DFISA was removed 1 January 2022. This is for historical reference only.
VEA → [2]
DFISA [3] was the difference between a person's rate of income support payment and what the payment would be if adjusted DP [3] were exempt from the assessment, but included in the calculation of rent assistance.
More → [4]
Changes in the primary payment assessment rules which determined the extent to which adjusted disability pension may have reduced the person's rate of income support payment, such as the income free area for social security benefits and pensions, may have had a flow on effect on the calculated rate of DFISA.
A person's rate of DFISA was calculated by the agency that assessed their income support payment.
More → [5]
The DFISA calculation did not change the person's existing income support payment assessment. The notional rate [3] assessment was only used for comparison with the person's actual rate [3] to determine whether DFISA was payable. No one received an increase in income support payment, or a reduction in rent assistance, as a result of DFISA.
The rate of DFISA was calculated as a daily entitlement, paid in fortnightly instalments. DFISA was the difference between the person's notional rate of income support payment and their actual rate of income support payment payment.
DFISA [3] = notional rate [3] minus actual rate [3] |
Note: If the compensation recovery rules applied to the person, the DFISA formula required additional steps.
More → [6]
The actual rate [3] was the rate of payment as assessed under existing social security, ABSTUDY [3] or DAFF [3] rules. It was the amount payable to the person, including supplementary payments and rent assistance, but excluding remote area allowance (RAA) and any deductions such as deductions for lump sum advance. For some people this rate was nil.
More → [7]
A person's notional rate [3] was calculated by excluding the adjusted DP [3] of the person and/or the person's partner [3] from the assessment of their rate of income support payment. This may have led to a notional increase in the person's rate of income support payment. If the person rented, a notional rate of rent assistance [3] may have been included in the calculation of their notional rate.
More → [8]
The actual and notional rates were those calculated before deductions (such as lump sum advance repayments) or additions (such as remote area allowance) were made.
If the person being assessed for DFISA was entitled to rent assistance under social security law [3] or under the ABSTUDY [3] guidelines, the adjusted DP [3] was used to calculate a rent assistance reduction amount in order to determine the notional rent assistance [3] rate. The rent assistance reduction amount was subtracted from the person's rent assistance rate to give the notional rent assistance rate. Calculation of the rent assistance reduction amount used the same taper rates and income free areas as applied to the person's income support payment. Note: this step was notional only. There was no change to the person's actual payment of rent assistance.
More → [9]
When calculating notional rent assistance reference was made to taper rates [3] and income free areas [3]. These were the same taper rate and income free areas that applied to the person's primary payment. Taper rates vary from payment to payment. Age, service and disability support pensions all have the same taper rate and free areas. However, other primary payments differ, for example, jobseeker allowance has a lower free area and higher taper rates with two thresholds.
Some people did not receive any amount of DFISA, even though they were eligible for DFISA. Others may have received less than they thought they would receive as a result of the impact of adjusted DP [3] on their income support payment.
More → [10]
Rate of DFISA
Section 118NC [13] VEA
Veterans' Entitlements (DFISA-like Payment) Regulations 2005 [14]
The information below is for historical reference only.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) ceased on 1 January 2022 because adjusted disability income became exempt income under the Social Security Act 1991. It was an income support payment [3] paid by DVA [3] to people whose income support payment under Social Security Law [3] was reduced, or not payable, because of the impact of adjusted disability pension [3]. DFISA was the difference between the person's existing entitlement, and what the entitlement would have been had adjusted DP been exempt, but was assessed in the calculation of rent assistance.
On 1 January 2022, both DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. Thus the term Adjusted Disability Pension was made redundant. The following is for historical reference only.
Section 118NA of the VEA defined adjusted disability pension as:
Adjusted disability pension did not include war widow's/widower's pension [3], or payments made by other governments to compensate for war or service related injuries.
From 1 January 2022, DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. The information below is for historical purposes only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the notional rate was what the person's daily rate of income support payment would be if the following applied:
Note: This step was only for DFISA calculation purposes and did not change the person's existing social security assessment.
DFISA was removed 1 January 2022. This is for historical reference only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's social security income support payment.
For DFISA-like [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's DAFF [3] or ABSTUDY [3] income support payment.
The information below is for historical reference only.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) ceased on 1 January 2022 because adjusted disability income became exempt income under the Social Security Act 1991. It was an income support payment [3] paid by DVA [3] to people whose income support payment under Social Security Law [3] was reduced, or not payable, because of the impact of adjusted disability pension [3]. DFISA was the difference between the person's existing entitlement, and what the entitlement would have been had adjusted DP been exempt, but was assessed in the calculation of rent assistance.
From 1 January 2022, DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. The information below is for historical purposes only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the notional rate was what the person's daily rate of income support payment would be if the following applied:
Note: This step was only for DFISA calculation purposes and did not change the person's existing social security assessment.
