Family and Community Services
Accommodation bonds — exemption from assets tests
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 9.9 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 15.1 |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Total | 13.4 | 14.1 | 16.6 | 19.3 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | .. | - | - | - |
| Department of Health and Ageing | .. | - | - | - |
| Total | .. | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $66.3 million over five years (including $2.9 million in 2004-05) to exempt accommodation bonds from the social security and veterans’ entitlements assets tests that apply for income support pensions. This measure includes capital funding of $0.4 million in 2005-06 for the Department of Health and Ageing, and $0.3 million for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
An accommodation bond is an amount that may be paid by a resident when entering low level care or an extra service place in high level care. The exemption will commence on 1 July 2005 and will apply to all accommodation bonds, irrespective of when they are paid. Residents who opt to pay their bond in periodic payments will be able to rent out their former home without the rental payments or the value of their former home affecting the rate of pension.
This measure was announced on 1 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Recognising Senior Australians — Their Needs and Their Carers.
Age Pension — detection and prevention of incorrect payments arising from overseas income
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 1.0 | -26.8 | -23.1 | -13.2 |
The Government will improve compliance relating to the reporting of income earned overseas by Age Pensioners. This will help minimise overpayments of the Age Pension arising from the non-reporting or under-reporting of overseas income. This measure includes the automatic updating of Australian pension rates for Age Pensioners who also receive foreign pensions and an information campaign to raise awareness among customers of reporting requirements for their overseas income.
This measure is expected to lead to net savings of $62.1 million over four years.
Age Pension and Service Pension Registers — improved integrity
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | -27.0 | -2.3 | -2.4 | -2.5 |
| Total | -26.5 | -2.3 | -2.4 | -2.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | 0.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will implement systems to automatically cross-match Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Centrelink identity registers in order to help prevent people from inadvertently or fraudulently claiming payments to which they are not entitled.
This measure is expected to lead to savings in social welfare payments of $37.7 million and will cost $4.6 million to administer (including $0.2 million in 2004-05, of which $0.1 million is capital), leading to net savings of $33.0 million over five years.
Bush-fires — ex gratia payments to victims on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.4 million in 2004-05 for ex gratia payments to support those who lost an immediate family member, or their home, in the 11 January 2005 bush-fires on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
Further information can be found in the press release of 14 January 2005 issued by the Minister for Human Services.
Carer Allowance — backdating provisions
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.8 | -34.7 | -36.4 | -37.3 |
The Government will reduce the backdating period available for Carer Allowance to a maximum of 12 weeks for carers of both children and adults. This will apply to new claims for Carer Allowance from 1 July 2006. A communication and education strategy will be implemented to advise families of the revised backdating provisions.
This measure is expected to lead to net savings of $107.6 million over four years.
Carer Allowance (child) — changes to the Lists of Recognised Disabilities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
The Government will provide $3.4 million over five years (including $0.7 million in 2004-05) to reduce processing times for assessing claims for Carer Allowance (child). This will involve modifying some existing eligibility descriptors and adding new conditions to the Lists of Recognised Disabilities and Medical Conditions.
Further information can be found in the press release of 17 March 2005 issued by the Minister for Family and Community Services.
Carers — payment of one-off carer bonus
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 3.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $316.9 million (including $313.7 million in 2004-05) for a one-off lump-sum payment to eligible carers. A payment of $1,000 will be made in June 2005 to carers in receipt of Carer Payment in recognition of their contribution in the role of carer to someone with a disability. Recipients of Carer Allowance will also receive a payment of $600 in June 2005 for each eligible care receiver. The bonus will be tax free and not treated as income when calculating social security payments.
A small number of claimants are expected to become eligible for the one-off lump sum payment in 2005-06 where they are assessed as eligible for the benefit after 1 July 2005 and have their eligibility for the benefit backdated to Budget night.
Carer Payment is an income tested income support payment paid to a person with limited other income who provides constant care for someone with a disability. Carer Allowance is not income tested and is an income supplement paid to people who provide daily care and attention to a person (including children) with a disability.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card concessions — withdraw offer to state and territory governments
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | -83.7 | -83.7 | -83.7 | -83.7 |
As announced in the 2001-02 Budget, an offer was made to state and territory governments to help fund the extension of a range of State concessions to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders. Although funding offers were made in March 2002, and again in March 2004, state and territory governments did not accept the offer as they refused to extend their concessions.
