Income Management

Income Management is designed to ensure that money provided for the welfare of individuals is spent on priority needs and expenses.

Overview

Income Management is a practical measure to assist customers to meet essential household needs and expenses. It does not reduce a customer’s entitlements, rather it sets aside a percentage of certain income support and family payments to be spent on priority goods and services such as food, housing, clothing, education and health care.

Customers cannot purchase alcohol, tobacco, pornography, gambling products or gambling services with income managed money.

Customers receive the remaining part of their payments as usual, and have total discretion to spend that money as they wish.

Income Management is used to support the following welfare payments reform measures:

• Northern Territory Emergency Response
• Cape York Trial
• Child Protection.

Changes to Income Management in the Northern Territory

On 21 June 2010, the Australian Government passed major reforms to Income Management in the Northern Territory from early August 2010.

For more information, refer to Income Management in the Northern Territory.

Income Management for the Northern Territory Emergency Response

In June 2007, the Australian Government announced national emergency measures for the Northern Territory. Centrelink’s ongoing role is the delivery of Income Management to 73 Indigenous communities and associated outstations.

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Income Management for the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial

In December 2007, the Australian Government, the Queensland Government and the Cape York Institute announced an agreement to work together to promote engagement in the real economy, reduce passive welfare and rebuild social norms, particularly as they affect the wellbeing of children.

• Income Management for the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial factsheet
• Cape York Voluntary Income Management factsheet

Income Management for Child Protection, including Voluntary Income Management

In February 2008, the Australian Government announced that it will work in partnership with the Western Australian Government to implement the Child Protection initiative in selected Western Australian communities.

The aim of the Child Protection initiative is to encourage responsible behaviour by parents to enhance the wellbeing of their children.

• Income Management for Child Protection factsheet
• Income Management for Child Protection factsheet in the We speak your language section.

Voluntary Income Management will also be implemented in selected areas of Western Australia in conjunction with the Child Protection initiative.

• Voluntary Income Management factsheet
• Voluntary Income Management factsheet in the We speak your language section.

BasicsCard

The BasicsCard is a PIN protected card, which allows customers to access their income managed money through existing EFTPOS facilities at approved stores and businesses.

The BasicsCard provides customers on Income Management with a greater choice and flexibility to purchase priority goods and services from a broad range of merchants.

• BasicsCard terms and conditions factsheet

Matched Savings Payment

This factsheet provides information about the Income Management Matched Savings Payment

• Matched Savings Payment factsheet

More information

Find out more from the Department of Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) websites.

• Northern Territory Emergency Response
• BasicsCard
• Phone the Income Management line on 13 2594.

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