Contents
Supported Living Payment : Contents

Charging income

Clients getting Supported Living Payment have a part-time income test, and income may be charged annually or weekly.

Information share Child Support payments

Information share Child Support payments are treated differently as they are automatically charged forward as income for a period of 4 or 5 weeks.

For more information see:

Annual income charge

A client (and partner, if any) who has income charged annually can get up to $8,320 per year (as at 1 April 2022) before their income will affect their benefit.

For clients who get over $8,320:

  • income between $8,320 and $13,000 per year reduces their benefit by 30 cents for each $1.00 of income
  • income over $13,000 per year reduces their benefit by 70 cents for every $1.00 of income

Weekly income charge

A client (and partner, if any) who has income charged weekly can receive up to $160 per week (as at 1 April 2022) before their income will affect their benefit.

For clients who receive over $160 per week:

  • income between $160 and $250 per week their benefit is reduced by 30 cents for each $1.00 of income
  • income over $250 per week their benefit is reduced by 70 cents for every $1.00 of income

Charging income for couples

Charging income for a married, civil union or de facto couple against Supported Living Payment (caring for a person) is calculated differently to other benefits. See:

Income exemptions

There are also specific income exemptions that apply to Supported Living Payment clients.

Clients getting Supported Living Payment can get the following income exemption:

Clients getting Supported Living Payment on ground of health condition, injury, disability or total blindness can also get:

Note clients who are totally blind may be able to get a Blind client's subsidy

Income from Overseas Pensions

Income from overseas pensions is generally treated as a direct deduction from the benefit rate and this has a separate calculation to charging other types of income.

For more information see:

For further details on what is income and how to charge it see:

Also see:

Legislation

  • Rates of benefits: Supported living payment schedule 4, part 3 Social Security Act 2018
  • Income (definition) schedule 2 Social Security Act 2018
  • Effect of sanctions on rate of benefit section 245-247 Social Security Act 2018
  • Special exemption for severe disablement schedule 8, part 25 Social Security Regulations 2018
Top