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Budget Savings (Omnibus) Act 2016
29DEnergy supplement
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#### 29D Energy supplement
(1) Paragraph 29A(2)(c) of this Schedule does not apply to an individual on or after the commencement of this clause unless:
(a) the individual was entitled to be paid family tax benefit in respect of 19 September 2016; and
(b) the individual’s Part A rate of family tax benefit in respect of 19 September 2016 was not worked out under Part 3A of this Schedule.
(2) However, if:
(a) the individual ceases to be entitled to be paid family tax benefit in respect of a day (the applicable day) on or after 20 September 2016; or
(b) the individual’s Part A rate of family tax benefit is worked out under Part 3A of this Schedule in respect of a day (the applicable day) on or after 20 September 2016;
then paragraph 29A(2)(c) of this Schedule does not apply, and never again applies, to the individual from:
(c) if the applicable day is before the commencement of this clause—the start of the day this clause commences; or
(d) if the applicable day is on or after the commencement of this clause—the start of the applicable day.
23 At the end of subclause 31B(1) of Schedule 1
Add:
> Note: For certain individuals, energy supplement (Part B) is not to be added in working out the Part B rate: see clauses 29AA and 29D.
24 At the end of subclause 38AA(1) of Schedule 1
Add:
> Note: For certain individuals, energy supplement (Part A) is not to be added in working out the Part A rate: see clause 6A.
25 At the end of subclause 38AF(1) of Schedule 1
Add:
> Note: For certain individuals, energy supplement (Part A) is not to be added in working out the Part A rate: see clause 25C.
Part 2—Energy supplement under the social security law
Social Security Act 1991
36 Section 1061U
Before “A”, insert “(1)”.
37 At the end of section 1061U
Add:
Exceptions
(2) Subject to subsections (4), (6) and (8), subsection (1) applies to a person on or after the commencement of this subsection only if on 19 September 2016:
(a) energy supplement was payable to the person under section 1061UA; or
(b) energy supplement was payable to the person under section 118PA of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act.
> Note: For subsection (1) to apply to the person on a day on or after that commencement, the person needs to be the holder of a seniors health card on that day.
(3) Subject to subsection (8), if:
(a) energy supplement was payable to a person under section 1061UA, or under section 118PA of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act, on 19 September 2016; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under either of those sections on or after 20 September 2016;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from:
(c) if the cessation occurred before the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day this subsection commences; or
(d) if the cessation occurred on or after the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day of that cessation.
(4) If:
(a) a person was not qualified for energy supplement under subsection (1) on 19 September 2016; and
(b) on 19 September 2016 the person was receiving an income support payment where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(c) on a day (the cessation day) on or after the commencement of this subsection the person ceases to be in receipt of any income support payment; and
(d) on the day before the cessation day the person was receiving an income support payment where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(e) the person is required to make a claim for a seniors health card in order for such a card to be granted to the person;
the person can become qualified for energy supplement under subsection (1) only if the person makes a claim for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day.
(5) Subject to subsection (8), if:
(a) as a result of a claim mentioned in subsection (4), a seniors health card is issued to a person on a day; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under section 1061UA on or after that day;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from the start of the day of that cessation.
(6) If:
(a) a person was not qualified for energy supplement under subsection (1) on 31 December 2016; and
(b) on that day, the person was receiving a social security pension and an amount of energy supplement was added to the rate of that pension; and
(c) under subsection 1061ZJA(3) or (4), the Secretary issued a seniors health card to the person;
the person can become qualified for energy supplement under subsection (1) of this section because of holding that card.
(7) Subject to subsection (8), if:
(a) as mentioned in paragraph (6)(c), a seniors health card is issued to a person on a day; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under section 1061UA on or after that day;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from:
(c) if the cessation occurred before the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day this subsection commences; or
(d) if the cessation occurred on or after the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day of that cessation.
(8) If:
(a) on a day on or after 20 September 2016 the person ceases to hold a seniors health card under the Administration Act or the Veterans’ Entitlements Act; and
(b) on that day the person receives an income support payment where energy supplement is used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(c) on a day (the cessation day) on or after the commencement of this subsection, the person ceases to be in receipt of any income support payment; and
(d) on the day before the cessation day the person was receiving an income support payment where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(e) the person is required to make a claim for a seniors health card in order for such a card to be granted to the person;
the person can become qualified for energy supplement under subsection (1) only if the person makes a claim for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day.
38 Transitional provision
If:
(a) before 19 September 2016 a person was receiving an income support payment where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(b) on a day (the cessation day) in the period of 6 weeks ending at the end of 19 September 2016, the person ceased to receive that payment; and
(c) on the day before the cessation day, energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(d) the person made a claim under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day; and
(e) the person’s claim was granted and the person became the holder of a seniors health card on a day on or after 20 September 2016; and
(f) the person held that card immediately before the commencement of this item;
then:
(g) the person can become qualified for energy supplement under subsection 1061U(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (despite subsection 1061U(2) of that Act); and
(h) paragraph 1061U(5)(a) of the Social Security Act 1991 applies as if a reference to a claim mentioned in subsection (4) included a reference to a claim mentioned in this item.
Part 4—Energy supplement under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
104 After subsection 118P(1)
Insert:
(1A) Subject to subsections (1C), (1E) and (1G), subsection (1) applies to a person on or after the commencement of this subsection only if on 19 September 2016:
(a) energy supplement was payable to the person under section 118PA; or
(b) energy supplement was payable to the person under section 1061UA of the Social Security Act 1991.
> Note: For subsection (1) to apply to the person on a day on or after that commencement, the person needs to satisfy paragraphs (1)(a) to (b) on that day.
