The Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) is an act passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1991 to provide for the payment, to eligible people in Australia, certain pensions, benefits and allowances, and for other related purposes.
The SSA was enacted to replace the Social Security Act 1947. In 1999, the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 was enacted, in which the provisions in the SSA concerning the administration of social security payments were split into a separate Act.
The SSA has been criticised by judges for its length and complexity. Most recently, in Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves,[1] Weinberg J, sitting on the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia noted:
I should add the following comments. It is almost farcical that it should take eminent senior counsel the best part of a morning simply to take the Court through the various provisions of the Social Security Act that are relevant in order to determine whether a particular individual is entitled to a benefit under that Act. The question whether Ms Geeves should receive a carer’s benefit for looking after Mr Escott ought to be able to be answered relatively easily. There is nothing extraordinary about his situation, and it can hardly be said that the legislature did not anticipate cases such as his.
Regrettably, as each year goes by, the Social Security Act becomes still more complex, and less accessible to those who most need to understand it. This point has been made on earlier occasions. In Anstis v Secretary, Department of Social Security (1999) 94 FCR 421, I described the Act as having been drafted in a manner "both prolix and obscure". I also referred to the observations of the Full Court in Blunn v Cleaver (1993) 47 FCR 111 in which it was noted that the object of the Bill that became the Act was said by the Minister, in his Second Reading Speech, to be "to overcome the problem of readability by using a ‘clear English’ drafting style and format". The Minister went on to say that this should make the Act "a more accessible piece of legislation that ordinary Australians can reasonably be expected to understand".[1]
As at January 2014, the SSA is administered by the Department of Social Services and the Attorney-General's Department.[2]
^ abSecretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves [2004] FCAFC 166 at [36]-[37], Federal Court (Full Court) (Australia).
^"Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013.
and 23 Related for: Social Security Act 1991 information
Assistance) Act 1999". Federal Register of Legislation. Australian Government. SocialSecurityAct1991 (Cth) sections 1169(1) and 17(2). SocialSecurityAct 1991...
Contributions Act (FICA /ˈfaɪkə/) is a United States federal payroll (or employment) tax payable by both employees and employers to fund SocialSecurity and Medicare—federal...
SocialSecurity Disability Insurance (SSD or SSDI) is a payroll tax-funded federal insurance program of the United States government. It is managed by...
The SocialSecurity Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c 4) is the primary legislation concerning the state retirement provision, accident insurance...
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 30 January 2010. SocialSecurityAct1991 (Cth) "Table 13, Schedule 1B". as at 20 September 2011. 42 U.S...
The Trust used to manage the SocialSecurity Scheme as a Provident Fund Scheme until 1991. After that, it changed to a Social Insurance Pension Scheme, which...
the SocialSecurity Amendments of 1972 and is incorporated in Title 16 of the SocialSecurityAct. The program is administered by the SocialSecurity Administration...
needs such as food and shelter. Socialsecurity may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifically to social insurance programs which provide...
behavioural problems or a combination of both. The SocialSecurity (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 further define these terms. Since 2015 only...
the CES was closed in 2003. SocialSecurityAct1991 (Cth) s 2 "A Guide to Newstart". Parliament of Australia. 19 June 1991. Steve, O'Neill. "Changes to...
game". On 26 February 2001, the Howard government amended the SocialSecurityAct1991 (SSA 1991). New Zealand citizens may reside, work and study in Australia...
by government departments. From 1 July 2009, amendments to the SocialSecurityAct1991 meant that customers in a same-sex de facto relationship are recognised...
Austudy Payment, Australian Government socialsecurity payment for students, paid under the SocialSecurityAct1991 "ABSTUDY Living Allowance". Services...
introduced new provisions for this payment to be paid under the SocialSecurityAct1991. At the same time, the AUSTUDY scheme was renamed to Youth Allowance...
well as diplomacy, to safeguard the security of a nation state. They may also act to build the conditions of security regionally and internationally by...
meaning, ask for the use," showing language as a new vehicle for social activity. Speech act theory hails from Wittgenstein's philosophical theories. Wittgenstein...
public limited company registered under the Companies Act of 1994 and regulated by Bank Company Act1991. The bank is an Islamic bank, based on Islamic Sharia...
unemployment benefit was not introduced until the passing of the SocialSecurityAct in 1938; that benefit was "payable to a person 16 years of age and...
Plan starting in December 1991. In 1995, Review Tribunals were entrusted with final appeals under the Old Age SecurityAct. Each appeal was heard by three...
— Criminal Justice Act1991, section 95 The codes are also known as PNC or Phoenix Codes, or the 6+1 system. Other individuals involved in security and law enforcement...