Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00162:section:19c:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00162
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 19C (pt 1/4)
Character Range: 285813–288524

19C  Severe financial hardship definitions

Application of definitions in this section
 (1) The definitions in this section relate to:
 (a) ordinary waiting periods; and
 (b) liquid assets test waiting periods; and
 (c) seasonal work preclusion periods; and
 (d) income maintenance periods.

Meaning of in severe financial hardship: person who is not a member of a couple
 (2) A person who is not a member of a couple and who makes a claim for parenting payment, jobseeker payment, austudy payment, special benefit, disability support pension, carer payment or one of the following allowances:
 (e) youth allowance;
is in severe financial hardship if the value of the person's liquid assets (within the meaning of subsection 14A(1)) is less than the fortnightly amount at the maximum payment rate of the payment, benefit, pension or allowance that would be payable to the person:
 (f) if the person's claim were granted; and
 (g) in the case of a person to whom an income maintenance period applies, if that period did not apply.
Note: For maximum payment rate see subsection (8).

Meaning of in severe financial hardship: person who is a member of a couple
 (3) A member of a couple who makes a claim for parenting payment, jobseeker payment, austudy payment, special benefit, disability support pension, carer payment or one of the following allowances:
 (e) youth allowance;
is in severe financial hardship if the value of the couple's liquid assets (within the meaning of subsections 14A(1) and (2)) is less than twice the fortnightly amount at the maximum payment rate of the payment, benefit, pension or allowance that would be payable to the person:
 (f) if the person's claim were granted; and
 (g) in the case of a person to whom an income maintenance period applies, if that period did not apply.
Note: For maximum payment rate see subsection (8).

Meaning of unavoidable or reasonable expenditure
 (4) Unavoidable or reasonable expenditure, in relation to a person who is serving a liquid assets test waiting period or is subject to a seasonal work preclusion period, or a person to whom an income maintenance period applies, or in relation to working out if a person is subject to an ordinary waiting period, includes, but is not limited to, the following expenditure:
 (a) the reasonable costs of living that the person is taken, under subsection (6) or (7), to have incurred in respect of:
 (i) if the person is serving a liquid assets test waiting period—that part of the period that the person has served; or
 (ii) if the person is subject to a seasonal work preclusion period—that part of the period that has expired; or
 (iii) if an income maintenance period applies to the person—that part of