Table Nos

Explanation

1

1 April 1943 to 8 October 1969

2

9 October 1969 to 3 October 1973

3

4 October 1973 to 8 January 1986

4

9 January 1986 to 23 December 1987

5

9 January 1986 to 31 December 1992

6

RA for pensioners from 1 January 1993 to present date

Date

Note A

Additional pension children

Child's allowance

Mother's or Guardian's (1.1.G.80) allowance

RA

Note T

Wife allowance

01/04/1943

‑

26.00

Note B

‑

‑

78.00 Note C

03/07/1947

‑

26.00

Note D

‑

‑

104.00 Note E

29/06/1949

‑

46.00

‑

‑

124.80

01/11/1951

‑

59.80

‑

‑

156.00

02/10/1952

‑

59.80

‑

‑

182.00

11/10/1956

52 Note F

59.80

‑

‑

182.00

23/10/1958

52

59.80

‑

52

Note G

182.00

05/10/1961

52

78.00

‑

52

247.00

03/10/1963

78

78.00

Note H

‑

52

312.00

14/10/1965

78

Note I

78.00

Note J

208

Note K

104

Note L

312.00 Note M

10/10/1968

130

abolished

Note N

208

104

364.00

Note

Explanation

A

The dates on which the new rates were applied.

B

Child's allowances became payable to invalid pensioners in respect of one child under 16 years in their custody, care and control.

C

Wife allowance became payable to wives of invalid pensioners.

D

Child's allowance was extended to permanently incapacitated or permanently blind Age pensioners.

E

Wife allowance was extended to wives of permanently incapacitated or permanently blind Age pensioners.

F

Additional pension was introduced for each child under the age of 16 years in custody, care and control after the first.

G

RA (previously called supplementary assistance) was introduced for recipients who were paying rent (1.1.R.160) and were entirely dependent on their pensions.

H

Child's allowance was extended to include a child over 16 years until the end of the calendar year in which he or she reached 18 years, if the child was dependent on the pensioner and was receiving full-time education.

I

Additional pension for children after the first was extended to an Age pensioner with the custody, care and control of one or more children under the age of 16 years. It was also extended to cover student children to age 21 years.

J

Child's allowance was extended to an Age pensioner with the custody, care and control of one or more children under the age of 16 years. It was also extended to cover student children to age 21 years.

K

Mother's or guardian's allowance was provided as an increase in the standard rate of pension payable to an unmarried pensioner with the custody, care and control of one or more children under the age of 16 years.

L

RA - a means test was introduced under which the maximum rate was reduced by the amount by which means as assessed exceeds $52.00. Eligibility was extended to include the married pensioner whose wife receives a wife allowance.

M

Wife allowance eligibility extended to the wife of any Age pensioner with a dependent child (1.1.D.70).

N

As of 10 October 1968 child's allowance was abolished and incorporated with additional pension for children.

Date

Note A

Additional pension for children

Mother's or Guardian's (1.1.G.80) allowance

RA

Note T

Wife allowance

Child under 6 or invalid Note P

Child 6 and over

09/10/1969

130 or 182 Note O

312

208

104

364.00

07/10/1971

234

312

208

104

416.00

05/10/1972

234

312

208

208

Note Q

abolished Note R

23/03/1973

Note S

Notes

Explanation

O

Additional pension for second and subsequent children was increased to $182.00.

P

Mother's or guardian's allowance was increased to $312.00 where the pensioner had a child under 6 years of age, or an invalid child under 16 years of age requiring full-time care.

Q

With the increase in rate, provision was made to pay RA to married pensioner couples (section 9(1)-'pensioner couple'), each to receive one half of the allowance that would be payable to an unmarried pensioner.

R

As of 5 October 1972 wife allowance was abolished and replaced by WP.

S

The upper age limit of 21 years for a full-time student to attract mother's or guardian's allowance and additional pension was removed.

T

Prior to 5 September 1985 RA was known as 'supplementary assistance'.

Date

Note U

Additional pension for children

Mother's or Guardian's allowance

RA

Note EE

Child under 6 or invalid

Child 6 and over

04/10/1973

234 Note V

312

208

208 Note V

14/11/1974

286

312

208

260 Note W

01/05/1975

364

312

208

260

13/11/1975

390

312

208

260

09/11/1978

390 Note X

312

208

260

06/11/1980

520

416

312

260

11/02/1982

520

416

312

416 Note Y

04/11/1982

520

416

312

520 Note Z

03/11/1983

624

416

312

520

03/05/1984

624

416 Note AA

‑

01/11/1984

728

520

780 Note BB

21/03/1985

728

520

780 Note CC

14/11/1985

832

520

780

Note

Explanation

U

The dates on which the new rates were applied.

