Alert: Users are advised that this site is being redesigned. This copy of the Act has not been updated since 1 January 2008. For up-to-date legislation please see the Comlaw website.
8. Income test definitions
8.(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
"approved scholarship" means a scholarship in relation to which a determination under section 24A is in force;
"available money", in relation to a person, means money that:
"deposit money", in relation to a person, means the person's money that is deposited in an account with a financial institution;
"dispose of income" has the meaning given by section 1106;
"domestic payment" has the meaning given by subsection (3);
"earned, derived or received" has the meaning given by subsection (2);
employment income, in relation to a person, means ordinary income of the person that comprises employment income under subsection (1A) and includes ordinary income that is characterised as employment income of the person because of the operation of subsection (1B).
exempt lump sum has the meaning given by subsection (11).
"home equity conversion agreement", in relation to a person, means an agreement under which the repayment of an amount paid to or on behalf of the person, or the person's partner, is secured by a mortgage of the principal home of the person or the person's partner;
Note: see also subsection (7).
"income", in relation to a person, means:
but does not include an amount that is excluded under subsection (4), (5) or (8);
Note 1: See also sections 1074 and 1075 (business income), sections 1076-1084 (deemed income from financial assets), sections 1095 to 1099DAA (income from income streams), section 1099F (exempt bond amount does not count as income) and section 1099K (refunded amount does not count as income).
Note 2: where a person or a person's partner has disposed of income, the person's income may be taken to include the amount which has been disposed of–see sections 1106-1112.
Note 3: income is equivalent to ordinary income plus maintenance income.
"income amount" means:
(whether of a capital nature or not);
"income from personal exertion" means an income amount that is earned, derived or received by a person by way of payment for personal exertion by the person but does not include an income amount received as compensation for the person's inability to earn, derive or receive income through personal exertion;
"ordinary income" means income that is not maintenance income or an exempt lump sum.
Note 1: for "maintenance income" see subsection 10(1).
Note 2: amounts received as a series of periodic compensation payments may result in reduction of the person's rate of social security pension or benefit under Part 3.14: if this happens the amounts are not counted as ordinary income (see section 1176).
Note 3: For provisions affecting the amount of a person's ordinary income see sections 1072 and 1073 (ordinary income concept), sections 1074 and 1075 (business income), sections 1076-1084 (deemed income from financial assets) and sections 1095-1099DAA (income from income streams).
student income bank means the student income bank set out:
working credit participant means a person who is a working credit participant within the meaning of section 1073D.
History
approved scholarship inserted by Act No. 115, 1991, by s.6(a);
available money inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
available money amended by Act No. 1, 1996, by s.3(1) as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
deposit money inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
employment income inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(2);
exempt lump sum inserted by Act No. 93, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 2(2);
income (Note 1) amended by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.4 as set out in Schedule 2;
income (Note 5) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.4 as set out in Schedule 2;
income (Notes 1, 2 and 3) omitted and substituted by Act No. 1, 1996, by s.3(1) as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
income (Note 4) amended by Act No. 1, 1996, by s.3(1) as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
income (Note 5) amended by Act No. 1, 1996, by s.3(1) as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
income amended by Act No 83, 1996, by s.2 as set out in Schedule 1;
income (Note 1) amended by Act No. 93, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 1(3);
income (Note 1) amended by Act No. 132, 1999, by s. 3, Schedule 2(2);
income amended by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(1);
income (Note 1) amended by Act No. 36, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 8, Part 2(15);
ordinary income (Note 3) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.4 as set out in Schedule 2;
ordinary income (Note 4) inserted by Act No. 55, 1994, by s.4 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1;
ordinary income (Note 4) amended by Act No. 174, 1994, by s.3 as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1;
ordinary income (Note 4) amended by Act No. 197, 1997, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 1(11);
ordinary income amended by Act No. 93, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 2(3);
ordinary income (Note 3) amended by Act No. 93, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 1(4);
ordinary income (Note 4) repealed by Act No. 82, 1999, by s.3, Schedule 7(5);
ordinary income (Note 3) amended by Act No. 36, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 8, Part 2(16);
ordinary income (Note 2) amended by Act No. 108, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 3(2);
student income bank inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(3);
working credit participant inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(4);
8.(1A) A reference in this Act to employment income, in relation to a person, is a reference to ordinary income of the person:
but does not include:
History
S.8(1A) inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(5);
8.(1B) For the avoidance of doubt, if:
then, for the purposes of this Act, that ordinary income is to be similarly characterised in the hands of the person.
