Date

Note A

Child's Allowance & Additional pension for children

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

RA Note S

16/10/1956

52 Note B

‑

‑

28/10/1958

52

‑

52 Note C

10/10/1961

78

‑

52

08/10/1963

78 Note D

208 Note D

52

19/10/1965

78 Note E

208

104 Note F

01/10/1968

130 Note G

208

104

30/09/1969

130 or 182 Note H

208 or 312 Note I

104

12/10/1971

234

208 or 312

104

10/10/1972

234

208 or 312

208

27/03/1973

234 Note J

208 or 312

208

09/10/1973

260

208 or 312

208

05/11/1974

286

208 or 312

260 Note K

06/05/1975

364

208 or 312

260

04/11/1975

390

208 or 312

260

09/11/1978

390 Note L

208 or 312

260

08/11/1979

390

208 or 312

260

06/11/1980

520

312 or 416

260

11/02/1982

520

312 or 416

416 Note M

04/11/1982

520

312 or 416

520 Note N

03/11/1983

624

312 or 416

520

03/05/1984

624

416 Note O

520

01/11/1984

728

520

780 Note P

21/03/1985

728

520

780 Note Q

14/11/1985

832

520

780

09/01/1986

832 or 728 Note S

520

780

01/05/1986

832 or 728

624

780

13/11/1986

884 or 728

624

780

25/12/1986

884 or 728

624

780 Note R

08/01/1987

884 or 728 Note T

624

780

09/07/1987

884 or 728

624

780 Note U

24/12/1987

1,456, 1,144 or 884 Note V

624

780

22/12/1988

1,612, 1,248 or 884 Note W

624

780

22/06/1989

1,612, 1,248 or 884

624

780 or

1,040

Note X Note Y

06/07/1989

1,773.20, 1,248 or 884

Note Z

624

780 or

1,040

21/12/1989

1,773.20, 1,248 or 884

624

1,040 or

1,300

01/01/1990

1,833.00, 1,255.80 or 884

Note AA

670.80

Note AA

1,040 or

1,300

26/04/1990

1,833.00, 1,255.80 or 884

670.80

1,040 or

1,300

27/09/1990

1,833.80, 1,255.80 or 884

‑

1,560,

1,820 or

2,080 Note BB

03/01/1991

2,009.80, 1,378.80 or 884

‑

1,560 or

1,820 or

2,080 Note CC

28/03/1991

2,009.80, 1,378.80 or 884

‑

1,612 or

1,820.40 or

2,254.20 Note DD

02/01/1992

2,077.40, 1,424.80 or 884

746.20

1,612 or

1 820.40 or 2,254.20 Note DD

26/03/1992

2,077.40, 1,424.80 or 884

746.20

1,635.40,

1,911 or 2,181.40

03/04/1992

2,233.40, 1,580.80 or 884

746.20

1,635.40,

1,911, or 2,181.40

24/09/1992

2,233.40, 1,580.80 or 884

746.20

1,635.40,

1,911.60 or 2,184.00

01/01/1993

No longer payable Note EE

Note

Explanation

A

The dates on which the new rates applied.

B

Additional pension was introduced for second and subsequent children of 16 years of age or under, in the widow's custody, care and control.

C

RA was introduced for recipients paying rent (1.1.R.160) and entirely dependent upon pension.

D

Child's allowance for the first child introduced, equal to the rate of additional pension for subsequent children. Additional pension for subsequent children was made payable up to end of year (31 December) in which the student child attained the age of 18 years. Mother's allowance/GA introduced.

E

Student child - age limit raised to 21 years.

F

RA - a means test was introduced. The maximum rate was reduced by the amount by which means as assessed exceeds $52.00.

G

Child's allowance was abolished and additional pension for children substituted thus placing payments for all children of a recipient on the same basis.

H

Additional pension for each child after the first increased to $182.00 per annum.

I

Mother's allowance or GA increased from $208.00 per annum to $312.00 per annum where the recipient has a child under 6 years of age or an invalid child under 16 years of age requiring full-time care.

J

The previous upper limit of 21 years for a full-time student to be classified as a qualifying child and to attract mother's allowance or GA and additional pension was removed.

K

The increase applied subject to the principle that for payment of RA approved on or after 1 November 1974 the rate was not to exceed the amount of rent paid. No existing payment was to be reduced as a result of the adoption of this principle (savings provision).

L

Additional pension for student children ceased at age 25 years.

M

The maximum rate of RA (1.1.M.60) increased to $8.00 per week (one half was paid to each recipient member of a pensioner couple (section 9(1)-'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,
• - 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 where rent was paid to a State or Australian Government Housing Authority. A savings provision protected payments current at 1 February 1982.

N

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,
• - less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife), apart from pension. Entitlement ceased when income reached $20.00 per week.

O

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

P

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,
• - 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.

Q

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

R

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

S

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,
• - less half the income (combined income for a husband and wife) apart from pension.

T

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

• -Austudy,
• -AIC Scheme, and
• -VCES.

U

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.

V

From 24 December 1987 rates increased to:

• - $1,456 per annum for children aged 13, 14 or 15 years,
• - $1,144 per annum for children under 13 years,
• - $884.00 per annum for student children aged 16 to 24 years not on AUSTUDY and not receiving or attracting payment of a Commonwealth pension, benefit or allowance (unchanged).

W

From 22 December 1988 rates for dependent children (1.1.D.70) increased to:

• - $1,612 per annum for children aged 13, 14 or 15 years,
• - $1,248 per annum for children under 13 years,
• - $884.00 per annum for student children aged 16 to 24 years not on AUSTUDY and not receiving or attracting payment of a Commonwealth pension, benefit or allowance (unchanged).

X

In March 1989 supporting parent's benefit and class A widow's pension were amalgamated under the new title of SPP.

Y

From 22 June 1989, RA for recipients with dependent children increased by $5.00 per week to $20.00 per week.

Z

From 6 July 1989 the rate of additional pension for 13 to 15 year olds increased to $34.10 per week, $1,773.20 per annum.

AA

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

BB

From 26 June 1990 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.

CC

From 26 September 1990 rates of RA increased by $5.00 per week.

DD

From 20 March 1991 RA became subject to twice yearly indexation (March and September).

EE

From 1 January 1993, Additional pension for child, GA and RA became part of AFP.