DFISA Calculation Examples (ceased 2022)

DFISA was removed 1 January 2022.  This is for historical reference only.

DFISA payment differed from expected rate

Some people, eligible for DFISA, may have received less DFISA payment than they thought they would receive. There were two reasons that a person may have received less DFISA than the expected rate or may have had the rate calculated as nil. These were where the person was:

• notionally assets tested, or
• receiving rent assistance.

Calculating the notional rate

In the process of calculating the rate of DFISA, a notional assessment was done. This involved:

• calculating the notional income tested rate,
• calculating the notional assets tested rate, and
• comparing the two rates.

The lower of the two rates was the notional rate.

Rate of DFISA if notional rate was assets tested

If the person's notional income support payment was the assets tested rate, their rate of DFISA may either have been less than expected or nil. DFISA was the difference between the person's notional rate and the actual rate. Where the notional rate was the assets tested rate, the amount of DFISA was less than the impact that adjusted DP was having on the person's income support payment via the income test. Where the notional assets tested rate was the same as the actual income tested rate, the amount of DFISA was nil.

Example of notionally assets tested rate

This example describes a notionally assets tested client whose rate of DFISA was less than the impact of adjusted DP on his actual rate. Rates quoted are as at 20/09/2004.

Mr Lucas was a single homeowner receiving age pension paid by DVA. He received 60% of general rate disability pension ($177.84 per fortnight) and had $122 per fortnight in other income. He had assets totalling $160,000.

While Mr Lucas' adjusted disability pension reduced his actual social security payment by $71.14, the rate of DFISA payable was $50.14 due to the impact of the assets test on the notional rate assessment.

Clients eligible for rent assistance

Where a person eligible for DFISA was also eligible for rent assistance (RA), their notional rate assessment involved a disability income test for RA. This test was similar to the test applied under the VEA to calculate rates of rent assistance for service pensioners prior to 2022.     

Notional disability income test for rent assistance

The notional disability income test for RA involved calculation of a reduction amount that was applied to the person's RA entitlement. The calculation used adjusted DP only and referred to the income free areas and taper rates applicable to the person's primary payment. As a result of this test, the notional rent assistance amount, included in the calculation of the notional rate for DFISA, may have been less than their actual rent assistance payment. Note: This impacted the notional calculation for DFISA only. There was no actual change to the person's income support payment or rent assistance payment.

Example of disability income rent test reducing DFISA to nil

This example described a client whose rate of DFISA was nil because of the disability income test for rent assistance. Rates as at 20/09/2004.

Mr Fee was a single age pensioner paid by Centrelink. He received 100% of the general rate disability pension ($296.40 per fortnight) and has no other income. He received $96.80 per fortnight in rent assistance from Centrelink.

Mr Fee's adjusted disability pension reduced his actual payment by $69.76. However, because of the notional disability income rent test used to calculate notional rent assistance, the amount of DFISA payable was nil.