Board
MSD must check whether the client qualifies for Accommodation Supplement in respect of their accommodation costs.
If the client qualifies for Accommodation Supplement it must be granted before Temporary Additional Support can be paid for these costs.
If the client has a deficiency of income based on other allowable costs, they can get Temporary Additional Support. However, the accommodation costs must not be included until the Accommodation Supplement has been granted.
Board may still be included in Temporary Additional Support if the client does not qualify for Accommodation Supplement.
Board is an arrangement where a person pays a set amount that includes the cost of residing at the premises along with food and may include other costs such as power, water, and internet. When a person pays board, 62% of their total payment is considered to be their accommodation cost (except arrears).
A person is considered to be a boarder when they are:
- making payments for their accommodation and food for residing at the premises and
- the accommodation costs can't be separately identified as part of the amount they pay
or
- living in a commercial boarding house and the amount they pay for residing at the premises includes accommodation and food costs.
Additional occupant living in a social housing property
Additional occupants may pay a contribution towards accommodation costs while living in the social housing property.
The contribution amount may include food and sometimes other costs. Whether it includes food (and/or other costs) or not, only 62% of the contribution can be considered as their allowable accommodation cost. This means they are treated the same as a boarder.
Joint tenants with shared food costs
Sometimes joint tenants, for example flatmates, will contribute money to cover shared costs. This could include cleaning suppliers, groceries, and service costs (e.g. power and internet).
When these costs are shared among all tenants, this is not board.
Note a client does not have to have their name on a tenancy agreement to be considered renting.
For more information see:
Accommodation costs include service costs and water rates
Accommodation costs can sometimes include service costs and water rates. For boarders, these costs are not separated out from the amount they pay for their accommodation and 62% of their total payment will be their accommodation costs.
For more information see:
Legislation
- accommodation costs (definition) section 65AAA Social Security Act 2018
- Allowable costs regulation 71(3)(a) Social Security Regulations 2018
