Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01172:reg:12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01172
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 12
Character Range: 20751–22814

12  Financial vulnerability—decision‑making principles
 (1) For the purposes of subsection 123SDD(5) of the Act, the decision‑making principles are set out in this section.

Financial exploitation
 (2) The Secretary must consider whether the person experienced financial exploitation during the 12‑month period mentioned in paragraph 123SDD(1)(d) of the Act.

Priority needs
 (3) The Secretary must consider:
 (a) the person's relevant priority needs during that 12‑month period; and
 (b) whether the person, during that 12‑month period, was applying appropriate resources to meet some or all of those needs.

Money management strategies
 (4) The Secretary must consider:
 (a) what, if any, strategies (however described) the person used, during that 12‑month period, to manage the person's financial resources; and
 (b) whether it is likely that the person will continue to use those strategies, or similar strategies, to manage the person's financial resources in the foreseeable future.
Note: For paragraph (a), examples are a personal or household budget, a financial plan, paying bills or other expenses through Centrepay or by direct debit from a bank account, arranging to pay major bills or debts by instalments, undertaking a course to learn or update financial skills, using lay‑by services and using a SmartCard as part of the enhanced income management regime under Part 3AA of the Act.

Changes to payment arrangements
 (5) The Secretary must consider:
 (a) whether the person received more than one payment in relation to the person's social security entitlement in any fortnight during that 12‑month period, and the reasons for each of those payments; and
 (b) if the person requested that the person be paid as described in paragraph (a) during that 12‑month period and that request was rejected—the reasons for the rejection.
 (6) The Secretary must consider how many times (if any) the person requested that the person's usual payday be changed during that 12‑month period, and the reasons for each request.

Part 4—Repeal of this instrument