3.2.1.50 Supplementary Benefits & Employment Assistance for NSA Recipients

Other Departmental benefits

NSA recipients are automatically issued with a HCC when NSA is granted. The HCC is also automatically renewed at the prescribed intervals.

NSA recipients can retain their HCC for 6 months after NSA ceases if:

• they have been receiving income support for 12 months, AND
• their payment ceases because of income from employment received by the recipient or their partner.

NSA recipients MAY also qualify for the following assistance, if they meet the relevant qualification criteria:

• rent assistance,
• pharmaceutical allowance,
• education entry payments,
• telephone allowance,
• crisis payment,
• remote area allowance,
• CDEP participant supplement (CPS),
• bereavement payments,
• health care card, or
• PCC in restricted circumstances (see explanation).

Explanation: A NSA recipient receives a PCC where they are 60 years of age or more and have been receiving income support for the preceding 9 months.

No separate claim is required for this range of assistance, although various forms of proof may be required.

Note: NSA recipients transferring to YA and/or Austudy are entitled to EdEP if all criteria are met.

Act reference: SSAct section 1061ZK(5) HCC qualification for health care card, section 1061ZA(2)(b) PCC qualification for, and issue of, pensioner concession card

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.8.1 RA - Qualification & Payability, 3.8.2 PhA - Qualification & Payability, 3.8.6 EdEP - Qualification & Payability, 3.8.7 TAL - Qualification & Payability, 3.8.8 RAA - Qualification & Payability, 3.8.9 FAA - Qualification & Payability, 3.9.1 HCC - Qualification Provisions, 3.9.2 PCC - Qualification Provisions, 3.7.4 CrP - Qualification & Payability, 3.1.5 Bereavement Payment Provisions

Employment incentives

NSA recipients may receive the following incentives to take up a job:

• access to working credits,
• payment of certain supplementary benefits during the employment income nil rate period,
• continued use of their HCC or PCC for a certain period,
• have their payment resumed during the employment income nil rate period if they report a fall in income sufficient for NSA to be payable again.

Act reference: SSAct section 23(4A) Despite subsection (4)…, section 23(4AA) For the purposes of subsection (4A)…, section 1073J Working credit balance prevents loss of qualification in certain cases, section 1061ZEA Further extended qualification rule: loss of payment because of employment income, section 1061ZMA Further extended qualification rule: loss payment because of employment income

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.11 Working Credit, 3.1.12 Employment Income Nil Rate Period, 3.9.1.10 Qualification for HCC - Automatic Issue, 3.9.2.30 PCC due to Employment

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Last reviewed: 20 March 2009