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11.1.2 Indexation of Pensions and Allowances

    

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Last amended: 15 August 2013



CPI

    

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What is the CPI?

The Consumer Price Index [glossary:(:]CPI[glossary:):] provides the official measure of inflation in Australia. The CPI is calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Movement in the CPI is measured quarterly for the three month periods ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December each year. The CPI figures are normally published around four weeks after the end of the quarter. The CPI is not a percentage but an index number. Any two numbers from the index can be compared to calculate a percentage change.

CPI indexation factor

The CPI indexation factor is determined by comparing two quarters of CPI figures. The more recent of these quarters is known as the reference quarter and the older is known as the base quarter. The CPI number for the reference quarter is divided by the CPI number for the base quarter, rounding the answer to three decimal places.

Reference and base quarters for CPI

Legislation describes which CPI figures are used as the base and reference quarters. The reference and base quarters vary between different payments, allowances and limits. [See paragraph [glossary:11.1.3 Indexation timetable].



Effect of Negative CPI
Effect of negative CPI growth on pension

    

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Indexation is only applied if the Consumer Price Index:MMRCA/PM/11.1.3] [glossary:(:]CPI[glossary:):] indexation factor is greater than one. This ensures that in periods of negative CPI growth, payments are not reduced through indexation. An indexation factor of less than one will result where the CPI number for the reference quarter is less than the CPI number for the base quarter.

Positive CPI growth after a period of negative growth

Following a period of negative CPI growth, amounts that compare the reference quarter CPI to the previous base quarter will receive a greater benefit than those that compare the reference quarter CPI to the previous highest base quarter. This is because those that compare to the previous base quarter CPI receive the benefit of part of the increase twice – once for each time the CPI increases to a particular point.

Example of impact of negative CPI growth followed by positive CPI growth

This hypothetical example shows the impact of positive CPI growth after a period of negative CPI growth. To show the impact more clearly, rounding rules have not been applied. The CPI figures are assumed to be 150 in March 2006, 145 in March 2007 and 152 in March 2008.

Threshold/limit

1 July 2006 rate

1 July 2007 rate

1 July 2008 rate

CPI increase 1 July 2008

% increase from 1 July 2006

Amount A – base quarter = previous quarter

$10,000.00

$10,000.00

$10,482.76

152 ÷ 145

4.82%

Amount B – base quarter = previous highest quarter

$10,000.00

$10,000.00

$10,133.33

152 ÷ 150

1.33%

The rates for 1 July 2007 remain the same because the CPI for the reference quarter (145 – March 2007) was less than for the base quarter (March 2006). In calculating the indexed rates for 1 July 2008, the base quarter for Amount A is the March 2007 quarter CPI of 145, whereas for Amount B, the base quarter is the March 2006 quarter CPI of 150. Thus Amount A receives the benefit twice of the CPI moving from 145 to 150, whereas Amount B only receives this benefit once.



How Certain Pensions and Allowances are Indexed
How permanent impairment payment is indexed

    

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The rate of permanent impairment payment is indexed using CPI only, on 1 July each year.

How the Special Rate Disability Compensation Payment is indexed

    

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The weekly Special Rate Disability Compensation Payment is not indexed but is set as equal to 50% of the fortnightly Special Rate (T&PI) of Disability Compensation Payment under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.  The Special Rate (T&PI) is indexed each 20 March and 20 September.

How the Wholly Dependent Partner payment is indexed

    

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The weekly Wholly Dependent Partner payment is not indexed but is set as equal to 50% of the fortnightly war widow(er) pension under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. The war widow(er) pension is indexed each 20 March and 20 September.

How the maximum Attendant Allowance payment is indexed

    

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The rate of permanent impairment payment is indexed using CPI only, on 1 July each year.

How the maximum Household Assistance payment is indexed

    

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The rate of permanent impairment payment is indexed using CPI only, on 1 July each year.

How education allowance is indexed

Education allowances are indexed using CPI only on 1 January each year.

How the MRCA supplement is indexed

    

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The MRCA supplement is not indexed but is set as equal to the veterans supplement under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

How Clean Energy Supplement is indexed

    

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The rate of Clean Energy Supplement for permanent impairment payment is indexed each 1 July using CPI only. For wholly dependent partner payment and Special Rate Disability Compensation Payment, the weekly Clean Energy Supplement rate is set each 20 March and 20 September as equal to 50% of the fortnightly rate of the equivalent payment under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.


 

 

 

 

Section 59EA VEA

 

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Section 404 MRCA

 

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Section 404 MRCA

 

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Section 404 MRCA

 

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Section 198 MRCA

 

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Section 234 MRCA

 

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Section 404 MRCA

 

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Section 404 MRCA

 

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Section 223 MRCA

Section 247 MRCA

Section 302 MRCA

 

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Section 83A MRCA

Section 209A MRCA

Section 238A MRCA

 

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The consumer price index (CPI) provides the official measure of inflation in Australia. The CPI measures quarterly changes in the price of a 'basket' of goods and services which account for a high proportion of expenditure by the CPI population group (i.e. metropolitan households).

The consumer price index (CPI) provides the official measure of inflation in Australia. The CPI measures quarterly changes in the price of a 'basket' of goods and services which account for a high proportion of expenditure by the CPI population group (i.e. metropolitan households).

The reference quarter is the more recent of the two quarters of CPI or PBLCI data used in indexing a payment rate, limit or threshold. The reference quarter CPI or PBLCI figure is compared to the base quater CPI or PBLCI figure to determine the indexation factor to be applied. The reference quarter is defined in the legislation and varies according to the amount being indexed.

 

 

The base quarter is the older of the two quarters of CPI or PBLCI data used in indexing a payment rate or limit or threshold. The reference quater  of the CPI or PBLCI figure is compared to the base quarter CPI or PBLCI figure to determine the indexation factor to be applied. The base quarter is defined in the legislation and varies according to the amount being indexed.

 

 

The consumer price index (CPI) provides the official measure of inflation in Australia. The CPI measures quarterly changes in the price of a 'basket' of goods and services which account for a high proportion of expenditure by the CPI population group (i.e. metropolitan households).

The reference quarter is the more recent of the two quarters of CPI or PBLCI data used in indexing a payment rate, limit or threshold. The reference quarter CPI or PBLCI figure is compared to the base quater CPI or PBLCI figure to determine the indexation factor to be applied. The reference quarter is defined in the legislation and varies according to the amount being indexed.

 

 

The base quarter is the older of the two quarters of CPI or PBLCI data used in indexing a payment rate or limit or threshold. The reference quater  of the CPI or PBLCI figure is compared to the base quarter CPI or PBLCI figure to determine the indexation factor to be applied. The base quarter is defined in the legislation and varies according to the amount being indexed.

 

 

The veterans supplement was introduced on 20 September 2009 as part of the Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform package. It is a fortnightly payment that replaces pharmaceutical allowance and/or telephone allowance for compensation recipients who are not in receipt of an income support supplement. There are two rates, the veterans supplement low rate and the veterans supplement high rate. The low rate replaces one of the allowances and the high rate replaces both. The low rate is indexed every January to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The high rate is always twice the amount of the low rate.