Social Services Act (No. 3) 1973

Other changes in the Act

Beyond creating the Supporting Mothers' Benefit, the Act makes a number of technical "housekeeping" changes across the existing legislation to make sure the new benefit fits consistently alongside existing payments. These include:

• Widows' pensions (Part IV): Clarifying which children count for the purposes of qualifying, and updating notification requirements when a child's circumstances change (e.g., leaving school or becoming financially independent)
• Funeral benefits: Extending eligibility to include supporting mothers
• Special benefits: Excluding supporting mothers (since they now have their own payment)
• Sheltered employment allowances: Updating cross-references to include the new benefit
• Vocational training: Extending training support available to widows so it also covers supporting mothers
• Modification of other laws: Ensuring other legislation that references Part III or Part IV pensions now also captures the new Supporting Mothers' Benefit
• Training payments and book allowances: Minor technical tweaks, including removing a previous $80 cap on the provision of books and materials for training

Who does this affect?

This law primarily affects single mothers — particularly those who are separated, deserted, or in a de facto relationship that has ended — who were previously unable to access a widow's pension (which was limited to women whose husbands had died, divorced them, or been imprisoned). It opened up financial support to a much broader group of vulnerable women raising children alone.

It also affects government administrators (who must apply the new rules) and other benefit recipients whose eligibility rules are cross-referenced and updated.