In response, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a separate payment of $200 a year to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders in the 2004-05 Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook through the measure Senior Concession Allowances for self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This makes the payment direct to Seniors rather than through the States. As a consequence, the offer to state and territory governments is no longer open.
Community organisations — one-off grants
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government has provided funding of $565,000 in 2004-05 to meet election commitments to fund small local projects. The community organisations to be funded are as follows:
- Kilburn Blair Athol Community Youth Centre in South Australia — $250,000;
- Eastern Access Community Health in Victoria — $165,000;
- Ringwood Skate Park in Victoria — $50,000;
- Ovingham Sport and Social Club in South Australia— $30,000;
- 1st Toongabbie Scout Group in New South Wales — $20,000;
- Blackburn Scouts in Victoria — $20,000;
- Ringwood Scouts in Victoria — $15,000; and
- Swan Italian Sporting Club in Western Australia— $15,000.
Debt Prevention Research and Development
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 5.0 | 0.6 | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | 0.2 | -0.3 | - | - |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | -0.1 | -0.4 | - | - |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | -0.7 | -2.5 | - | - |
| Total | 4.5 | -2.5 | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | 0.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $17.0 million in administration costs over three years (including $0.2 million in 2004-05) for debt prevention research and development. The measure is expected to reduce social welfare payments by $14.6 million over the two years until June 2007. The administration costs include $0.3 million in capital funding (including $0.1 million in 2004-05).
The funding will meet the costs of piloting a number of strategies, including data matching to prevent incorrect payments arising due to changed circumstances or the incorrect recording of circumstances. The social welfare payments include the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Rent Assistance, Service Pension and Income Support Supplement.
Family Assistance — a negotiated payment option to reduce overpayments
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
The Government will allow families to negotiate a new rate of Family Tax Benefit when they inform Centrelink of a change in their income estimate through the year. This measure will cost $5.9 million over four years to administer and is expected to reduce the level of overpayments by $160.3 million over four years.
Under current arrangements, when families increase their income estimate during the year they are offered the choice of adjusting their ongoing payments by an amount that would, where possible, completely avoid an overpayment. Under this measure, families that are reluctant to take up a full adjustment will be able to negotiate a smaller adjustment that will reduce but not necessarily fully eliminate their expected overpayment.
Family Assistance — assistance to families at risk of overpayment
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 5.2 | 3.2 | - | - |
The Government will provide $8.5 million over three years (including $0.1 million in 2004-05) to fund a strategy to assist Family Tax Benefit recipients who may be at risk of being overpaid. This measure will involve Centrelink assisting families with income estimation and the Family Assistance Office providing information sessions at local community venues about the family assistance system.
This measure, by improving understanding of entitlements and obligations, will benefit family assistance recipients by reducing their risk of incurring an overpayment.
Family Assistance — automatically updating income estimates
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 3.8 | 10.2 | 2.9 | 1.7 |
The Government will allow the Family Assistance Office (FAO) to automatically update the income estimates used in calculating fortnightly Family Tax Benefit payments commencing from July 2006. This measure will cost $18.6 million over four years to administer and is expected to reduce the level of debt by $115.2 million over four years.
Under current arrangements, families are invited by the FAO to update their income estimates once a year. This measure will allow the FAO to automatically update the most recent income estimate by average weekly earnings (AWE) at the start of the financial year. Families will be given an opportunity to provide a more accurate estimate if they consider the estimate calculated by the FAO does not properly reflect their current circumstances.
Also under this measure, income estimates will be compared with actual taxable income for the previous year when it becomes available at reconciliation. If the actual taxable income for the previous year is higher than the current estimate, the previous year’s estimate will be increased by AWE and used to replace the existing estimate. Families will also be given an opportunity to provide a more accurate estimate if they consider the estimate calculated by the FAO does not properly reflect their current circumstances.
This measure, by automatically adjusting income estimates, will help improve the accuracy of income estimates for those families that do not regularly update their estimates. This will reduce the risk of overpayments for these families.
Family Assistance — improving debt recovery
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.8 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
The Government will increase the rate at which outstanding family assistance debt is recovered. This measure will cost $11.4 million over four years to administer and is expected to reduce the level of outstanding family assistance debt by $135.3 million over four years.
