List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Ministerial Direction on Redirection of Benefit Payments
-- as at 2 March 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the direction, starting with the most recent.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (Contributions from Boarders) 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 2 March 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 2 March 2026, amends three Ministerial directions and three Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the amendments made through the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Act 2025 (the Amendment Act). The Ministerial directions and Ministerial welfare programmes that are being amended are set out in Schedules 1 and 2 of this Instrument. The changes are necessary as the Amendment Act repeals sections 65(2) and 66(3) of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act), which define "accommodation costs" and "premises" respectively. Where relevant, references to "accommodation costs" or "weekly accommodation costs" have been replaced by "weekly qualifying accommodation costs" in order to be consistent with the changes made by the Amendment Act. Definitions of "premises" have also been updated in response to the changes in the Amendment Act. These amendments ensure that these Ministerial directions and welfare programmes continue to operate as intended following the changes made by the Amendment Act. The amendments also make minor editorial corrections. |
Ministerial Direction on Welfare Programmes (Emergency Housing) 2024 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 August 2024 | This welfare programme, established under section 101 of the Social Security Act 2018, which comes into force on 26 August 2024, provides for assistance for emergency housing for eligible applicants, that was formerly provided under the Special Needs Grants Programme. The welfare programme provides assistance for emergency housing that was provided under the Special Needs Grants Programme and makes the following changes:
The responsibility framework provides for responsibilities that an applicant must comply with to continue receiving grants for emergency housing from their 8th night in emergency housing for the same emergency housing event. The framework also sets out the consequences for not complying with those responsibilities, including imposing a non-entitlement period, and when grants can be made to applicants during that non-entitlement period. |
Ministerial Direction on Redirection of Benefit Payments Amendment 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 30 March 2020 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 23 February 2020, amends the Ministerial Direction on Redirection of Benefit Payments to create a presumption that there is good cause to redirect a person's benefit in order to ensure they meet their commitments for receiving an emergency housing grant under the Special Needs Grants Programme. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 November 2018 | This instrument, which is made under sections 7 and 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) and regulations 90 and 211 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 and comes into force on 26 November 2018, amends the Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (and saved by Schedule 1 of the Act) that are listed in the Schedule of this instrument in the manner set out in that Schedule. The amendments update references to provisions of the Social Security Act 1964 to equivalent provisions of the Act or the Social Security Regulations 2018 and for changes of language in the Act. It also revokes a spent direction and welfare programme. |
