Social Security Amendment Bill Introduced
The Social Security Amendment Bill introduced today is the first step in the Government's reshaping of social assistance, the Minister of Social Services and Employment, Steve Maharey, said today.
The Bill places less emphasis on compulsion and more on obtaining sustainable results through working with beneficiaries to make the most of personal and work opportunities.
“This Bill promotes the broader goals of encouraging people to participate in the economic and social life of their communities,” he said.
“It is the beginning of a new system that builds people’s abilities and will support them into paid employment, where possible.”
Key changes are:
From 1 December 2000 community work will no longer be
mandatory and the sanctions associated with community work
will be removed. At the same time, voluntary work in the
community will become a recognised activity for work-tested
beneficiaries.
From 1 July 2001 the community
wage is replaced with a separate unemployment benefit and a
separate non-work tested sickness benefit, the current
work-test is refocussed and a revised and simplified
sanction regime for work-tested beneficiaries comes into
effect.
When the Bill comes into force
(anticipated to be in November 2000) the work capacity
assessment for applicants and beneficiaries with a sickness,
disability or injury will formally end.
From 1
January 2001 the income thresholds for the disability
allowance will be increased.
"The Government wants to
build a modern social security system which is tailored to
the needs of individual beneficiaries and which offers
people opportunities to increase their skills so that can
earn a decent wage in a decent job," Steve Maharey
said.