The Government will increase the standard recovery rates for family assistance reconciliation overpayments from July 2006. These rates will increase from $20 to $30 a fortnight for debts that are less than $750 and from $40 to $60 a fortnight for debts that are greater than $750.
From 1 January 2006, families with debts that are larger than $3,000 and older than 12 months will be referred to specialist recovery officers in the Family Assistance Office. These officers will negotiate recovery arrangements based on the financial circumstances of the family.
Family Assistance — increase Family Tax Benefit Part A income threshold
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.9 | 249.6 | 249.2 | 249.4 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | 101.3 | 109.4 | 116.4 |
| Australian Taxation Office | - | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 |
| Total | 0.9 | 364.0 | 371.7 | 378.9 |
The Government will relax the income test for Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB(A)) at a cost of $1.1 billion over four years. From 1 July 2006, the amount that a family can earn each year before their FTB(A) starts to be reduced will be increased to $37,500. Once the income of families with dependent children exceeds this threshold, their FTB(A) reduces from the maximum rate at a rate of 20 cents for every extra dollar of income, until the base rate of payment is reached. The threshold is currently $32,485 per annum, rising to $33,361 per annum on 1 July 2005.
Funding for the measure includes $39.3 million over three years to make these FTB (A) payments though the ATO, and $327.1 million over three years for the Department of Health and Ageing to cover flow on costs, from increased eligibility for Health Care concession cards.
It is expected that this measure will increase the amount of FTB(A) received by over 400,000 families.
Family Assistance — maintenance income credit
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 4.8 | 16.2 | 15.3 | 15.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.7 | - | - | - |
The Government will allow the unused maintenance income free area from previous years for the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Maintenance Income Test to be used to offset irregular maintenance payments from July 2006. This measure will cost $54.8 million over four years (including $2.7 million in capital in 2005-06) reducing FTB debts by an estimated $41.6 million over four years.
This measure will increase the FTB entitlement for those families that receive irregular child maintenance payments by ensuring that they receive the same level of FTB over time as those receiving maintenance on a regular basis. It will also reduce overpayments in instances where families receive large lump sums of child support arrears unexpectedly.
Family Assistance — using reconciliation top-up payments and tax refunds to offset outstanding family assistance debts
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
The Government will allow tax refunds and family assistance reconciliation top-up payments to offset outstanding family assistance debts from 1 July 2006. This measure will cost $4.7 million over four years to administer and is expected to reduce the level of debt by an estimated $47.1 million over four years.
Under the current reconciliation process, tax refunds and reconciliation top-ups cannot be used to recover family assistance debt incurred in previous years. Under this measure any monies remaining from a recipients’ tax return or FTB reconciliation top-up payment will be able to be used to offset family assistance debt related to previous years.
Family Tax Benefit Part B Supplement
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 253.5 | 265.8 | 271.5 | 277.8 |
| Australian Taxation Office | 177.0 | 173.7 | 179.0 | 183.9 |
| Total | 430.4 | 439.4 | 450.5 | 461.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Family and Community Services | 0.5 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.0 billion over five years (including $212.0 million in 2004-05) of which $2.0 million is capital funding (including $1.5 million in 2004-05) to increase the rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B by $300. This will commence with a half year entitlement of $150 on 1 January 2005. This increased rate of assistance will be paid as a lump sum upon reconciliation of entitlements at the end of the financial year. If required, any family assistance overpayments received by the family will be offset against the supplement.
This measure was announced on 26 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Extra Assistance to Families.
Great Southern Rail — reimbursement of concessionary fares
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $30.2 million over four years to continue to reimburse Great Southern Rail for providing concessional fares to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders, Pension Concession Card Holders and certain veterans.
This measure will involve funding of $7.5 million in 2005-06 and 2006-07, and $7.6 million in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Maternity Payment — extending the age limit on adopted children
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
The Government will extend the qualifying age limit on adopted children under the Maternity Payment from 26 weeks to two years, at an estimated cost of $6.6 million over five years (including $0.5 million in 2004-05).
The Maternity Payment will now be payable in respect of adopted, overseas-born children where the child arrives in Australia by two years of age, and where the payment is claimed within 26 weeks of the child arriving. It will also be payable for adopted, Australian-born children up to the age of two years, where Maternity Payment has not previously been paid in respect of the child. The measure will be backdated to include children who were adopted from 1 July 2004.
