Formula for Temporary Additional Support
From 1 July 2021, the formula to calculate the weekly rate of Temporary Additional Support is as follows:
Step 1 - Calculate client's disposable income
Calculate the disposable income of the client and their partner (if any):
Weekly chargeable income | |
Less | Weekly allowable costs |
Equals | Disposable income |
Step 2 - Calculate client's deficiency (or surplus) in their disposable income
Calculate whether there is a deficiency or surplus in the disposable income of the client and their partner, (if any):
Less | Disposable income (from step 1) |
Equals | Deficiency (positive amount) or |
A client does not qualify for Temporary Additional Support if:
- there is a surplus or
- the deficiency is less than $1.00
If the client has a deficiency of $1.00 or more in their disposable income, they qualify for Temporary Additional Support. Go to Step 3 below.
Step 3 - Compare deficiency to upper limit of Temporary Additional Support to find lesser amount
Calculate the client's upper limit for Temporary Additional Support then compare this amount to the deficiency.
30% of the full net rate of main benefit payable to the client and their partner (if any) or for non-beneficiaries 30% of the appropriate net rate of Jobseeker Support for the client and their partner, if any (except for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants) | |
Deficiency | from step 2 |
Compare the above | The rate of Temporary Additional Support is the lesser of the deficiency or the upper limit unless the client qualifies for a disability exception amount |
If the deficiency is less than the upper limit, the rate of payment for Temporary Additional Support is the deficiency. The client will not qualify for the disability exception amount.
If the client qualifies for a disability exception amount, go to Step 4 below.
Step 4 - Calculate the disability exception amount (only if client qualifies)
Determine if the client qualifies for a disability exception amount. The client qualifies for a disability exception amount if the client's deficiency is greater than the upper limit and they or their family have excess disability costs.
Step 4(a) - Calculate the excess disability costs total
If the client qualifies for a disability exception amount, calculate the excess disability costs total. This is the total amount of excess disability costs of the client and their family.
Total all of the Disability Allowance costs for each family member (including any child for whom Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit is paid) who has costs that exceed the maximum amount of Disability Allowance paid | $0.00 |
Less the maximum rate of Disability Allowance paid for each family member (including any child for whom Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit is paid) who is getting the maximum amount of Disability Allowance | $ |
$ |
Note the excess disability costs total must not include any costs for counselling (including the costs of transport to attend counselling) that are above the maximum rate of Disability Allowance.
Step 4(b) - Calculate the excess total costs
A client's excess total costs are the client and their partner's (if any) deficiency in their disposable income minus the upper limit of Temporary Additional Support. 'Excess total costs' are the costs that are not already covered by the upper limit of Temporary Additional Support.
Deficiency | $0.00 |
Less the upper limit of Temporary Additional Support | $ |
Excess total costs | $ |
Step 4(c) - Calculate applicable excess costs
Now find the client's applicable excess costs to determine what amount to use to calculate the disability exception amount.
A client's applicable excess costs is the lesser amount of their:
- excess disability costs total and
- excess total costs
Excess disability costs total | $0.00 (A) |
Excess total costs | $0.00 (B) |
Applicable excess costs | Lesser amount of (A) and (B) |
Step 4(d) - Calculate the disability exception amount using the client's applicable excess costs
The disability exception amount provides a full subsidy for a client's applicable excess costs amount of up to $100. If the client has any applicable excess costs remaining after the full subsidy has been applied, these are subsidised at 30% of the remaining applicable excess costs amount.
Applicable excess costs amount will be fully subsidised up to $100 | Up to $100 (C) |
Find 30% of remaining balance of applicable excess costs not covered above (if any) | 30% x remaining applicable excess (D) |
Disability exception amount | Add (C) and (D) together |
Step 5 - Calculate the rate of Temporary Additional Support
Calculate the rate of Temporary Additional Support.
Upper limit (from step 3) | $0.00 |
Plus disability exception amount (from step 4(d)) | $ |
Equals rate of Temporary Additional Support | $ |
Before 1 July 2021 - Formula for Temporary Additional Support
On 1 July 2021, changes were made to the way the disability exception amount is calculated under the formula for Temporary Additional Support.
When a client qualifies for the disability exception amount for a period before 1 July 2021, you will need to assess the client's Temporary Additional Support for that period using the formula for Temporary Additional Support that applied before 1 July 2021.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Prescribed amount of support: general weekly rate regulation 62 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Variation of upper limit for persons awaiting decision on refugee or protected person claims, refugees and protected persons, and certain applicants for residence class visas regulation 63 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Disability exception amount regulation 64 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Prescribed amount of support: exceptions regulation 66(1)(b) Social Security Regulations 2018
