Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

In calculating the value of a person’s assets for the purposes of this Act (other than sections 52G, 52H, 52JA, 52JB, 52JC, 52JD, 52ZA and 52ZCA), disregard the following:

if the person is not a member of a couple—the value of any right or interest of the person in the person’s principal home that is a right or interest that gives the person reasonable security of tenure in the home;

if the person is a member of a couple—the value of any right or interest of the person in one residence that is the principal home of the person, of the person’s partner or of both of them that is a right or interest that gives the person or the person’s partner reasonable security of tenure in the home;

the value of any life interest of the person other than:

a life interest in the principal home of the person, of the person’s partner or of both of them; or

a life interest created by the person, by the person’s partner or by both of them; or

a life interest created on the death of the person’s partner;

The exclusion from paragraph (1)(c) of the value of a person’s life interest mentioned in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) does not result in the value of the interest being included in the person’s assets if the interest falls within paragraph (1)(a) or (b).

the value of any asset‑test exempt income stream of the person, other than a partially asset‑test exempt income stream;

half of the value of any partially asset‑test exempt income stream of the person;

For partially asset‑test exempt income stream, see subsection (1AA).

the value of any foreign superannuation pension of the person;

any amount that is:

received by the person within the immediately preceding period of 90 days; and

is excluded from the definition of income in subsection 5H(1) by subsection 5H(4) or (5);

the value of the person’s investment in:

a superannuation fund; or

an approved deposit fund; or

an ATO small superannuation account;

reaches pension age; or

commences to receive a pension or annuity out of the fund;

Some investments in superannuation funds, approved deposit funds and ATO small superannuation accounts may be disregarded—see section 52AA.

if:

the person has a granny flat interest in the person’s principal home; and

the granny flat interest gives the person reasonable security of tenure in the home; and

the person acquired or retained the granny flat interest before 22 August 1990;

if:

the person has a granny flat interest in the person’s principal home; and

the person is a person to whom subsection 52Q(2), 52R(2), 52S(2), 52S(5), 52T(2), 52U(2) or 52V(2) applies;

A person described in subparagraph (ii) will have acquired or retained the granny flat interest on or after 22 August 1990 (see section 52KA).

if:

the person is a sale leaseback resident; and

the person is a person to whom subsection 52Q(2), 52R(2), 52S(2), 52S(5), 52T(2), 52U(2) or 52V(2) applies;

the value of any contingent, remainder or reversionary interest of the person (other than an interest created by the person, by the person’s partner or by both of them);

the value of any assets (other than a contingent, remainder or reversionary interest) to which the person is entitled from the estate of a deceased person but which has not been, and is not able to be, received;

the value of any medal or other decoration awarded (whether to the person or another person) for valour that is owned by the person otherwise than for the purposes of investment or a hobby;

the value of:

any cemetery plot acquired by the person for the burial of the person or the person’s partner; and

any funeral expenses paid in advance by the person in respect of the funeral of the person or the person’s partner;

an amount invested in an exempt funeral investment and any return on the investment;

For exempt funeral investment see section 5PC.

if:

personal property of the person is designed for use by a disabled person; and

the person, the person’s partner or a child who is dependent on the person or the person’s partner is disabled;

if:

personal property of the person is modified so that it can be used by a disabled person; and

the person, the person’s partner or a child who is dependent on the person or the person’s partner is disabled;

if the person is provided with a motor vehicle under the Vehicle Assistance Scheme—the value of that motor vehicle;

if the person is provided with a motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Compensation Scheme under section 212 of the MRCA—the value of that motor vehicle;

if the person has sold a residence that was the principal home of the person on terms and has purchased, also on terms, another residence that is the principal home of the person—so much of the balance due to the person in respect of the sale as will be applied by the person in respect of the purchase of the other residence;

For principal home and other assets test definitions, see sections 5L and 5LA.

the amount of any insurance or compensation payments received by the person because of the loss of, or damage to, buildings, plant or personal effects within the immediately preceding 12 months, or such longer period as the Commission determines for any special reason for a particular payment;

The payments in paragraph (o) are not income for the purposes of this Act (see paragraph 5H(8)(q)).

if subsection (1C) applies (application of insurance etc. payments to rebuilding etc.)—the amount worked out under that subsection, during the period mentioned in subsection (1D);

if a person has received an NDIS amount—the amount worked out under subsection (1DAA);

the value of any native title rights and interests of the person, or of a community or group of which the person is a member;

the amount of any accommodation bond balance in respect of an accommodation bond paid by the person;

the amount of any refundable deposit balance in respect of a refundable deposit paid by the person;

the amount (if any) that the person has retained from a payment made to the person by the Mark Fitzpatrick Trust.

