{"id":"F2017L01689","name":"Social Security (Obtaining Information to Verify Claims – Income Stream Recipients) Specification 2017","slug":"social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96577,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01689-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1. Name of specification","sectionType":"section","heading":"1. Name of specification","content":"#### 1. Name of specification\n\n  This specification is the Social Security (Obtaining Information to Verify Claims – Income Stream Recipients) Specification 2017.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"3. Authority","sectionType":"section","heading":"3. Authority","content":"#### 3. Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsection 195(3A) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4. Definitions","sectionType":"section","heading":"4. Definitions","content":"#### 4. Definitions\n\n> Act means the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.\n\n> Human Services Department has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991.\n\n> Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Social Services.\n\n> special reduction amount has the same meaning as in subsection 1099AAA(1) of the Social Security Act 1991.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5. Specification of Information","sectionType":"section","heading":"5. Specification of Information","content":"#### 5. Specification of Information\n\n  For the purpose of subsection 195(3A) of the Act, the following information in relation to an income stream received a person is specified:\n    (i) The unique identifier allocated to the income stream provider or their administrator by the Human Services Department;\n    (ii) The Australian Business Number of the income stream provider, as reported on the income stream schedule;\n    (iii) The name of the income stream product;\n    (iv) If the owner is a reversionary beneficiary – whether they became a reversionary beneficiary in the period specified in the notice issued;\n    (v) If the owner is a reversionary beneficiary – the date on which the income stream reverted to the reversionary beneficiary;\n    (vi) The latest available account balance of the income stream;\n    (vii) The date of the latest available account balance of the income stream;\n    (viii) If the income stream is commuted – the total value of commutations since commencement of the income stream;\n    (ix) If the income stream is commuted – the total number of commutations made in the period specified in the notice issued;\n    (x) If the income stream is a market-linked income stream and is commuted – the reason that a commutation has been made;\n    (xi) If the income stream is a market-linked income stream and is in its final year of term – the expiry date of the income stream’s term;\n    (xii) Whether payments from the income stream have been suspended;\n    (xiii) If payments from the income stream have been suspended, the date on which payments were suspended;\n    (xiv) Whether the income stream is jointly owned;\n    (xv) If the income stream is jointly owned, the division of ownership of the income stream, as a percentage;\n    (xvi) If the income stream is an account-based or market-linked income stream – the gross annual payment for the current financial year made under the income stream;\n    (xvii) If the income stream is a defined benefit income stream or a military invalidity pension income stream – the gross fortnightly payment made under the income stream;\n    (xviii) If the income stream is a lifetime, life expectancy or term income stream – the gross amount of each payment made under the income stream and the frequency of the payment; and\n    (xix) If the income stream is a military invalidity pension income stream – the special reduction amount for the year in which the notice is given and the method used to work out the amounts that would be the tax free components for the purposes of determining that special reduction amount.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This specification does not expand powers or the class of persons covered by the parent Act; it implements subsection 195(3A) by listing the precise information that may be requested to verify income stream claims. It clarifies the data required from providers but does not alter eligibility rules or create new substantive entitlements."},"complexity_factors":["Direct specification of information items (s5 items (i)–(xix)) keeps legal logic straightforward but creates many conditional data points to evaluate.","Multiple conditional branches tied to income stream types (account-based, market-linked, defined benefit, lifetime/term, military invalidity) increase operational checks (s5 items (x), (xi), (xvi)–(xviii)).","Cross-references to other Acts/definitions: subsection 195(3A) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (s3) and 'special reduction amount' defined by subsection 1099AAA(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (s4).","Administrative interpretation required for vague terms (eg 'latest available account balance', 'period specified in the notice') which may raise implementation queries (s5 items (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix)).","Compliance burden concentrated on providers/administrators to produce historical and current numeric and date data (s5 items (vi)–(ix), (xii)–(xv)), and on the Department to process conditional responses.","Low statutory discretion in the instrument itself (it lists required fields) but actual use depends on notices under s195(3A), so interaction with departmental practice affects complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"Sets out the exact data the Department can request from income stream providers to verify a person's social security claim. It lists identifiers, ownership and payment details, account balances, commutations, suspension dates and specific entries for market-linked, defined benefit and military invalidity income streams.\n\nAffects income stream recipients, their providers/administrators and the Secretary/Department. It matters because it determines what information providers must produce, who bears compliance costs, and what material the Secretary may use to decide or review payments."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation performs exactly the function its title suggests: specifying information requirements for income stream verification. It has not expanded beyond this narrow administrative purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section","Single operative provision (section 5) with a straightforward list format","No nested exceptions or conditional logic – just a flat list of 19 information items","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to parent Act for authority and two terms borrowed from other legislation)","Highly specific technical terminology (e.g., 'commuted', 'reversionary beneficiary', 'market-linked income stream') but used in a simple enumerative structure","Short total length (approximately 1 page of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires superannuation funds, insurers and other income‑stream providers to supply Centrelink with specified information about pensions, annuities and similar payments so the government can verify social security and pension claims. It covers a detailed set of data points (19 items) about product details, payment history, commutations and special cases like military invalidity pensions.\n\nWho it matters to: providers must comply; recipients may have entitlements reassessed. The aim is accurate means testing and to prevent under‑reported income or assets."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017","history":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/social-security-obtaining-information-to-verify-claims-income-stream-recipients-specification-2017/documents"}}