History
S.8(1B) inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(5);
8.(1C) For the purposes of paragraph (1A)(e), a leave payment:
History
S.8(1C) inserted by Act No. 35, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 6, Part 2(5);
8.(2) Earned, derived or received
8.(2) A reference in this Act to an income amount earned, derived or received is a reference to:
8.(3) Domestic payments
8.(3) A payment received by a person is a domestic payment for the purposes of this Act if:
8.(4) Excluded amounts–home equity conversion (not member of a couple)
8.(4) If a person is not a member of a couple, an amount paid to or on behalf of the person under a home equity conversion agreement is an excluded amount for the person to the extent that the total amount owed by the person from time to time under home equity conversion agreements does not exceed $40,000.
8.(5) Excluded amounts–home equity conversion (member of a couple)
8.(5) If a person is a member of a couple, an amount paid to or on behalf of the person or the person's partner under a home equity conversion agreement is an excluded amount for the person to the extent that the total amount owed by the person and the person's partner under home equity conversion agreements from time to time does not exceed $40,000.
8.(6) Home equity conversion (amount owed)
8.(6) For the purposes of this Act, the amount owed by a person under a home equity conversion agreement is the principal amount secured by the mortgage concerned and does not include:
8.(7) Home equity conversion (principal home)
8.(7) For the purposes of the definition of "home equity conversion agreement" in subsection (1), an asset cannot be a person's principal home unless the person or the person's partner has a beneficial interest (but not necessarily the sole beneficial interest) in the asset.
8.(7A) Repealed by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(2).
History
S.8(7A) inserted by Act No. 83, 1996 by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(7A) repealed by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
8.(7B) Repealed by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(2).
History
S.8(7B) inserted by Act No. 83, 1996 by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(7B) repealed by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
8.(8) Excluded amounts–general
8.(8) The following amounts are not income for the purposes of this Act:
until the person:
(jae) a payment under the scheme determined under Schedule 4 to the Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (One‑off Payments and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007;
a payment so made;
Note: for "exempt funeral investment" see section 19E.
the pay and allowances paid to the person as such a member (other than pay and allowances in respect of continuous full‑time service);
(yd) 2007 one‑off payment to older Australians under the Veterans' Entitlements Act;
(ye) a payment under a scheme determined under Schedule 2 to the Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (One‑off Payments and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007;
Note: the rule in paragraph 8(8)(z) is reversed in Youth Allowance Rate Calculator (point 1067G‑H21), Austudy Payment Rate Calculator (point 1067L‑D15), Benefit Rate Calculator B (point 1068‑G5) and the Parenting Allowance Rate Calculator (point 1068B‑D5). Points 1067G-H21, 1067L‑D15, 1068‑G5 and 1068B‑D5 contrary intentions (see the opening words in subsection 8(1) and the definition of "income" in that subsection).
Note: for "approved scholarship" see subsection 8(1).
provided for under the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines made for the purposes of Part 2‑4 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003;
a payment received by the person either directly or indirectly from his or her partner.
Note: For 'approved exchange trading system' see subsections (9) and (10).
Note: Subsection 204(5) of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act reduces a Special Rate Disability Pension by reference to amounts of Commonwealth superannuation that the person has received or is receiving.
Note 1: For rent, see subsection 13(2).
Note 2: Under subsections 11A(8) and (9), the principal home of a person in a care situation may be a place other than the place where the person receives care.
History
S.8(8)(b) amended by Act No. 229, 1992, by s.153 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
S.8(8)(b) omitted and substituted by Act No. 230, 1992, by s.128;
S.8(8)(b)(iii) amended by Act No. 53, 1995, by s.3 as set out Schedule 7;
S.8(8)(b)(iiia) inserted by Act No. 53, 1995, by s.3 as set out Schedule 7;
S.8(8)(b) (Note 2) amended by Act No. 53, 1995, by s.3 as set out Schedule 7;
S.8(8)(b) and notes repealed by Act No. 83, 1996, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(ha) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(ja) inserted by Act No. 230, 1992, by s.5;
S.8(8)(ka) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(ma) inserted by Act No. 115, 1991, by s.6(b);
S.8(8)(r)(i) amended by Act No. 229, 1992, by s.153 as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 3;
S.8(8)(r) amended by Act No. 143, 1995, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 22;
S.8(8)(r)(i) amended by Act No. 1, 1996, by s.3(1) as set out in Schedule 5;
S.8(8)(s) omitted and substituted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(s) amended by Act No. 143, 1995, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 22;
S.8(8)(ta) inserted by Act No. 194, 1991, by s.73 as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(va) inserted by Act No. 81, 1992, by s.49;
S.8(8)(vb) inserted by Act No. 36, 1993, by s.25;
S.8(8)(w)(vi) omitted and substituted by Act No. 194, 1991, by s.73 as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 2;
S.8(8)(y)(ix) amended by Act No. 164, 1994, by s.60 as set out in Schedule 6;
S.8(8)(y)(x) omitted by Act No. 164, 1994, by s.60 as set out in Schedule 6;
S.8(8)(y)(xi) omitted by Act No. 164, 1994, by s.60 as set out in Schedule 6;
S.8(8)(z) amended by Act No. 229, 1992, by s.153 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
S.8(8)(zc) amended by Act No. 36, 1993, by s.12 as set out in Schedule 5;
S.8(8)(zca) inserted by Act No. 184, 1994, by s.9(1) as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(zf) amended by Act No. 138, 1992, by s.34;
S.8(8)(zg) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(zh) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(zi) inserted by Act No. 116, 1991, by s.3 as set out in Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(zj) inserted by Act No. 115, 1991, by s.6(c);
S.8(8)(z)(j) amended by Act No. 229, 1992, by s.153 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
S.8(8)(zk) inserted by Act No. 81, 1992, by s.49;
S.8(8) (Note) omitted by Act No. 229, 1992, by s.153 as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
S.8(8)(z) (Note) amended by Act No. 174, 1994, by s.3 as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(zl) inserted by Act No. 174, 1994, by s.4 as set out in Schedule 2;
S.8(8)(zfa) inserted by Act No. 104, 1995, by s.4 as set out Schedule 1;
S.8(8)(f) amended by Act No. 104, 1995, by s.4 as set out in Part 7 of Schedule 19;
S.8(8)(zl) inserted by Act No. 105, 1995, by s.37;
S.8(8)(b) repealed by Act No. 83, 1996, by s.3, Schedule 1(4);
S.8(8)(z) (Note) amended by Act No. 197, 1997, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 1(12);
S.8(8)(zm)(ii) amended by Act No. 197, 1997, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 1(13);
S.8(8)(zfa) amended by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 5, Part 1(3);
S.8(8)(s) amended by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 9, Part 1(10);
S.8(8)(z) (Note) amended by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 9, Part 1(11 and 12);
S.8(8)(zf) repealed and susbtituted by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 9, Part 1(13);
S.8(8)(zm)(i) amended by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 9, Part 1(14);
S.8(8)(g) amended by Act No. 13, 1999, by s.3, Schedule 2, Part 2(9);
S.8(8)(zn) inserted by Act No. 132, 1999, by s.3, Schedule 2(3);
S.8(8)(zm) repealed and substituted by Act No. 82, 1999, by s.3, Schedule 7(6);
S.8(8)(ta) repealed by Act No. 70, 2000, by s.3, Schedule 3(3);
S.8(8)(zf) repealed and substituted by Act No. 138, 2000, by s.3, Schedule 1(1);
S.8(8)(w) repealed and substituted by Act No. 10, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 2, Part 1(78);
S.8(8)(b) inserted by Act No. 42, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(3);
S.8(8)(y)(ia) inserted by Act No. 43, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(3);
S.8(8)(ya) inserted by Act No. 43, 2001, by s.3, Schedule 1(4);
S.8(8)(s) amended by Act No. 73, 2002, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
S.8(8)(y)(i) amended by Act No. 73, 2002, by s.3, Schedule 1(3);
S.8(8)(ja) (Note) repealed by Act No. 30, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 4(2);
S.8(8)(n) repealed and substituted by Act No. 122, 2003 by s.3, Schedule 1(1);
S.8(8)(p) repealed by Act No. 122, 2003 by s.3, Schedule 1(1);
S.8(8)(zja) inserted by Act No. 150, 2003, by s.3, Schedule 2, Part 7(144A);
S.8(8)(jaa) inserted by Act No. 60, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(19);
S.8(8)(jab) inserted by Act No. 60, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(19);
S.8(8)(zo), (zp), (zq) and (zr) inserted by Act No. 52, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 3(38);
S.8(8)(zjb) and (zic) inserted by Act No. 128, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1(1);
S.8(8)(y)(x) inserted by Act No. 100, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 2, Part 2(36);
S.8(8)(y)(viia) inserted by Act No. 132, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(19);
S.8(8)(y)(viib) inserted by Act No. 132, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 2, Part 2, Division 1(16);
S.8(8)(zna) inserted by Act No. 29, 2005, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 1(1);
S.8(8)(jac) inserted by Act No. 55, 2005, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(16);
S.8(8)(zia) inserted by Act No. 66, 2005, by s.3, Schedule 2(4);
S.8(8)(zs) inserted by Act No. 66, 2005, by s.3, Schedule 2(5);
S.8(8)(zca) repealed by Act No. 100, 2005, by s.3, Schedule 1(40);
S.8(8)(yb) and (yc) inserted by Act No. 41, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(15);
S.8(8)(jad) inserted by Act No. 41, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 2(17);
S.8(8)(d) repealed by Act No. 108, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 3(3);
S.8(8)(zn) (Note 2) amended by Act No. 156, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
S.8(8)(yd) inserted by Act No. 66, 2007, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(27);
S.8(8)(ye) inserted by Act No. 66, 2007, by s.3, Schedule 1, Part 2(27);
S.8(8)(jae) inserted by Act No. 66, 2007, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 2(17);
S.8(8)(ta) inserted by Act No. 114, 2007, by
S.8(8)(ma) (note) amended by Act No. 183, 2007, by s.3, Schedule 4(1);
8.(8A) For the purposes of the operation of section 5 in determining whether a person is:
this section has effect as if paragraph (8)(zf) were not included.
History
S.8(8A) inserted by Act No. 138, 2000, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
8.(8B) This subsection covers the amount of a reduction (by discount, remission or waiver) of an amount that would otherwise be payable by a person:
History
S.8(8B) inserted by Act No. 128, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
8.(8C) This subsection covers a payment:
History
S.8(8C) inserted by Act No. 128, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 1(2);
8.(9) An exchange trading system is an arrangement between a number of persons ('members') under which each member may obtain goods or services from another member for consideration that is wholly or partly in kind rather than in cash. Each member has, for the purposes of the arrangement, an account:
History
S.8(9) inserted by Act No. 105, 1995, by s.37;
8.(10) An exchange trading system is an approved exchange trading system if the Secretary is satisfied that:
History
S.8(10) inserted by Act No. 105, 1995, by s.37;
8.(11) An amount received by a person is an exempt lump sum if:
Note: Some examples of the kinds of lump sums that the Secretary may determine to be exempt lump sums include a lottery win or other windfall, a legacy or bequest, or a gift–if it is a one-off gift.
History
S.8(11) inserted by Act No. 93, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 2(4);
S.8(11)(b) amended by Act No. 45, 1998, by s.3, Schedule 3, Part 1(2);
S.8(11)(a) amended by Act No. 108, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 3(4);
8.(11A) An amount is a periodic amount if it is:
History
S.8(11A) inserted by Act No. 108, 2006, by s.3, Schedule 3(5);
8.(12) For the purposes of paragraph 8(8)(zp), the amount per fortnight that is not income for the purposes of this Act is:
![]()
where:
Special Rate Disability Pension reduction amount means the amount by which the Special Rate Disability Pension (as reduced under subsection 204(3)) is reduced under subsection 204(6) of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (but not below zero).
History
S.8(12) inserted by Act No. 52, 2004, by s.3, Schedule 3(39);