Question: What change has been made to the Partner Income Test Taper Rate?

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
section_headers: Reduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate
section_content: The Government has decided to reduce the JobSeeker Payment Partner Income Test
taper rate from 60 cents to 25 cents from 27 April 2020. This will allow more
couples to access payment where one of the couple loses their job and goes
onto JobSeeker Payment, and the working partner is on a more modest income.
The Government is committed to assisting Australians affected by the
coronavirus outbreak through a range of measures in the social security
system. A temporary change to the partner income test will ensure that couples
who experience an economic shock that results in one partner losing their job
or having their earnings reduced, are able to access income support or have
their existing entitlement increased.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The answer does talk about changes that were made to the test paper.  It's a good answer.
This is a direct answer to the question. This answer provides information about the change on the Job Seeker Payment Partner Income Test taper rate made by the government.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Retirees
section_headers: Deeming rates
section_content: The Government is also reducing both the upper and lower social security
deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5
percentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020.
The change reflects the low interest rate environment, reducing the income
deemed to have been earned from interest on investments and savings allowing
for an increase in social security payments .


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The answer is giving information on the changes that were made to the test paper.  It's a good answer.
This does not answer the question. This answer is providing information on upper and lower social security and the question is asking for information on the Partner Income Test Taper Rate.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Bad

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
section_headers: Reduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate
What is the change?
section_content: 
Under the current allowance income test, the income a person's partner earns is taken into account when determining their rate of payment. Over the partner income free area of $994 per fortnight, every dollar of income reduces the person's JobSeeker Payment by 60 cents. 
For JobSeeker Payment (including Energy Supplement), the current cut-out for a couple in which only one partner earns income is $1,858.50 per fortnight or $48,321 per annum.
From 27 April 2020 the taper rate for the partner income test associated with JobSeeker Payment will change from 60c to 25c. This change is temporary and will operate until the Coronavirus Supplement ceases to be payable. As a result of this change, the new partner income test cut-out for JobSeeker Payment will be $3,068.80 per fortnight, or $79,788.80 per year.
New and existing JobSeeker Payment recipients whose payment rate is adjusted because of partner income will benefit from this proposal.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The answer gives a lot of info on the changes that were made to the test paper.  It's a useful answer.
This is a direct answer to the question. This answer provides information on the change of the taper rate for the Partner Income Test as asked in the question, and also other information regarding allowance income test and JobSeeker Payment.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent