Policy

This section contains information on the criteria for application of the financial hardship rules:

Last updated 21 December 2006

Eligibility for crisis payment

To be eligible for a [glossary:crisis payment:522] a person must be in severe [glossary:financial hardship:299]. That is, the person's liquid assets are less than:

Overview

A person who served in the forces of a [glossary:Commonwealth country:67] or [glossary:Allied country:388] but was domiciled in [glossary:Australia:161] or an [glossary:external territory:161] immediately before enlistment or appointment in those forces is entitled to claim [glossary:Disability Compensation Payment:574] and receive medical treatment at departmental expense. To be eligible for [glossary:service pension:245] such a person must also satisfy the qualifying service requirements applicable to a member of a Commonwealth force or an Allied force.

Overview

Residency means to live or dwell in a place permanently or for a considerable time.

One of the basic requirements when lodging a claim for [glossary:service pension:245], [glossary:income support supplement:118] ([glossary:ISS:118]) or veteran payment, is that the person lodging the claim, or the person on whose behalf the claim is lodged, is an [glossary:Australian resident:582] and is physically present in [glossary:Australia:161] at the time of claim.

Last amended: 1 October 2009

ISS payment

Last amended: 10 October 2007

Unrealisable assets, including farms, are deemed to produce a notional income, except where special provisions apply.

Notional ordinary income – person's farm

Where the unrealisable asset is a farm being worked to its full capacity solely by the pensioner or their partner, notional income is not assessed. In this situation, only the actual income derived from the property is taken into account.

Last amended: 24 March 2006

Unreasonable to expect the person to sell their farm

Circumstances where it might be unreasonable to expect a person to sell their farm would include the following:

Last updated 21 December 2006

Intent of crisis payment - remaining in the home

[glossary:Crisis payment:522] for a person who remains in the family home after being subjected to [glossary:domestic or family violence:35] is intended to assist with minor repairs to the home e.g. replacing or re-keying locks, or repairing or replacing essential household items.