Clause 7. Advances for Particular Needs

7

Advances for Particular Needs

7.1

Essential Home Repairs

7.1.1

You may, subject to the provisions of this direction, make an Advance to any Beneficiary for the following Particular Immediate Need:

(a)

to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to the Beneficiary's home, or to the paths, fences, or retaining walls of, the property on which that home is located; or

(b)

to provide essential services to the Beneficiary's home such as sewerage, water, or electricity connection.

7.1.2

No Advance under clause 7.1.1 may be made unless-

(a)

the Beneficiary provides proof of his or her ownership (or joint ownership) and occupation of the property to which the Advance is to be applied;

(b)

the work to be done is essential in order to maintain the property in a reasonable living standard; and

(c)

the Beneficiary shows proof that he or she has unsuccessfully applied for financial assistance for the purpose from any other agencies that provide assistance to Beneficiaries for such purposes.

7.1.3

An Advance under clause 7.1.1 should not exceed an amount of $1,000.

Consolidation notes

Note discretion in exceptional circumstances in clause 6.2

Consolidation notes

7.2

Safety Footwear

7.2.1

You may, subject to this direction, make an Advance to a Work-tested Beneficiary who-

(a)

is undertaking, pursuant to section 146(1)(d) of the Act or section 324 of the Act, any activity of a kind referred to in section 146(1)(d) of the Act or activity in the community that involves undertaking work; and

(b)

is, for the Beneficiary's safety while participating in that activity, required by the provider of the work to wear safety footwear not supplied by that provider, and

(c)

does not already own suitable safety footwear, and

(d)

could not participate in the activity without purchasing safety footwear.

7.2.2

A Beneficiary may not be refused an Advance under clause 7.2.1 by reason only of the matters set out in clause 3(b) or (c).

7.2.3

An Advance under clause 7.2.1 should not exceed $130.

Consolidation notes

Note discretion in exceptional circumstances in clause 6.2.

Consolidation notes

7.2.4

Where the Beneficiary receives a Participation Allowance for participating in the activity, an Advance under clause 7.2.1 should be recovered at the rate of not less than $5 a week.

Consolidation notes

Note discretion in exceptional circumstances in clause 6.2.

Consolidation notes

7.2.5

(revoked)

7.3

Travel for stranded beneficiaries

7.3.1

For the purpose of enabling the beneficiary to return to his or her usual place of residence, the chief executive may make an advance of not more than $200 for travel to a beneficiary who is,-

(a)

stranded away from his or her usual place of residence; and

(b)

unable to pay for that travel due to circumstances which could not reasonably be foreseen

7.3.2

If any of the beneficiary's spouse or partner or dependent children (a dependant) is, together with the beneficiary, also in the circumstances set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) of clause 7.3.1, the amount of an advance under that clause may be increased by not more than $200 for each such dependant in those circumstances.