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Section 9 - Income

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Generally, applicants must have an independent income to be eligible for public housing and to be approved to the waiting list. An independent income is an income paid directly to the person for their use and which is not subject to a parental income or assets test.

Income eligibility is determined in line with Centrelink Rental Assistance criteria.

Income eligibility for public housing is determined by the receipt of at least one dollar of

• Centrelink pension/allowance,
• Veteran's Affairs Service Pension or

Low income families with dependent children who are not receiving a Centrelink pension/alowance must be receiving at least one dollar more than the minimum rate of Family Allowance to be eligible for rental housing.

Eligibility for single applicants is determined by proof of income at or below $286 per week.

This limit applies to all single applicants whether they are to be signed as a tenant or resident and any applicant who is to be signed as a tenant and is under 18 years of age.

Assessment for group households will be conducted on the basis of each household member's entitlement to Centrelink Payments.

When an applicant is in receipt of a Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) payment the following applies:

Income that is counted in assessing eligibility:

• Additional Family Payment for the first five children (formerly Child Related payments or Family Allowance supplement) and Guardians Allowance
• Australian Service Pension
• Base Centrelink pensions, benefits and Partners Allowance
• Defence Force Reserve payments
• Disability Support Pension
• Disability Wage Supplement
• Gross wages, including overtime, shift allowances and bonuses, before tax instalments, superannuation contributions and union fees are deducted (recreation leave loading and any one off or abnormal payments are also included)
• Gross income from investments and interest on savings (if not generating interest, deemed interest rate is used)
• Gross income from investments and interest on savings (if not generating interest, deemed interest rate is used)
• Gross income from funds or assets over $10,000 gifted in any one year (interest is calculated using the deemed interest rate)
• Gross income received by Ministers of Religion
• Incentive Allowance
• Living Away from Home Allowance
• Maintenance Payments (includes in-kind payments unless recipient can show that these are discretional, ie not in lieu of a cash payment)
• Mature Age Allowance
• Net profits (for self-employed tenants and residents)
• New Employment Incentive Scheme
• Orphan Pension (if recipient is 18 years or over)
• Overseas income including Overseas War Service or Veterans Pension
• Payments in kind (ie where goods or services are received in lieu of wages)
• Rent Assistance paid by Centrelink to residents and occupiers of Movable Units
• Sheltered workshop payments
• Superannuation payments
• Veterans Affairs Pensions including War Widows Pension and Additional payments for dependent children
• War Disability Pension up to the level of a Centrelink entitlement to benefit or pension
• Winnings
• Work Cover and other compensation payments
• Youth allowance, University grants and Bursaries

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