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By Stuary Sheary, Senior Technical Manager
Centrelink benefits can be impacted by compensation payments. How these payments are impacted depends on the type of compensation and how it is received. The assessment of compensation on Centrelink entitlements can be complex and will need to be examined on a case-by-case basis by Centrelink.
Most Centrelink benefits are impacted by compensation payments. Impacted entitlements include JobSeeker Payment as well as pensions like Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment. One notable payment that is not impacted by compensation is the Carer's Allowance.
In summary a compensation payment may be:
Following, we will identify common compensation payments and how they are generally assessed by Centrelink.
Where a court awards a lump sum for damages or your client settles on damages, the lump sum will ordinarily give rise to a 'preclusion period'. As the name suggests clients are 'precluded' from receiving a benefit during this period, be it a period in the future or in the past. If your client has received a Centrelink benefit for a period for which they are precluded, the benefit received may need to be repaid. If your client is serving a preclusion period, they may still be able to access the health care card or CHSC.
The formula for calculating the length of this preclusion period will vary depending on whether the amount of damages for economic loss can be identified. For example, a compensation claim contested through a court, tribunal or arbitrator will ordinarily identify the specific amount awarded for economic loss. For Centrelink purposes, economic loss includes lost wages, lost capacity to earn and lost superannuation contributions. Alternatively, an agreed lump sum through settlement will not typically identify how much relates to economic loss.
The partner of a lump sum compensation payment recipient is not subject to a preclusion period, see Social Security Guide 4.13.2.60.
Lump sum compensation for personal injury relating to non-economic loss may be assessed as ordinary income in the fortnight received but ignored for pensions see Social Security Guide 4.13.1.30.
Where damages are awarded via a court judgement, tribunal, or arbitrator, the amount awarded for economic loss may be specified. Where the amount awarded for economic loss is known, the formula for calculating the preclusion period is:
Amount awarded for economic loss ________________________________________
the single income test cut off amount
The single fortnightly income test cut-out amount is $2,115 and the weekly amount is $1,057.50 at 20 September 2021 outlined on the Department of Social Services website. The income cut-out amount that applies is the figure that applied at the time the lump sum is received.
Example
If a court judgement specified $200,000 be paid for pain and suffering and $300,000 for loss of earnings, the preclusion period is 283 weeks or a little under 5 and a half years. The period for complete weeks and is rounded down to the nearest whole week. This is calculated as follows:
$300,000 ____________
$1,057.50
This means the client will not be eligible to claim benefits such as JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension or Age Pension until after this preclusion period is over.
If the compensation is by way of settlement, the amount relating to economic loss is unlikely to be specified and the 50% rule would apply. Under the 50% rule it is assumed that half the compensation payment relates to economic loss.
Settlement amount ________________________________________
For example, if a client accepts a settlement payment of $500,000 for injuries, $250,000 will be treated as compensation for economic loss. In this instance the preclusion period will be 236 weeks or a little over 4 and a half years.
$250,000 ____________
Centrelink's compensation estimator can assist to calculate the preclusion period for compensation settlement payments.
A dollar-for-dollar reduction in the rate of Centrelink entitlements applies for workers compensation received in relation to loss of income. This assumes your client was not already receiving a Centrelink benefit at the time of the compensation event. Otherwise, it may be assessed as ordinary income.
Impact on partner of workers compensation recipient paid periodically
The partner of a workers compensation recipient may have their Centrelink entitlements reduced under the income test depending on whether the compensation recipient qualifies for a Centrelink entitlement and whether it has been reduced to nil because of the periodic compensation. For additional information, see Guide to Social Security Law 4.13.3.30.
Impact on partner where compensation recipient receives or claims a Centrelink benefit
If the compensation recipient does not qualify for a Centrelink entitlement, there is no excess and compensation is treated as ordinary income.
Some lump sums compensation payments are specifically exempted under section 8(11) of the Social Security Act from assessment. A more comprehensive list can be found in the Guide to Social Security Law - 4.3.2.35, however some of these payments include:
Invalidity lifetime pensions paid from a government defined benefit scheme such as Commonwealth Super Scheme(CSS), Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or MilitarySuper are assessed as a defined benefit income stream. These income streams may have a deductible amount reflecting the tax-free proportion of your client's pension which may reduce the amount of income assessed. The deductible amount is generally limited to a maximum of 10%. This 10% cap does not apply to Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) pensions or military super schemes. These lifetime pensions have no asset value for Centrelink purposes.
Benefits from an income protection policy are generally assessed as ordinary income. This is the case where your client has paid the policy premiums and the policy does not include a social security offset clause or if one does exist, is not invoked.
Similarly, a temporary incapacity superannuation income stream is also assessed as ordinary income. More information can be found in Social Security Guide 4.13.1.20.
A lump sum Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) payment on a policy held directly (not via super) is assessed as ordinary income and apportioned over 52 weeks. This assumes that your client has paid the policy premiums and the policy does not include a social security offset clause or if one does exist, it is not invoked.
For example, a relatively small TPD payout of $54,990 or more would translate into fortnightly income of at least $2,115 and would cut-off a single person from a Centrelink pension such as a Disability Support Pension for the maximum 52 weeks under the income test.
Lump sum withdrawals from super relating to TPD are not assessed. How these withdrawals are invested may have Centrelink implications.
Where TPD proceeds fund a super disability pension, the income stream will be subject to ordinary deeming rules and asset tested. TPD proceeds left in super (accumulation phase) are not means tested until your client has attained Age Pension age.
The assessment of compensation on Centrelink entitlements can be complex. To wrap up, the following table may help to provide a summary of the impacts of some common compensation payments on Centrelink benefits.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact the IOOF TechConnect team on 1300 650 414.
Disclaimer The information in this section of the website is intended for financial advisers only and is not to be distributed to clients. It has been prepared on behalf of Australian Executor Trustees Limited ABN 84 007 869 794 AFSL 240023, IOOF Investment Management Limited ABN 53 006 695 021 AFSL 230524, IOOF Investment Services Ltd ABN 80 007 350 405, AFSL 230703 and IOOF Ltd ABN 21 087 649 625 AFSL 230522 based on information that is believed to be accurate and reliable at the time of publication.
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