(212/fortnight (single), \)372/fortnight (couple combined)

  • Taper Rate: 50 cents per dollar above free area

  • Work Bonus: \(300/fortnight employment income exempt (can accrue to \)11,800)

Assets Test#

Category

Homeowner

Non-homeowner

Single - Free area

$314,000

$566,000

Single - Cut-off

$695,500

$947,500

Couple - Free area

$470,000

$722,000

Couple - Cut-off

$1,045,500

$1,297,500

  • Taper Rate: \(3.00 per fortnight per \)1,000 above free area

Reference: Age Pension

JobSeeker Payment#

Payment Rates (September 2024)#

Category

Rate (fortnight)

Single, no children

$762.70

Single, with dependent children

$824.60

Single, principal carer

$1,015.70

Partnered (each)

$695.00

Income Test#

  • Free Area: $150/fortnight

  • Taper Rates:

    • 40 cents per dollar between \(150-\)256

    • 60 cents per dollar above $256

  • Working Credit: Can accrue up to $11,800

Reference: JobSeeker Payment

Family Tax Benefit#

Part A - Per Child Rates#

Age

Maximum Rate

Base Rate

0-12 years

$225.12/fortnight

$70.46/fortnight

13-15 years

$292.18/fortnight

$70.46/fortnight

16-19 years (studying)

$292.18/fortnight

$86.70/fortnight

Income Test:

  • Maximum rate: Family income up to $63,166/year

  • Reduces by 20 cents per dollar to base rate

  • Base rate: Cuts out at \(111,038/year + \)11,657 per additional child

Part B - Family Payment#

Youngest Child Age

Maximum Rate (fortnight)

Under 5 years

$189.78

5-18 years

$132.48

Income Test:

  • Primary earner limit: $103,000/year (couples)

  • Secondary earner free area: $6,716/year

  • Taper: 20 cents per dollar

Reference: Family Tax Benefit

Child Care Subsidy#

Subsidy Rates by Income (2024-25)#

Family Income

Subsidy Rate

Up to $79,163

90%

\(79,163 - \)89,163

90% tapering to 80%

\(89,163 - \)189,390

80% tapering to 50%

\(189,390 - \)204,390

50% tapering to 20%

\(204,390 - \)264,390

20%

\(264,390 - \)374,390

20% tapering to 0%

Above $374,390

0%

Hourly Rate Caps#

  • Centre-based day care: $14.32

  • Family day care: $13.29

  • Outside school hours care: $12.54

Activity Test: Hours of subsidised care based on activity level

Reference: Child Care Subsidy

Disability Support Pension#

Payment Rates (March 2024)#

Category

Basic Rate

Supplement

Total (fortnight)

Single, 21+

$1,173.90

$89.90

$1,277.90

Single, under 21 (independent)

$841.80

$89.90

$945.80

Couple (each)

$884.20

$67.70

$962.50

Youth Disability Supplement: $159.70/fortnight (under 21)

Eligibility#

  • Permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment

  • Unable to work 15+ hours per week

  • Condition fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised

Reference: Disability Support Pension

Other Major Programs#

Parenting Payment#

  • Single: $1,015.70/fortnight

  • Partnered: $713.00/fortnight

  • Eligibility: Primary carer of child under 6 (partnered) or 8 (single)

Youth Allowance#

  • Students and job seekers aged 16-24

  • Rates vary by age, living situation, and study/work status

  • Parental income test may apply

Carer Payment#

  • For those providing full-time care

  • Same rate as Age Pension

  • Income and assets tested

Rent Assistance#

  • Maximum rates vary by family situation

  • Singles: Up to $184.80/fortnight

  • Couples: Up to $173.86/fortnight

  • Additional amounts for children

Implementation Status#

Currently Implemented#

✅ Age Pension (rates, income test, assets test) ✅ JobSeeker Payment (rates, income test) ✅ Family Tax Benefit Part A & B ✅ Child Care Subsidy ✅ Disability Support Pension

Planned Implementation#

⏳ Parenting Payment ⏳ Youth Allowance ⏳ Austudy/ABSTUDY ⏳ Carer Payment and Allowance ⏳ Rent Assistance ⏳ Various supplements and concession cards

Testing Approach#

All benefit calculations validated against:

  • Services Australia payment calculators

  • Published rate tables

  • Real household scenarios

  • Income test boundary conditions

See tests/policy/baseline/ for comprehensive test coverage.

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