Social Security (Exemption for Ex Gratia and Compensation Payments) Amendment Bill

Bills are proposals to make a new law or to change an existing one. Only Parliament can pass a bill. Each bill goes through several stages, giving MPs and the public the chance to have their say.

Under current Social Security legislation, ex gratia or compensatory payments made to people who have been subject to abuse while in State care must be spent within 1 year or it will be counted as income and cash assets for the purpose of receiving a primary or supplementary benefit. This bill seeks to correct this unintended consequence.