Division Description Changes — Bills — Social Services Legislation Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Bill 2015; Second Reading — 18th Jun 2015

Change	Division
representatives vote 2015-06-18#2 Edited by mackay staff on 2016-06-02 15:46:41	Title Bills — Social Services Legislation Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Bill 2015; Second Reading Social Services Legislation Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Bill 2015 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea Description ~~<p class="motion-notice motion-notice-notext">No motion text available</p>~~ The majority agreed with the bill's main idea. In parliamentary jargon, they voted in favour of reading the bill for a [second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). This means that they can now discuss the bill in more detail. ### What is the bill's main idea? The bill (as amended) makes changes to the assets test for all means tested income support payments, including allowances and pensions. Firstly, it increases the threshold above which your assests are tested (known as "free areas") for the purposes of support payments. In other words, people on allowances or full pensions can have more assets than they currently can before those assets are included in their means testing - but not that much more. See the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd129) for the asset test limits. People on allowances whose assets are above the free areas will no longer be eligible for that allowance while pensioners whose assets are above the free areas will have their pensions reduced at an increased rate. If someone is no longer eligible for a payment as a result of the changes, the bill makes them eligible for a concession card (either a Health Care Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card). Read more in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd129).

~~<p class="motion-notice motion-notice-notext">No motion text available</p>~~
The majority agreed with the bill's main idea. In parliamentary jargon, they voted in favour of reading the bill for a [second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). This means that they can now discuss the bill in more detail.
### What is the bill's main idea?
The bill (as amended) makes changes to the assets test for all means tested income support payments, including allowances and pensions. Firstly, it increases the threshold above which your assests are tested (known as "free areas") for the purposes of support payments. In other words, people on allowances or full pensions can have more assets than they currently can before those assets are included in their means testing - but not that much more. See the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd129) for the asset test limits.
People on allowances whose assets are above the free areas will no longer be eligible for that allowance while pensioners whose assets are above the free areas will have their pensions reduced at an increased rate.
If someone is no longer eligible for a payment as a result of the changes, the bill makes them eligible for a concession card (either a Health Care Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card).
Read more in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd129).