V

Although Age for persons over 75 years of age became free of means test, additional pension for children, mother's or guardian's allowance and RA continued to be subject to a means test.

W

The increase in the rate of RA applied on the principle that the rate would not exceed the amount of rent paid. No existing payments were reduced as a result of the adoption of this principle.

X

Payment of additional pension in respect of a dependent full-time student ceased at an upper age limit of 25 years.

Y

The maximum rate of RA (1.1.M.60) was increased to $8.00 per week (one half was paid to each member of a pensioner couple) and the rules for payment were changed. The rate of RA payable was:

• - half the amount of rent in excess of $10.00 per week to the maximum of $8.00 per week, and
• - less half income (combined income per husband and wife) apart from pension. (Entitlement ceased when income reached $16.00 per week.)

RA was not payable where the rent was paid to a State or Australian Government Housing Authority. A savings provision protected payments current at 1 February 1982.

Z

The maximum rate of RA was increased to $10.00 per week. The rate of RA payable was:

• - half the amount of rent in excess of $10.00 per week to a maximum of $10.00 per week, and
• - less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife) apart from pension. Entitlement ceased when income reached $20.00 per week.

AA

Mother's or guardian's allowance paid at uniform rate regardless of age and health of children.

BB

The maximum rate of RA increased to $15.00 per week. The rate of RA payable was:

• - half the amount of rent in excess of $10.00 per week to a maximum of $15.00 per week, and
• - less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife) apart from pension.

Entitlement ceased when income reached $30.00 per week. The savings provision which applied on 1 February 1982 still applied.

CC

From the introduction of the assets (1.1.A.290) test on 21 March 1985, persons whose rates are determined under the assets test are ineligible for RA.

Date

Note U

Additional pension for children

Mother's/ Guardian's allowance

RA

Note EE

Under 16

Student 16 and over

09/01/1986

832

728

Note DD

520

780

01/05/1986

832

728

624

780

13/11/1986

884

728

624

780

25/12/1986

884

728

624

780

Note FF

08/01/1987

884

728

624

780

09/07/1987

884

728

624

780

Note HH

Note

Explanation

DD

The lower rate of additional pension is payable for a child aged 16 years or over where the child receives payments under the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme, or where payments under the Secondary Allowances Scheme are being made in respect of the child.

EE

Prior to 5 September 1985 RA was known as 'supplementary assistance'.

FF

From 25 December 1986 the rate of RA payable as:

• - half the amount of rent in excess of $15.00 per week, to a maximum of $15.00 per week,
• - less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife) apart from pension.

GG

The range of education allowances which result in the lower rate of additional pension being payable was amended from 8 January 1987 to:

• - Austudy payment,
• - Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme, and
• - Veterans' Children Education Scheme.

HH

From 9 July 1987 RA became an increase to the basic rate of pension, rather than a separate entitlement. Also from 9 July 1987, the separate income test applying to RA was removed.

Date

Note U

Additional pension for children

Mother's/ Guardian's allowance

RA

Under 13

13-15

Student 16 and over

24/12/1987

1,144

1,456

884

624

780

22/12/1988

1,248

1,612

884

624

780

22/06/1989

1,248

1,612

884

624

780 or 1,040

06/07/1989

1,248

1,773.20

884

624

780 or 1,040

21/12/1989

1,248

1,773.20

884

624

1,040 or 1,300

04/01/1990

1,255.80

Note II

1,833

884

670.80

1,040 or 1,300

21/06/1990

1,255.80

1,833

884

670.80

1,300, 1,560 or 1,820

27/09/1990

1,255.00

1,833

884

670.80

1,560, 1,820 or 2,080

03/01/1991

1,378.00

2,009.80

884

722.80

1,560, 1,820 or 2,080

28/03/1991

1,378.00

2,009.80

884

722.80

1,612, 1,882.40 or 2,150.20 Note JJ

02/01/1992

1,424.80

2,077.40

884

746.20

1,612, 1,882.40 or 2,150.20

26/03/1992

1,424.80

2,077.40

884

746.20

1,635.40, 1,911.00 or 2,181.40

03/04/1992

1,580.80

2,233.40

884

746.20

1,635.40, 1,911.00 or 2,181.40

24/09/1992

1,580.80

2,233.40

884

746.20

1,635.40, 1,913.60 or 2,184.40

01/01/1993

Note KK

Note LL

Note MM

Note

Explanation

II

From 1 January 1990 additional pension for children apart from student children and mother's or guardian's allowance became subject to annual indexation (1.1.I.100).