DFISA was removed 1 January 2022. This is for historical reference only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's social security income support payment.
For DFISA-like [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's DAFF [3] or ABSTUDY [3] income support payment.
DFISA was removed 1 January 2022. This is for historical reference only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's social security income support payment.
For DFISA-like [3] purposes, the actual rate was the daily rate of the person's DAFF [3] or ABSTUDY [3] income support payment.
Aboriginal study assistance scheme means:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
From 1 January 2022, DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. The information below is for historical purposes only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, the notional rate was what the person's daily rate of income support payment would be if the following applied:
Note: This step was only for DFISA calculation purposes and did not change the person's existing social security assessment.
On 1 January 2022, both DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. Thus the term Adjusted Disability Pension was made redundant. The following is for historical reference only.
Section 118NA of the VEA defined adjusted disability pension as:
Adjusted disability pension did not include war widow's/widower's pension [3], or payments made by other governments to compensate for war or service related injuries.
A person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.
From 1 January 2022, DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. The information below is for historical purposes only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, if the person was entitled to rent assistance, the adjusted DP [3] was used to calculate a rent assistance reduction amount in order to determine the notional rent assistance rate. Calculation of the rent assistance reduction amount used the same taper rates [3] and income free area [3] as applied to the person's income support payment.
Note: This step was only for DFISA calculation purposes and did not affect the person's actual payment of rent assistance. The notional rent assistance calculation was similar to the former disability income rent test [3] used to calculate rent assistance for service pensioners, income support supplement and veteran payment recipients.
The social security law includes:
Aboriginal study assistance scheme means:
On 1 January 2022, both DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. Thus the term Adjusted Disability Pension was made redundant. The following is for historical reference only.
Section 118NA of the VEA defined adjusted disability pension as:
Adjusted disability pension did not include war widow's/widower's pension [3], or payments made by other governments to compensate for war or service related injuries.
From 1 January 2022, DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. The information below is for historical purposes only.
For DFISA [3] purposes, if the person was entitled to rent assistance, the adjusted DP [3] was used to calculate a rent assistance reduction amount in order to determine the notional rent assistance rate. Calculation of the rent assistance reduction amount used the same taper rates [3] and income free area [3] as applied to the person's income support payment.
Note: This step was only for DFISA calculation purposes and did not affect the person's actual payment of rent assistance. The notional rent assistance calculation was similar to the former disability income rent test [3] used to calculate rent assistance for service pensioners, income support supplement and veteran payment recipients.
The taper rate is used to reduce the rate of a person's service pension [3] or income support supplement [3] if they or their partner have any ordinary income [3] in excess of the ordinary/adjusted income free area [3] (IFA). Any income in excess of the IFA will reduce the maximum payment rate by a 'taper rate' of 50 cents in the dollar (or 40 cents for transitional rate of pension). The result is the income reduced rate.
The same taper rate is also used in disability income rent test [3] calculations to determine the amount of rent assistance [3] for service pensioners and income support supplement recipients.
In addition to the income test taper, any assets in excess of the assets value limit will reduce the maximum payment rate per fortnight by 37.5 cents for every $250 over the Asset Value Limit. The result is the assets reduced rate
The income free area is the amount of income that an income support pensioner may receive without suffering any reduction in pension under the income test.
On 1 January 2022, both DFISA and the Disability Income Rent Test were removed. Thus the term Adjusted Disability Pension was made redundant. The following is for historical reference only.
Section 118NA of the VEA defined adjusted disability pension as:
Adjusted disability pension did not include war widow's/widower's pension [3], or payments made by other governments to compensate for war or service related injuries.
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16213%23comment-form
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn375
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/%23
[4] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn376
[5] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn377
[6] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn378
[7] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn379
[8] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn380
[9] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn381
[10] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn382
[11] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 118NC(1)
[12] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn375
[13] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 118NC
[14] clik://LEGIS/VE-REGS/DFISAPR
[15] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn376
[16] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-5-income-support-allowances-and-benefits/59-defence-force-income-support-allowance-dfisaceased-2022/592-administration-dfisa/dva-and-centrelink-arrangements-dfisa-ceased-2022
[17] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn377
[18] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-5-income-support-allowances-and-benefits/59-defence-force-income-support-allowance-dfisaceased-2022/593-calculation-dfisa-ceased-2022/dfisa-calculation-and-compensation-recovery-rules-ceased-2022
[19] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn378
[20] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-5-income-support-allowances-and-benefits/59-defence-force-income-support-allowance-dfisaceased-2022/592-administration-dfisa/social-security-payments-payable-nil-rate-dfisa-removed-2022
[21] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn379
[22] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-5-income-support-allowances-and-benefits/59-defence-force-income-support-allowance-dfisaceased-2022/593-calculation-dfisa-ceased-2022/dfisa-calculation-examples-ceased-2022
[23] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn380
[24] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn381
[25] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16213#ref-cspol_part5_ftn382