DATE OF ISSUE: 13 January 1992
1992 income limits for a student child and earnings limit for an employed child
Student children
A service pensioner may receive additional benefits in respect of a dependent child by way of:
.guardian's allowance;
.a dependent child add-on (formerly known as APC);
.an additional income free area (formerly known as an income deduction) for pension assessment purposes;
.an additional amount of rent assistance;
.an additional free area for rent assistance assessment purposes; and
.an additional amount of remote area allowance.
2.For the purposes of determining eligibility for these benefits, a child may be regarded as wholly or substantially dependent on a person where the child's income within the 1992 calendar year does not generally exceed:
.$4050living at home; or
.$6150living away from home.
3.These figures represent an increase in last year's limits of $150 for children living at home and $250 for children living away from home.
Employed children
4.Subsection 5F(3) of the VEA says that a child under 16 cannot be a dependent child - and therefore cannot attract the benefits listed in paragraph 1 above - if the child is an "employed child".
5.An "employed child" is defined as someone who is:
.not receiving full-time education;
.receiving income from employment; and
.receiving income of a specified amount.
That specified amount is indexed annually.
6.The income limits for an employed child have increased:
.from $107.70 a week ($215.40 a fortnight)
.to $111.35 a week ($222.70 a fortnight),
with effect from 1 January 1992.
PETER HAWKER
NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR
BENEFITS
January 1992