© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This determination protects the social security benefits of former F-111 aircraft workers who receive special compensation payments.
What it does: Between 1973 and 2000, some Defence workers did dangerous "deseal/reseal" work on F-111 fuel tanks, exposing them to toxic chemicals. The government makes one-off ex gratia (goodwill) payments to these workers as compensation.
Normally, lump sum payments count as income or assets and can reduce Centrelink payments. This instrument ensures those specific compensation payments are exempt lump sums—meaning they won't affect the person's pension, allowance, or other social security benefit.
Who it affects: Anyone who:
Why it matters: It prevents victims of workplace chemical exposure from being financially penalised when they receive compensation.
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Social Security Exempt Lump Sum (F-111 Deseal/Reseal) (DEST) Determination 2005.
I, Lisa Paul, Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training, make this determination under paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Social Security Act 1991.
Dated Third August 2005.
Lisa Paul
Secretary, Department of Education, Science and Training
1 Name of determination
This determination is the Social Security Exempt Lump Sum (F‑111 Deseal/Reseal) (DEST) Determination 2005.
2 Commencement
This determination commences on the day on which it is signed.
3 Interpretation
In this determination:
Act means the Social Security Act 1991;
Ex gratia payment means a payment made to a person by the Australian Government on an ex gratia basis in recognition of exposure experienced by that person as a result of working on, or in close proximity to, F-111 deseal or reseal work, at any time between 1973 and 2000;
social security payment has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991.
Part 2 Exempt Lump Sums
(1) Paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Act provides that the Secretary may determine that an amount or class of amounts received by a person, is an exempt lump sum.
(2) If:
(a) a person has received an ex gratia payment; and
(b) the person is in receipt of a social security payment;
then any amount received by the person, as an ex gratia payment, is an exempt lump sum.
I determine than an amount received by a person referred to in subclause 4(2) is an exempt lump sum for the purposes of paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Act from the date that the amount was received.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
I, Lisa Paul, Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training, make this determination under paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Social Security Act 1991.
Dated Third August 2005.
Lisa Paul
Secretary, Department of Education, Science and Training
1 Name of determination
This determination is the Social Security Exempt Lump Sum (F‑111 Deseal/Reseal) (DEST) Determination 2005.
2 Commencement
This determination commences on the day on which it is signed.
3 Interpretation
In this determination:
Act means the Social Security Act 1991;
Ex gratia payment means a payment made to a person by the Australian Government on an ex gratia basis in recognition of exposure experienced by that person as a result of working on, or in close proximity to, F-111 deseal or reseal work, at any time between 1973 and 2000;
social security payment has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991.
Part 2 Exempt Lump Sums
(1) Paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Act provides that the Secretary may determine that an amount or class of amounts received by a person, is an exempt lump sum.
(2) If:
(a) a person has received an ex gratia payment; and
(b) the person is in receipt of a social security payment;
then any amount received by the person, as an ex gratia payment, is an exempt lump sum.
I determine than an amount received by a person referred to in subclause 4(2) is an exempt lump sum for the purposes of paragraph 8(11)(d) of the Act from the date that the amount was received.