The principal home has the meaning given by subsection 5LA(1) [33] of the VEA and subsection 5LA(2) [33] of the VEA. The principal home of a person is generally the place in which they reside. In certain circumstances, however, the principal home of a person can be the place in which they formerly resided. The following property is regarded as part of the principal home.

• the residence itself (e.g. house, flat, caravan),
• permanent fixtures (e.g. stoves, built-in heaters, dish-washers, light fittings and affixed carpets),
• [glossary:curtilage:DEF/Curtilage] (i.e. two hectares [4] or less of private land [4] around the home where the private land use test [4] has been satisfied, or all land held on the same title as the person's principal home where the extended land use test [4] has been satisfied), or

•       any garage, shed, tennis court or swimming pool used primarily for private purposes provided it is on the same title as the principal home.

Curtilage is the land adjacent to the exempt principal home [4].  A certain amount of curtilage is disregarded for the assets test. [4]. The amount of curtilage that is exempt depends on whether the private land use test [4] described in section 5LA(3) of the VEA, or the extended land use test [4] described in section 5LA(4) of the VEA, is satisfied. Under the private land use test, up to two hectares on the same title as the principal home may be exempt. Under the extended land use test, all land on the same title as the principal home may be exempt.

A person is a homeowner if they have a right or interest, which gives reasonable security of tenure in the principal home.

Refer to sections 52Q and 52R of VEA for the definition when determining if a person is a considered to be a homeowner when living in a special residence.  

A person is also considered to be a homeowner if they have sold their home in the previous 12 months and intend to use part or all of the proceeds to purchase another home.

According to Section 5E(2) [42]of the VEA [42]a person is a member of a couple, if they are:

• legally married to another person and is not living separately and apart from the other person on a permanent basis; or
• living in a prescribed registered relationship with the other person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) and is not living separately and apart from that other person on a permanent basis; or
• all of the following conditions are met:

• living with another person, whether of the same sex or a different sex;
• not legally married to that person;
• in a de facto relationship with that person; and
• not in a prohibited relationship

The term “partnered” is also commonly used.

An illness separated couple is a couple who cannot share a home because of the illness or infirmity of one or both partners. Illness separated couples may be paid the higher single rate of pension. Refer to subsection 5R(5) [33] of the VEA for the full definition.

Rent Assistance is an allowance, which may be paid to a service pensioner or income support supplement (ISS) recipient to assist in meeting the cost of rental accommodation.

To receive rent assistance, a pensioner must be paying rent (other than Government rent) for accommodation in Australia, and the amount paid must exceed a certain threshold.

An entry contribution is the amount paid or agreed to be paid by a person for the right to live in a:

• retirement village; or
• granny flat.

If a person lives in a home subject to a sale leaseback agreement, the entry contribution is the balance of the amount still to be paid by a buyer, at the date of a sale leaseback agreement.

Refer to Section 52M of the VEA for the full definition.

According to subsection 5MC(2) of the VEA [33] a special residence is:

• a retirement village; or
• a granny flat; or
• a sale leaseback home.

Non-Government Subsidised care applies to the following groups:

• pensioners residing in nursing homes or hostels that are not approved facility [4];
• pensioners who are residing in a nursing home or hostel but who are not approved care recipients. For instance, a person may be residing in a nursing home or hostel to be near to their partner who is receiving care (known as co-habitees) or a person may be in a multi purpose service (MPS) unit; and
• pensioners residing in an approved facility but who receive accommodation only, require no care and therefore are not receiving Commonwealth Government subsidised care [4].

No Commonwealth Government subsidy, including pensioner supplement, is payable to the facility in respect of their places.

A person is a homeowner if they have a right or interest, which gives reasonable security of tenure in the principal home.

Refer to sections 52Q and 52R of VEA for the definition when determining if a person is a considered to be a homeowner when living in a special residence.  

A person is also considered to be a homeowner if they have sold their home in the previous 12 months and intend to use part or all of the proceeds to purchase another home.

According to Section 5E(2) [42]of the VEA [42]a person is a member of a couple, if they are:

• legally married to another person and is not living separately and apart from the other person on a permanent basis; or
• living in a prescribed registered relationship with the other person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) and is not living separately and apart from that other person on a permanent basis; or
• all of the following conditions are met:

• living with another person, whether of the same sex or a different sex;
• not legally married to that person;
• in a de facto relationship with that person; and
• not in a prohibited relationship

The term “partnered” is also commonly used.

A person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.

The principal home has the meaning given by subsection 5LA(1) [33] of the VEA and subsection 5LA(2) [33] of the VEA. The principal home of a person is generally the place in which they reside. In certain circumstances, however, the principal home of a person can be the place in which they formerly resided. The following property is regarded as part of the principal home.

• the residence itself (e.g. house, flat, caravan),
• permanent fixtures (e.g. stoves, built-in heaters, dish-washers, light fittings and affixed carpets),
• [glossary:curtilage:DEF/Curtilage] (i.e. two hectares [4] or less of private land [4] around the home where the private land use test [4] has been satisfied, or all land held on the same title as the person's principal home where the extended land use test [4] has been satisfied), or

•       any garage, shed, tennis court or swimming pool used primarily for private purposes provided it is on the same title as the principal home.

One element of the means test for income support pensions whereby the rate of pension payable to a pensioner reduces progressively as their assets increase above a certain threshold known as the assets value limit (AVL). [90]

Curtilage is the land adjacent to the exempt principal home [4].  A certain amount of curtilage is disregarded for the assets test. [4]. The amount of curtilage that is exempt depends on whether the private land use test [4] described in section 5LA(3) of the VEA, or the extended land use test [4] described in section 5LA(4) of the VEA, is satisfied. Under the private land use test, up to two hectares on the same title as the principal home may be exempt. Under the extended land use test, all land on the same title as the principal home may be exempt.

Assets value limit is the maximum value of assets a person can have without affecting the person's pension rate. The assets value limit is worked out in accordance with SCH6-F3 of the VEA [42].

Rent Assistance is an allowance, which may be paid to a service pensioner or income support supplement (ISS) recipient to assist in meeting the cost of rental accommodation.

To receive rent assistance, a pensioner must be paying rent (other than Government rent) for accommodation in Australia, and the amount paid must exceed a certain threshold.

The principal home has the meaning given by subsection 5LA(1) [33] of the VEA and subsection 5LA(2) [33] of the VEA. The principal home of a person is generally the place in which they reside. In certain circumstances, however, the principal home of a person can be the place in which they formerly resided. The following property is regarded as part of the principal home.

• the residence itself (e.g. house, flat, caravan),
• permanent fixtures (e.g. stoves, built-in heaters, dish-washers, light fittings and affixed carpets),
• [glossary:curtilage:DEF/Curtilage] (i.e. two hectares [4] or less of private land [4] around the home where the private land use test [4] has been satisfied, or all land held on the same title as the person's principal home where the extended land use test [4] has been satisfied), or

•       any garage, shed, tennis court or swimming pool used primarily for private purposes provided it is on the same title as the principal home.

Rent Assistance is an allowance, which may be paid to a service pensioner or income support supplement (ISS) recipient to assist in meeting the cost of rental accommodation.

To receive rent assistance, a pensioner must be paying rent (other than Government rent) for accommodation in Australia, and the amount paid must exceed a certain threshold.

Non-Government Subsidised care applies to the following groups:

• pensioners residing in nursing homes or hostels that are not approved facility [4];
• pensioners who are residing in a nursing home or hostel but who are not approved care recipients. For instance, a person may be residing in a nursing home or hostel to be near to their partner who is receiving care (known as co-habitees) or a person may be in a multi purpose service (MPS) unit; and
• pensioners residing in an approved facility but who receive accommodation only, require no care and therefore are not receiving Commonwealth Government subsidised care [4].

No Commonwealth Government subsidy, including pensioner supplement, is payable to the facility in respect of their places.

