Social security

Question 21. A number of social security payments and entitlements may affect mature age persons’ participation in the workforce or other productive work. In practice, how accessible to mature age persons is information about eligibility for such social security payments and entitlements?

Question 22. Several tools and processes are in place to determine a person’s capacity to work and to recommend the content of a person’s activity test or participation requirements. In what ways, if any, should these tools and processes be changed to assist mature age participation in the workforce?

Question 23. Different activity test and Employment Pathway Plan requirements apply for mature age job seekers. In what ways, if any, should they be changed to assist mature age participation in the workforce?

Question 24. Do the 2012 changes to the Disability Support Pension present a barrier to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work? In what ways, if any, should the Disability Support Pension be changed to remove barriers to participation in the workforce or other productive work for mature age persons with disability?

Question 25. In practice, does the 25 hour work, volunteering, study and training limitation for Carer Payment present a barrier to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work? What changes, if any, should be made to remove barriers to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work?

Question 26. What changes, if any, to Working Credit should be made to remove barriers to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work?

Question 27. Do the rules concerning the retention of concession cards act as a barrier to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work? In what ways, if any, could these rules be improved?

Question 28. In practice, how effective is the operation of the ‘employment income nil rate period’ in removing barriers to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work? In what ways, if any, could this be improved?

Question 29. In what ways, if any, should the eligibility requirements for Austudy, ABSTUDY and Pensioner Education Supplement be changed to address barriers to mature age participation in the workforce or other productive work?

Question 30. What other changes, if any, should be made to social security laws and the Guide to Social Security Law to remove barriers to mature age participation in the workforce and other productive work?