Mentor Marketplace Programme — extension
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
The Government will provide $12.0 million over four years to extend the Mentor Marketplace Programme.
The programme provides mentoring opportunities for young people including those in rural and remote areas, Indigenous young people and people with a disability. The measure will renew current funding agreements for up to 12 existing Mentor Marketplace projects and enable the establishment of up to a further 15 new projects from January 2006.
More Help for Families — departmental funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 31.1 | 28.8 | 28.2 | 28.2 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $204.5 million over five years (including $88.2 million in 2004-05) to assist in the administration of the More Help for Families package, announced in the 2004-05 Budget. It also includes $2.4 million to administer the payment of the one-off carer bonus that was also introduced in the 2004-05 Budget. Of this amount, $201.4 million will be paid by the Department of Family and Community Services (under its agency relationship) to Centrelink to deliver the package.
This measure includes capital funding of $10.0 million in 2004-05 for information technology system changes required to implement this package.
National Homelessness Strategy — extension
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
The Government will provide $10.0 million over four years to continue the National Homelessness Strategy and provide ongoing support for the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness. The main activities to be funded under the Strategy are demonstration projects on early prevention and intervention, and the development and implementation of a communication strategy on this research. The Committee, appointed by the Minister for Family and Community Services under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994 (the Act), provides advice to the Minister on homelessness issues and matters relating to the Act.
National Research Strategy to help prevent problem gambling — continuation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.4 million over four years to continue the National Research Strategy to prevent problem gambling. The programme funds research which examines strategies aimed at reducing problem gambling.
This measure involves funding of $0.6 million in each year from 2005-06 to 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
This measure extends funding for the 2001-02 Budget measure National Research and Education Strategy to Prevent Problem Gambling.
State Seniors Card Holders — withdraw the National Reciprocal Transport Concessions offer
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | -6.2 | -6.4 | -6.4 | -6.4 |
The Government will withdraw its offer to provide funding to state and territory governments to extend concessions to state seniors card holders using public transport outside their home state. This offer was originally announced in the 2001 election, and formally funded in the 2002-03 Budget. State and territory governments have not accepted the offer.
Withdrawing this offer will lead to savings of $25.3 million over four years.
Transition to Independent Living Allowance — continuation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $10.6 million over four years for the continuation of the Transition to Independent Living Allowance. The allowance is available to young people aged between 15 and 25 to assist them with the costs of moving from state-supported care to independent living.
The programme is delivered through non-government service providers. They are responsible for assessing the needs of the young person on a case-by-case basis and can provide up to $1,000 in services or goods.
This measure will involve funding of $2.6 million each year over four years. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Visa holders — ex gratia payments to Return Pending Visa applicants
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will make ex gratia income support payments costing an estimated $0.5 million in 2004-05 to former Temporary Protection Visa and Temporary Humanitarian Visa holders who have applications underway for a Return Pending Visa.
While most Protection Visa and Humanitarian Visa holders are supporting themselves in the community, it is estimated that approximately 80 individuals are at risk of hardship if they are unable to access income support while their visa application undergoes the required clearance checks.
The cost of this measure will be met from within existing resources of the Department of Family and Community Services.
Women’s Leadership and Development Programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
The Government will provide $15.0 million over four years for the Women’s Leadership and Development Programme to encourage greater female participation in all parts of Australian life, including leadership roles.
The programme’s activities will include supporting the appointment of women to Australian Government and public company boards, developing a young women’s leadership and mentoring programme in rural and remote areas, increasing women’s participation in all aspects of sport and providing grants to non-government national women’s organisations.
This measure includes commitments announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election policy Australian Women — Opportunities for Life.
Women’s Safety Agenda
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 15.2 | 15.9 | 15.5 | 16.1 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 4.9 |
| Health Insurance Commission | 0.2 | .. | .. | .. |
| Total | 16.4 | 18.7 | 19.3 | 21.0 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Health Insurance Commission | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $75.7 million over four years (including $0.1 million in capital funding) for the Women’s Safety Agenda, to help address the problems of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The measure will provide funding for the continuation of the Violence Against Women: Australia Says No campaign, training of General Practice nurses in regional and rural areas and training for Mensline counsellors on domestic violence issues. Funding will also be provided for the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault and the new Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Australian Women — Opportunities for Life.