Damian Hearn
News

20 September 2009 Centrelink changes: a positive outcome for the moment

By Damian Hearn

As announced within the May 2009 Federal Budget multiple changes to the Age Pension have come into effect from 20 September 2009. As you would already know, on the whole both couples and single age pensioners will be better off but the increase in the income test taper rate will be a cause for concern into the future.

In this article we highlight some of the changes and how this can benefit your clients.

Increased Age Pension payments for singles only

From 20 September 2009, a single full rate pensioner will receive an increase in age pension of between $20.20 p.f. and $65 p.f. On the other hand, full and part rate couple pensioners will receive an increase in age pension of $20.30 regardless of their income and assets.

The increase in the single full rate of pension means it will become 66% of the combined couple rate of pension whilst the single base pension rate increases from 25% to 27.7% of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). Overall, this means the combined couple benchmark will be 41.76% of the annualised MTAWE.

New Pension Supplement

A new Pension Supplement will also be paid from 20 September 2009 as shown in table 1.

Table 1 – New Pension Supplement post 20 September 2009

Single
New Pension Supplement p.f
Full Rate
$56.10
Minimum
$30.20
 
Couple (Combined)
Full Rate
$84.60
Minimum
$45.60

The new pension supplement has consolidated the GST pension supplement, pharmaceutical allowance, utilities allowance and telephone allowance. The new pension supplement is means tested and a minimum pension supplement will apply if single or couples receive at least $1 of age pension (as shown above in table 1).

The final separate utilities allowance and telephone allowance payments would have been made based on your client’s eligibility as at 20 September 2009. Utilities allowance and telephone allowance are paid in arrears and during September 2009 your clients would have received both of the last payments of utilities allowance and telephone allowance and the first instalment of the pension supplement.

Further changes will also apply from 1 July 2010, clients can choose to receive pension supplement quarterly by making an election. The pension supplement will be paid in two portions:

  • quarterly payment of minimum pension supplement; and
  • remainder pension supplement in p.f. payments.

New Income Test Taper Rate

From 20 September 2009, a new income test taper rate will apply as shown in table 2.

Table 2 – Increased income test taper rates

 
Current
New
Single
40 cents
50 cents
Couples
20 cents
25 cents

The changes to the income test taper rate can be separated into two distinct categories:

  • Category 1 - Clients who apply for the age pension after 20 September 2009 will be assessed under the new income test taper rates when determining their age pension entitlement under the income test.
  • Category 2 - Existing clients who are income tested at 20 September 2009, any loss in age pension due to the increased taper rate will ensure they will retain the current income test taper rate (i.e. transitional rules).

Putting it all together: How have these changes impacted my client?

A question that exists is whether or not your client(s) receiving the age pension at 20 September 2009 will maintain the transitional or new rules. The answer to this question depends upon whether or not your clients are:

  • existing age pensioner at 20 September 2009; and
  • income or assets tested.

The transitional income test rules will only apply to a pensioner (single and couple) while their age pension is higher than the age pension they would otherwise receive under the new post 20 September 2009 income test taper rate calculation. Once the pensioner’s entitlement is the same or higher under the new rules, the client will be calculated according to the new income test taper rate permanently.

To determine how your client(s) have been impacted, the following should be applied:

Couple Pensioners

  • New pension recipients from 20 September 2009 who are:
    • Assets tested will receive the new pension supplement of $84.60 p.f. (combined).
    • Income tested will be subjected to the new income test taper rate and will receive the new pension supplement of $84.60 p.f. (combined).
  • Existing pension recipients prior to 20 September 2009 who are:
    • Assets tested will receive the new pension supplement of $84.60 p.f. (combined).
    • Income tested and will NOT be worse off under the new income test taper rate will receive the new pension supplement of $84.60 p.f. (combined).
    • Income tested and will be WORSE OFF under the new income test taper rate will remain on the current income test taper rate (i.e. transitional rules). If clients retain transitional rules, they will retain current supplements and allowances plus an additional amount of $20.30 p.f. (combined).

Single Pensioners

  • New pension recipients from 20 September 2009 who are:
    • Assets tested will receive the increased maximum age pension of $671.90 p.f. including the new pension supplement of $56.10 p.f.
    • Income tested will be subjected to the new income test taper rate and will receive the increased maximum age pension of $671.90 p.f. including the new pension supplement of $56.10 p.f.
  • Existing pension recipients prior to 20 September 2009 who are:
    • Assets tested would have received an increase maximum age pension of $671.90 p.f. including the new pension supplement of $56.10 p.f.
    • Income tested and will NOT be worse off under the new income test taper rate will receive the increased maximum age pension of $671.90 p.f. including the new pension supplement of $56.10 p.f.
    • Income tested and will be WORSE OFF under the new income test taper rate will remain on the current income test taper rate (i.e. transitional rules). If the client retains transitional rules, they will retain current supplements and allowances plus an additional amount of $20.20 p.f.

Important:

  • The single age pension recipient base rate increase and the new pension supplement for both singles and couples are based on full rate entitlement for the age pension.
  • No increase will be available in full rate couple age pension.

Summary

The changes appear to be beneficial to your clients and in next month's edition of @dviser magazine we will investigate how these changes will impact your clients when asset values and deeming rates increase in the future. Will your clients especially your single age pensioners be worse off?