(1B) Subject to subsection (1G), if:
(a) energy supplement was payable to a person under section 118PA, or section 1061UA of the Social Security Act 1991, on 19 September 2016; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under either of those sections on or after 20 September 2016;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from:
(c) if the cessation occurred before the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day this subsection commences; or
(d) if the cessation occurred on or after the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day of that cessation.
(1C) If:
(a) a person was not eligible for energy supplement under subsection (1) on 19 September 2016; and
(b) on 19 September 2016 the person was receiving an income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991), where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(c) on a day (the cessation day) on or after the commencement of this subsection the person ceases to be in receipt of any income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991); and
(d) on the day before the cessation day the person was receiving an income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991) where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(e) the person is required to make a claim for a seniors health card in order for such a card to be granted to the person;
the person can become eligible for energy supplement under subsection (1) only if the person makes a claim for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day.
(1D) Subject to subsection (1G), if:
(a) as a result of a claim mentioned in subsection (1C), a person becomes the holder of a seniors health card on a day; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under section 118PA on or after that day;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from the start of the day of that cessation.
(1E) If:
(a) a person was not eligible for energy supplement under subsection (1) on 31 December 2016; and
(b) on that day, the person was receiving a service pension and an amount of energy supplement was added to the rate of that pension; and
(c) under subsection 118XA(3), the Commission made a determination under section 118ZG that the person is entitled to a seniors health card;
the person can become eligible for energy supplement under subsection (1) of this section because of being the holder of that card.
(1F) Subject to subsection (1G), if:
(a) as mentioned in paragraph (1E)(c), a person becomes the holder of a seniors health card on a day; and
(b) energy supplement ceases to be payable to the person under section 118PA on or after that day;
then subsection (1) of this section does not apply, and never again applies, to the person from:
(c) if the cessation occurred before the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day this subsection commences; or
(d) if the cessation occurred on or after the commencement of this subsection—the start of the day of that cessation.
(1G) If:
(a) on a day on or after 20 September 2016 the person ceases to hold a seniors health card under this Act or the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999; and
(b) on that day the person receives an income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991) where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(c) on a day (the cessation day) on or after the commencement of this subsection the person ceases to be in receipt of any income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991); and
(d) on the day before the cessation day the person was receiving an income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991) where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(e) the person is required to make a claim for a seniors health card in order for such a card to be granted to the person;
the person can become eligible for energy supplement under subsection (1) only if the person makes a claim for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day.
106 At the end of section 118P
Add:
Portability
(4) If:
(a) on 19 September 2016 energy supplement was payable to a person under section 118PA; and
(b) either:
(i) the person is absent from Australia on 19 September 2016 and has been so for a continuous period not exceeding 6 weeks; or
(ii) the person leaves Australia on a day on or after 20 September 2016 and, on the day before so leaving, energy supplement was payable to the person under section 118PA; and
(c) the person returns to Australia, where the period of that absence has exceeded 6 weeks but not exceeded 19 weeks; and
(d) the person is the holder of a seniors health card on the day before the person returns to Australia;
then the person is taken to have been eligible for energy supplement under this section on each day that occurs in the period beginning on the day after the end of that 6‑week period of absence and ending at the end of the day before the person returned to Australia.
(5) Subsection (4) does not limit section 118PB.
> Note: After the person’s period of absence exceeds 6 weeks, there will be no daily rate of energy supplement for the person: see subsection 118PB(2).
107 Transitional provision
If:
(a) before 19 September 2016 a person was receiving an income support payment (within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991) where energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(b) on a day (the cessation day) in the period of 6 weeks ending at the end of 19 September 2016, the person ceased to receive that payment; and
(c) on the day before the cessation day, energy supplement was used to work out the rate of that payment; and
(d) the person made a claim under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 for a seniors health card within the period of 6 weeks beginning on the cessation day; and
(e) the person’s claim was granted and the person became the holder of a seniors health card on a day on or after 20 September 2016; and
(f) the person held that card immediately before the commencement of this item;
then:
(g) the person can become eligible for energy supplement under subsection 118P(1) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 if the person satisfies paragraphs 118P(1)(a) to (b) of that Act (despite subsection 118P(1A) of that Act); and
(h) paragraph 118P(1D)(a) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 applies as if a reference to a claim mentioned in subsection (1C) included a reference to a claim mentioned in this item.
Part 6—Telephone allowance
Social Security Act 1991
125 Subsection 17(1) (subparagraph (l)(ii) of the definition of compensation affected payment)
Omit “, other than a telephone allowance payable to the holder of a seniors health card”.
126 Subsection 1061Q(4A)
Repeal the subsection.
127 Subsection 1061SA(1) (cell at table item 10, column 2)
Repeal the cell, substitute:
| Partnered (partner getting pension or benefit) and partner getting telephone allowance at the standard rate | |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
128 Paragraphs 1061SB(2)(a) and (b)
Repeal the paragraphs.
Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
129 Subsection 48(4) (definition of telephone allowance payday)
Repeal the definition, substitute:
> telephone allowance payday means the first day on which an instalment of a social security periodic payment would normally be paid to the person on or after any of the following:
(a) 1 January;
(b) 20 March;
(c) 1 July;
(d) 20 September.
130 Subsection 48(4) (definition of working day)
Repeal the definition.
131 Application provisions
(1) The repeal of subsection 1061Q(4A) of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part applies in relation to working out if a person is qualified for a telephone allowance on a telephone allowance payday occurring on or after the commencement of this item.
(2) The amendments of sections 1061SA and 1061SB of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Part apply in relation to working out the rate of telephone allowance for a telephone allowance payday occurring on or after the commencement of this item.
Part 7—Single income family supplement
A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999
132 At the end of subsection 57G(1)
Add:
> Note: This section does not apply to certain individuals: see section 57GDA.
133 At the end of Subdivision A of Division 6 of Part 3
Add: