Date

Note A

Permissible income

Limit of property

Property exemption

RA

Note B

27/07/1942

65

800 Note C

100

-

13/08/1946

104

1,300

100

-

26/10/1948

156

1,500

200

-

06/11/1951

156

2,000

200

-

05/11/1953

208

2,500

300

-

19/10/1954

364

3,500

400

-

28/10/1958

364

4,500

400

52 Note D

A

Dates on which the rates applied.

B

Before 5 September 1985 RA was known as 'supplementary assistance'.

C

No pension was payable if income or property exceeded the limits.

D

RA of $52.00 per year was paid to pensioners paying rent (1.1.R.160) and entirely dependent upon pension.

Date Note E

Means as assessed

Property exemption

RA

Note F

14/03/1961

364 Note G

400

52

19/10/1965

364

400

104 Note H

2/05/1967

520

400

104

30/09/1969

520 Note I

400

104

10/10/1972

1,040

400

208

5/11/1974

1 040

400

260 Note J

25/11/1976

1,040

abolished

Note K

260

11/02/1982

1,040

‑

416 Note L

4/11/1982

1,560

‑

520 Note M

1/11/1984

1,560

‑

780 Note N

E

Dates on which the rates applied.

F

Before 5 September 1985 RA was known as 'supplementary assistance'.

G

The merged means test was introduced. Maximum pension was reduced by amount by which 'means as assessed' (income plus property component) exceeds $364.00. The fixed disqualifying limit of property was abolished.

H

RA - means test was introduced under which the maximum rate was reduced by the amount by which means as assessed exceeded $52.00.

I

A tapered means test was introduced. Maximum rate of pension was reduced by half of the amount by which means as assessed exceeded permissible means as assessed.

J

The increase was applied subject to the principle that the rate did not exceed the amount of rent paid. No existing payment was reduced as a result of adopting this principle.

K

The property test was abolished. The means test became an income test only with property excluded. However, income from property was included as income.

L

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

- half the amount of rent in excess of $10.00 per week to the maximum of $8.00 per week, and

- less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife) apart from pension. Entitlement ceased when income reached $16.00 per week.

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

M

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 the 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.

N

The maximum rate of RA was 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 ceases when income reaches $30.00 per week.

The savings provision which applied on 1 February 1982 still applied.

Date

Note O

Permissible

income

Allowable assets

RA

Note P

homeowner

non-home-owner

21/03/1985

1,560

70,000 Note Q

120,000

780

1/05/1986

1,560

75,750

129,750

780

25/12/1986

1,560

75,750

129,750

780 Note R

25/06/1987

1,560

83,250

143,250

780

9/07/1987

2,080

83,250

143,250

780

23/06/1988

2,080

89,250

153,250

780

22/06/1989

2,080

96,000

164,500

780 or 1,040

Note S

21/12/1989

2,080

96,000

164,500

1,040 or 1,300

26/04/1990

2,080

96,000

164,500

1,040 or 1,300

21/06/1990

2,080

103,500

177,500

1,300, 1,560 or 1,820 Note T

27/09/1990

2,080

103,500

177,500

1,560, 1,820 or 2,080

28/03/1991

2,080

103,500

177,500

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

1/07/1991

2,184

110,750

190,250

1,612, 1,882.40 or 2,150.20

26/03/1992

2,184

110,750

190,250

1,635.40, 1,911 or 2,181.40

1/07/1992

2,236

112,500

193,000

1,635.40, 1,911 or 2,181.40

24/09/1992

2,236

112,500

193,000

1,638, 1,913.60 or 2,184

1/07/1993

2,288

112,750

193,250

1,747.20, 1,918.80 or 2,189.20

1/07/1994

2,340

115,000

197,000

1,778.40, 1,955.20 or 2,230.80

1/07/1995

2,444

118,000

202,000

1,825.20, 2,002.00 or 2,288.00

1/07/1996

2,548

124,000

212,500

1,918.80, 2,236.00 or 2,532.40

1/07/1997

2,600

125,750

215,750

1/07/1998

2,600

125,750

215,750

1/07/1999

2,652

127,750

219,250

1/07/2000

2,756

133,250

228,750

1/07/2001

2,912

141,000

242,000

1/07/2002

3,016

145,250

249,750

1/07/2003

3,120

149,500

257,500

1/07/2004

3,172

153,000

263,500

1/07/2005

3,224

157,000

270,500

1/07/2006

3,328

161,500

278,500

1/07/2007

3,432

166,750

287,750

1/07/2008

3,588

171,750

296,250

1/07/2009

3,692

178,000

307,000

1/07/2010

3,796

181,750

313,250

1/07/2011

3,900

186,750

321,750

O

Dates on which the rates applied.

P

Before 5 September 1985 RA was known as 'supplementary assistance'.

Q

Assets test introduced on 21 March 1985. Non-homeowners were allowed extra assets. The assets test only applied if it produced a lesser rate. Recipients whose rates were determined under the assets test were ineligible for RA.

R

From 25 December 1986 the rate of RA payable was:

- half the amount of rent in excess of $15.00 per week to a maximum of $15.00 per week; and

- less half the income (combined income for husband and wife) apart from pension. Entitlement ceased when income reached $30.00 per week.

S

From 22 June 1989 the maximum rate of RA for recipients with dependent children increased by $5.00 per week to $20.00 per week.

T

From 26 June 1989 the rates of RA increased by $5.00 per week plus an additional increase of $5.00 per week for recipients with 3 or more children.

U

From March 1991 RA became subject to twice yearly indexation.