For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(d) and (daa):

an asset‑test exempt income stream that:

is an income stream (other than a defined benefit income stream or a military invalidity pension income stream) covered by subsection 5JA(1) or (1A), 5JB(1) or 5JBA(1); and

has a commencement day during the period from 20 September 2004 to 19 September 2007 (both dates inclusive); and

is not covered by principles (if any) determined for the purposes of this subparagraph, by legislative instrument, by the Commission; or

an income stream that:

has a commencement day happening on or after 20 September 2007; and

is covered by principles determined for the purposes of this subparagraph, by legislative instrument, by the Commission.

The Commission may determine principles for the purposes of subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition of partially asset‑test exempt income stream in subsection (1AA).

The Commission may determine principles for the purposes of subparagraph (b)(ii) of the definition of partially asset‑test exempt income stream in subsection (1AA).

For the purposes of the application of this section in relation to income support supplement, the reference in subparagraph (1)(f)(iv) to pension age is taken to be a reference to the qualifying age.

For qualifying age see section 5Q.

Subsection (1C) applies if:

a person receives any insurance or compensation payments because of loss of or damage to a building (including the person’s principal home) or plant; and

either:

if the building or plant was lost—the person applies the whole or a part of those payments to build another building or plant to replace the building or plant that was lost; or

if the building or plant was damaged—the person applies the whole or a part of those payments to rebuild, repair or renovate the building or plant.

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(oa), the amount that may be disregarded is:

the value of the building or plant that is being built, rebuilt, repaired or renovated, to the extent that those payments are so applied; and

if a building whose value is being disregarded under paragraph (a) of this subsection is to be the person’s principal home:

the value of the land on which the building is being built, rebuilt, repaired or renovated to the extent that, once the building becomes the person’s principal home, the land will, under section 5LA, be included in a reference to the principal home; and

the value of any other structure, on that land, that is to be the person’s principal home to the extent that the structure was built before the person began applying the payments.

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(oa), the amount worked out under subsection (1C) may be disregarded during the period:

beginning when the payments are received; and

ending at the earlier of the following times:

12 months, or such longer period as the Commission determines for any special reason, after that time;

when the building, rebuilding, repair or renovation of the building or plant is complete.

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(oaa), the amount that may be disregarded is the value of the sum of:

the NDIS amounts received by the person; and

any return on those amounts that the person earns, derives or receives;

In this section:

native title rights and interests within the meaning of section 223 of the Native Title Act 1993; or

any rights and interests of a similar nature under any law of a State, a Territory or a foreign country (whether or not the rights and interests relate to land or waters outside Australia);

Subsection (2) applies if:

a person sells the person’s principal home; and

either:

the person does not have a right or interest in a principal home; or

the person has a right or interest in a principal home that does not give the person reasonable security of tenure in the home; and

before the end of 24 months, or any longer period determined under subsection (2A), after the sale, one or more of the following applies:

the person intends to apply the whole or a part of the proceeds of the sale to build, rebuild, repair or renovate another residence that is to be the person’s principal home;

the person applies the whole or a part of the proceeds of the sale to build, rebuild, repair or renovate another residence that is to be the person’s principal home;

the person intends to apply the whole or a part of the proceeds of the sale to purchase another residence that is to be the person’s principal home.

For the purposes of this Part (other than Subdivision B of this Division and Division 3):

if subparagraph (1E)(c)(i) applies—disregard the proceeds, to the extent that the person intends to apply those proceeds to build, rebuild, repair or renovate the other residence, until the earlier of the following times:

the period mentioned in paragraph (1E)(c) ends;

the Commission becomes satisfied that the person has ceased to have that intention; or

if subparagraph (1E)(c)(ii) applies—disregard the value of the following, until the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (1E)(c), to the extent that the person applies those proceeds to build, rebuild, repair or renovate that other residence:

the value of the other residence;

the value of the land on which the other residence is being built, rebuilt, repaired or renovated to the extent that, once the building becomes the person’s principal home, the land will, under section 5LA, be included in a reference to the principal home;

the value of any other structure, on that land, that is to be the person’s principal home to the extent that the structure was built before the person began applying those proceeds; or

if subparagraph (1E)(c)(iii) applies—disregard the proceeds, to the extent that the person intends to apply those proceeds to purchase the other residence, until the earlier of the following times:

the period mentioned in paragraph (1E)(c) ends;

the Commission becomes satisfied that the person has ceased to have that intention.

For the purposes of subsection (1E), the Commission may determine, in writing, a period of up to 36 months if:

a person who has sold his or her principal home is making reasonable attempts to purchase, build, repair or renovate another residence; and

the person has been making those attempts within a reasonable period after selling the principal home; and

the person has experienced delays beyond his or her control in purchasing, building, repairing or renovating the other residence.

For the purposes of this section, where:

the value of any assets of a person or, if the person is a member of a couple, of the person and the person’s partner, that consists of the contents of a principal home and of other personal effects that are used primarily within the principal home does not exceed $10,000; and

the assets are used primarily for private or domestic purposes;

This section has effect subject to sections 52KA to 52X (special residences).

The total value of the person’s assets may be reduced in some circumstances if the person has an exempt bond amount (see clause 15 of Schedule 5) or a refunded amount (see clause 17D of Schedule 5).