Explanatory note

This note is not part of the programme, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This welfare programme under the Social Security Act 1964 provides (subject to certain restrictions) for grants of special assistance called a work bonus as an incentive for specified beneficiaries who do not have work-test obligations under the Social Security Act 1964 to move into employment, or increase their hours of work, and thereby cease to receive a main benefit under the Social Security Act 1964. A work bonus payment is not payable if the benefit was suspended or not payable under the Social Security Act 1964 before it was cancelled, except where it was suspended or not payable because of-

• a sanction of suspension or reduction under section 117 of the Social Security Act 1964:
• participation of the beneficiary or his or her spouse or partner in temporary employment:
• a warrant to arrest of the beneficiary's spouse or partner.

The amount of each work bonus payment is equivalent to the unabated weekly amount of the beneficiary's specified benefit before its cancellation reduced by $100 for each subsequent week of its payment, but is nil if it reduces to less than $10. However, where a specified benefit paid at a work-test married rate was not payable or suspended because of a warrant to arrest of the beneficiary's spouse or partner, the amount payable is half that amount.

Clause 11 and the Schedule make consequential amendments to a Ministerial direction and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.