8 Administration Act Provisions

Introduction

This part provides guidance on:

• the structure and content of the Social Security Administration Act 1999,
• discretionary decision making under the Social Security Administration Act 1999, and
• certain procedural requirements for the implementation of the Social Security Administration Act 1999.

It concentrates on aspects of the Act that are directly implemented by staff in Centrelink or any other provider delivering relevant services. The Act itself is generally clear and self-explanatory and this Part explains how it operates rather than to paraphrase or summarise its provisions.

The Administration Act 1999

The Administration Act 1999 contains the 'machinery provisions' that, before it was passed, were repeated in each separate part of the Social Security Act 1991. Machinery provisions are those relating to:

• the claim process (for payments and concession cards),
• decision making and the dates on which decisions take effect,
• commencement of payment and the payment process,
• obtaining information to ensure correct payment,
• cancelling or suspending payments and concession cards,
• reviews of decisions both internally and by the SSAT and the AAT, and
• offences.

The Administration Act 1999 ensures that the rules for these things are largely standard across all payments. Payment-specific exceptions are clearly spelled out in the legislation as individual references or references to classes of payments. Individual divisions, parts and sections in the Administration Act apply to specifically defined classes of payments and concession cards.

Examples:

• Transfer and deemed claim provisions apply to income support payments (section 23(1)-'income support payment').
• Incorrect claim provisions refer to social security payments (section 23(1)-'social security payment') and to supplementary payments (1.1.S.427).
• Instalment provisions refer to 'social security periodic payment'.
• Advances in case of severe financial hardship (1.1.S.120) provisions refer to social security benefits (section 23(1)-'social security benefit') or pensions (section 23(1)-'social security pension').
• Start day rules refer to social security payment.

Key term definitions

When applying individual provisions from the Administration Act, delegates must play close attention to the words used in defining their scope. Key terms used are:

• social security payment (section 23(1)-'social security payment')
• social security benefit (section 23(1)-'social security benefit'),
• social security entitlement (section 23(1)-'social security entitlement'),
• social security pension (section 23(1)-'social security pension'),
• service pension (section 23(1)-'service pension'), and
• supplementary payment.

Explanation: These terms are generally defined in Chapter 2 of the Social Security Act 1991.

Social security law

The term 'social security law' is defined in section 3 of the Social Security Administration Act 1999. It is the basis for Centrelink letters and claim forms. The following Acts make up social security law:

• the Social Security Administration Act 1999,
• the Social Security Act 1991, and
• the Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999.

Example: Mario Tirami wants to move back to Italy when he retires . He asks about whether he can receive an Age while he is there, how he can apply and how much he will receive. The Centrelink officer will need to check ALL 3 of the Acts under social security law as follows:

• the Social Security Act 1991 will set out the eligibility criteria, rates of payment and income and assets tests for age pension, such as whether Mario is an Australian citizen, whether he is 65 years old, allowable levels of income and assets, and
• the Social Security Administration Act 1999 will set out the methods for making a new claim, the start day rules and other details about payment methods, and
• the Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999 will set out the conditions of receiving a social security payment while living in another country e.g. whether or not Australia has an agreement with that country and how much of the pension is payable overseas (depending on how long Mario has lived in Australia).

Corrections and suggested enhancements for this part should be forwarded to the Branch Manager of the Public Law Branch, FaHCSIA.

In this part

This part contains the following chapters:

8.1 Claim Lodgement

8.2 Reclaims & Transfers

8.3 Start Days

8.4 Payment Methods

8.5 Nominees

8.6 Date of Effect of Determinations

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Last reviewed: 6 March 2006