Dealing with social security

Compensation payments are treated differently under social security law.

In section 17(2) of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) (‘SS Act’), ‘compensation’ is defined for social security purposes. For a payment to be ‘compensation’ for social security purposes, the payment must include a component for economic loss. Centrelink examines settlements and decides whether this is the case. Otherwise, such payments are generally treated as ordinary income.

Most Centrelink payments are ‘compensation affected’. A person who receives compensation may have their payment affected. This depends on whether they receive compensation in the form of a periodic payment, or as a lump sum settlement, or due to a court judgment.

A person who is receiving periodic payments of compensation for a loss of income will have their ‘compensation-affected payment’ reduced by the amount of those payments, ordinarily on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Where a person recovers compensation in a lump sum, the person is precluded from receiving a social security payment for a period that is directly related to the amount of compensation or damages.

Where a person has been receiving a compensation-affected payment and later receives compensation covering the same period, the person is liable to repay the social security payments. Usually, Centrelink will recover the social security money paid to a person from the employer or insurance company. The amount that Centrelink is entitled to recover depends on a formula set out in the SS Act. This is a complex area and any specific queries should be taken to the solicitor who is handling the damages or compensation claim.

If Centrelink decides that there are special circumstances relating to the person receiving compensation, it can treat some or all of the compensation paid as not having been paid. This decreases the preclusion period or the amount to be repaid to Centrelink, or both.