Government Subsidised Care is care provided to persons in approved facilities [4].

The government subsidy (also known as “pensioner supplement”), is paid directly to the facility by DH&FS [4] on the behalf of pensioners receiving this care.

Where a care resident pays an accommodation bond [4] more than ten times the annual rate of social security age pension, the pensioner supplement paid by DH&FS [4] to the aged care facility to replace rent assistance is no longer paid.

An ineligible property owner is a property owner who is ineligible for rent assistance.

According to subsection 5N(1) of the VEA [33], these people are not regarded as ineligible property owners and therefore may be eligible for rent assistance:

• a person who is a property owner by virtue of paragraph 5L(4)(c) (proceeds of sale of principal home disregarded for 12 months); or
• a person who:

• is absent from the person's principal home, in relation to which the person is a property owner; and
• is in a care situation but is not residing in a retirement village; or

• a person who:

• is absent from the person's principal home, in relation to which the person is a property owner; and
• is personally providing community-based care for another person; or

• a person who pays amounts for the use of a site for a caravan or other vehicle, or a structure, that is the person's principal home; or
• a person who pays amounts for the right to moor a vessel that is the person's principal home.

A widow is a woman who was:

• the partner of a person immediately before the person died; or
• legally married to a man and living with him immediately before he died; or
• legally married to a man and living separetely and apart from him on a permanent basis, immediately before he died.

A widower is a man who was:

• the partner of a person immediately before the person died: or
• legally married to a woman and living with her immediately before she died; or
• legally married to a woman and living separetely and apart from her on a permanent basis immediately before she died.

According to section 5H of the VEA [113] income is:

• an amount earned, derived or received by a person for the person's own use or benefit;
• a periodical payment by way of gift or allowance; or
• a periodical benefit by way of gift or allowance.

Rent Assistance is an allowance, which may be paid to a service pensioner or income support supplement (ISS) recipient to assist in meeting the cost of rental accommodation.

To receive rent assistance, a pensioner must be paying rent (other than Government rent) for accommodation in Australia, and the amount paid must exceed a certain threshold.

According to subsection 5M(3) of the VEA [33], premises constitute a retirement village if:

• the premises are residential premises; and
• accommodation in the premises is primarily intended for persons who are at least 55 years old; and
• the premises consist of one or more of the following kinds of accommodation:
• self-care units;
• serviced units;
• hostel units; and
• the premises include communal facilities for use by occupants of the units referred to above.

According to subsection 5MB(2) of the VEA [33] an agreement is a sale leaseback agreement, in relation to a person, if:

• under the agreement the person agrees to sell his or her principal home; and
• the residence that is the person's principal home is a private residence; and
• under the agreement the person retains a right to accommodation in the residence; and
• under the agreement the buyer is to pay an amount when the person vacates the residence or when the person dies.

A person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.

According to subsection 5M(3) of the VEA [33], premises constitute a retirement village if:

• the premises are residential premises; and
• accommodation in the premises is primarily intended for persons who are at least 55 years old; and
• the premises consist of one or more of the following kinds of accommodation:
• self-care units;
• serviced units;
• hostel units; and
• the premises include communal facilities for use by occupants of the units referred to above.

The principal home has the meaning given by subsection 5LA(1) [33] of the VEA and subsection 5LA(2) [33] of the VEA. The principal home of a person is generally the place in which they reside. In certain circumstances, however, the principal home of a person can be the place in which they formerly resided. The following property is regarded as part of the principal home.

• the residence itself (e.g. house, flat, caravan),
• permanent fixtures (e.g. stoves, built-in heaters, dish-washers, light fittings and affixed carpets),
• [glossary:curtilage:DEF/Curtilage] (i.e. two hectares [4] or less of private land [4] around the home where the private land use test [4] has been satisfied, or all land held on the same title as the person's principal home where the extended land use test [4] has been satisfied), or

•       any garage, shed, tennis court or swimming pool used primarily for private purposes provided it is on the same title as the principal home.