Last amended: 5 January 2006

Eligibility criteria for RAA

To be eligible to receive RAA [2], a person must:

• be receiving a service pension or income support supplement at a rate greater than nil, and     More ? [6]
• have their usual place of residence situated in a remote area [2], and     More ? [7]
• be physically present in the remote area, or      More ? [8]

• be temporarily absent from the remote area for less than 8 weeks.

Child eligibility

The rate of RAA payable to a person is increased by the child rate per fortnight for each child a person has if:

• the child meets the definition of a FTB child [2] under the Family Assistance Act 1999, and
• the child is in Australia (not necessarily in the remote area), or
• the child is temporarily absent from Australia and the absence has been less than 8 weeks

RAA remains payable to a person in respect of an FTB child for a period of 14 weeks after the death of the child.

Temporary absence from remote area

A person who is receiving RAA and who is temporarily absent from an identified remote area, remains eligible for payment of RAA for the first eight weeks of the absence. If additional RAA is paid in respect of a child, Commission may extend eligibility for RAA beyond the normal 8 week period under special circumstances.

Your obligations if you receive the Remote Area Allowance

You need to tell us within 28 days of the event if:

• your dependent child dies; or
• you are absent from your permanent address for more than 8 weeks;
• you move from your present address; or
• you or your child go overseas.

Last amended: 11 February 2010

Payment rates

The RAA rate payable depends on the person's family situation. In partnered situations, it will be necessary to determine a rate for each member of the couple. Fact Sheet IS 30 accessed through the link at the end of this paragraph contains the current pension rates, limits and allowances summary including RAA.    

Payment arrangements

RAA is added to a person's rate of pension after the application of the income and assets tests, and paid automatically with the pension instalment every fortnight.

Payments of RAA where pension rate is nil

To be eligible to receive RAA, a person must be receiving a service pension or income support supplement at a rate greater than nil. The only exception is where a pension has been reduced to nil in order to recover a lump sum advance. In this case, RAA is still payable. .

Last amended: 20 March 2013

Residence is in a remote area

For determining whether a person's usual place of residence is in a remote area, most cases should be resolved through reference to the database on the ATO web site.     

Zone A and a special area in Zone B

The specific areas which attract RAA consist of zones that are defined in tax legislation in geographic terms and references to remoteness. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) web site contains a database of points in all states and territories that fall within Zone A as well as details of points that are in a special area of Zone B. If a person lives in Zone A, they will satisfy paragraph 5Q(1)(a) of the definition. If the person lives in a special area of Zone B, they will satisfy paragraph 5Q(1)(aa) of the definition.  RAA is not payable to residents within ordinary Zone B.

The ATO database of accepted urban centres (for the purposes of determining whether a person resides within 250 kilometres of an urban centre of more than 2,500 people) is derived from the defined terms of urban centre and census population within section 79A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, which are based on the results of the census undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1981.

When the precise location is not listed

In some cases, the precise location of the person may not be listed on this database, for example properties etc. in these circumstances it may be appropriate to seek verification from the person whether the A — TO treats them as residing in Zone A or a special area within Zone B. We should also ask the person to clarify whether they have sought a decision of the Tax Commissioner in relation to the place they live under subsection 79A(3E) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. Documentary evidence of the Tax Commissioner's decision should be obtained from the person. If the matter cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the delegate through consulting the ATO database or the person concerned, advice as to these matters can be sought from the A — TO.    

Last amended: 5 January 2006

Definition

The VEA does not define usual place of residence. A person's usual place of residence is the area where they normally live, sleep and eat. To change their usual place of residence, a person has to completely abandon their former place of residence.

Determining usual place of residence

This table lists indicators that may assist in determining a person's usual place of residence.

Itinerant customers

It may be difficult for a person who travels frequently to establish a usual place of residence. If a person is temporarily living somewhere, but has a fixed intention of returning to another address, they should not be considered itinerant. The onus is on the person to provide evidence to support their qualification for RAA [2].