Introduction to Supplementary Benefits
Supplementary benefits are available to assist with meeting specific costs, including accommodation costs, childcare costs, some training costs, and health-related or medical-related costs.
Under the Social Security Act 1964, Work and Income delivers supplementary benefits to:
- people receiving a pension or main benefit
- other people with low incomes and few assets
- people with particular needs (eg costs arising from a health issue or a medical condition).
These benefits are designed to assist clients who are having difficulty meeting these costs from their usual income. Eligibility for supplementary benefits usually depends on income and assets.
Most supplementary benefits are paid on an ongoing basis, while some are paid for short periods in response to a specific need (eg childcare costs during school holidays) or as one-off lump sums.
People may receive more than one supplementary benefit because each supplementary benefit is aimed at assisting with specific costs. In addition, clients may receive payments of some supplementary benefits that cover more than one person in their household (eg payments of the Childcare Subsidy that cover more than one child). Where payments of a supplementary benefit may cover more than one person, this report shows information on all the people covered.