JJ

From March 1991 RA became subject to twice yearly indexation (March and September).

KK

AFP replaced additional pension, allowance or benefit for children from 1 January 1993. See 5.2.4.30 Family Allowance, FAS and AFP Rates - December 1987 to June 2000.

LL

From 1 January 1993 GA is paid as an add-on to AFP and not with payment of pension, allowance or benefit. GA is payable to a person who is:

• - not a member of a couple (1.1.M.120),
• - a member of a couple whose partner has been imprisoned for at least 14 days, or
• - is a member of an illness separated couple or respite care couple, and
• - is entitled to AFP for a child or children.

MM

From 1 January 1993 RA for pensioners with children is paid as an add-on to AFP and not with payment of a pension, allowance or benefit.

Date

Note U

RA

Comment

Couple

Single

01/01/1993

1,638.00

1,638.00

Note MM

20/03/1993

1,638.20

1,747.20

Note NN

20/09/1993

1,664.00

1,768.00

20/03/1994

1,674.40

1,778.40

20/09/1994

1,695.20

1,799.20

20/03/1995

1,721,20

1,825.20

20/09/1995

1,773.20

1,882.40

20/03/1996

1,809.60

1,918.80

20/09/1996

1,830.40

1,939.60

20/03/1997

1,835.60

1,944.80

Couple

Single

Sharer

Note OO

01/07/1997

1,835.60

1,944.80

1,294.80

20/09/1997

1,835.60

1,944.80

1,294.80

20/03/1998

1,835.60

1,944.80

1,294.80

20/09/1998

1,846.00

1,955.20

1,305.20

20/03/1999

1,856.40

1,970.80

1,315.60

20/09/1999

1,861.60

1,976.00

1,318.20

20/03/2000

1,887.60

2,007.20

1,339.00

01/07/2000

2,074.80

2,210.00

1,474.20

Note PP

20/09/2000

2,111.20

2,246.40

1,497.60

20/03/2001

2,152.80

2,288.00

1,526.20

20/09/2001

2,194.40

2,329.60

1,552.20

20/03/2002

2,220.40

2,355.60

1,570.40

20/09/2002

2,256.80

2,392.00

1,594.58

20/03/2003

2,288.00

2,423.20

1,615.38

20/09/2003

2,319.20

2,454.40

1,636.18

20/03/2004

2,345.20

2,480.40

1,653.60

20/09/2004

2,376.40

2,516.80

1,677.78

20/03/2005

2,402.40

2,548.00

1,698.58

20/09/2005

2,433.60

2,579.20

1,719.38

20/03/2006

2,470.00

2,615.60

1,743.82

20/09/2006

2,532.40

2,683.20

1,788.80

20/03/2007

2,553.20

2,704.00

1,802.58

20/09/2007

2,584.40

2,740.40

1,827.02

20/03/2008

2,626.00

2,787.20

1,858.22

20/09/2008

2,698.80

2,865.20

1,910.22

20/03/2009

2,724.80

2,891.20

1,927.38

20/09/2009

2,740.40

2,906.80

1,937.78

20/03/2010

2,782.00

2,948.40

1,965.60

20/09/2010

2,823.60

2,995.20

1,996.80

20/03/2011

2,854.80

3,026.40

2,017.60

20/09/2011

2,927.60

3,104.40

2,069.60

Note

Explanation

NN

From 20 March 1993, 5 main changes to RA took effect:

• - the maximum rate of RA for single pensioners without children increased by an extra $4.00 a fortnight (this rate also applies to couples who are separated due to illness or in respite care),
• - a new structure of thresholds was introduced according to marital status and family types,
• - these thresholds are indexed twice yearly, commencing from 20 September 1993,
• - the accrual rate increased from 50 cents to 75 cents for each dollar of rent paid over the threshold (up to the maximum amount),
• - a savings provision ensured that existing pensioners (at 20 March 1993) did not receive less RA as a result of these changes.

OO

From 1 July 1997 a new, lower rate became payable to single people without dependents sharing rented accommodation with others. This is equivalent to 2/3 of the normal single, no children rate.

PP

From 1 July 2000, as part of the Government's tax reform compensation measures, the maximum rates of RA were increased by 10%.