Budget 2017 : Individuals & Families
Increase in the Medicare Levy
Date of effect: 1 July 2019
From 1 July 2019, the Medicare Levy will increase to 2.5% of taxable income (up from 2%) raising an estimated $8.2 billion across the 3 years from introduction.
Other tax rates that are linked to the top personal tax rate, such as the fringe benefits tax rate, will also be increased.
Low income earners will continue to receive relief from the Medicare levy through the low income thresholds for singles, families, seniors and pensioners. The current exemptions from the Medicare levy will also remain in place.
The measure is to inject funds into a savings fund for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Medicare low-income threshold increased
Date of effect: 2016-17 income year
The Medicare levy low-income thresholds for singles, families and seniors and pensioners will increase to take account of movements in the CPI:
2016-17 Threshold
- Singles $21,655
- Families $36,541 plus $3,356 for each dependent child or student
- Single seniors and pensioners $34,244
- Family threshold for seniors and pensioners $47,670 plus $3,356 for each dependent child or student
Help with energy bills
Date of effect: 20 June 2017
As part of the deal to pass the Enterprise Tax Bill containing the business tax reductions and other measures for small business, the Government agreed to assist with energy bills.
A one off Energy Assistance Payment will be made in 2016 17 of $75 for single recipients and $125 per couple for those eligible for qualifying payments on 20 June 2017 and who are resident in Australia.
Qualifying payments include the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment Single, the Veterans’ Service Pension and the Veterans’ Income Support Supplement, Veterans’ disability payments, War Widow(er)s Pension, and permanent impairment payments under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (including dependent partners) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
Child care subsidy limited
Date of effect: From 2018-19 income years
The Child Care Subsidy will be limited to families with incomes below $350,000 per annum. This upper income threshold will be indexed annually from 1 July 2018.
Indexation paused on Family Tax Benefit payments
Date of effect: 1 July 2017
The Family Tax Benefit payment rates will remain static for the next two years until indexation resumes on 1 July 2019.
Family Tax Benefit A changes
Date of effect: 1 July 2018
A consistent 30 cents in the dollar income test taper for Family Tax Benefit Part A families with a household income in excess of the Higher Income Free Area (currently $94,316) will apply from 1 July 2018.
In addition, the increase to the Family Tax Benefit A announced as part of the 2015-16 Mid Year Economic review will not proceed.
Tougher residency requirements for pensioners
Date of effect: 1 July 2018
The residency requirements will be strengthened for access to the Age Pension and the Disability Support Pension.
Claimants will be required to have 15 years of continuous Australian residence before being eligible to receive the Age Pension or DSP unless they have either:
• 10 years continuous Australian residence, with five years of this residence being during their working life (16 years of age to Age Pension age); or
• 10 years continuous Australian residence, without having received an activity tested income support payment for a cumulative period of five years.
Existing exemptions for DSP applicants who acquire their disability in Australia will continue to apply.
Penalties introduced for Work for the Dole and jobseekers
A new demerit system will be introduced to tackle deliberately non-compliant job seekers. Each failure without a reasonable excuse will result in payment suspension until re-engagement, and accrual of demerit points. Individuals who accrue four demerits in six months will enter a three strike Intensive Compliance Phase, in which they will face escalating penalties.
They will:
• lose 50% of their fortnightly payment for their first strike without a reasonable excuse;
• lose 100% of their fortnightly payment for their second strike; and
• have their payment cancelled for four weeks for their third strike.
Working Age Payments consolidated
A new Jobseeker payment will transition and replace seven working age payments and allowances – Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance, Widow B pension, Wife Pension, and Bereavement Allowance. In addition, the Government intends to introduce new participation requirements.
Regional and rural scholarships
Date of effect: From 2017-18
$24 million over four years has been set aside to establish a Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships program. At least 1,200 Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships of up to $20,000 each will be available for students undertaking undergraduate, post graduate or vocational education and training qualifications in priority fields of study including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health.
Previously announced measures
Higher education fees increased
Student contributions to the Higher Education Loan Program will increase by 7.5% over 4 years from 1 January 2018.
In addition, the threshold at which students start to pay back student loans will be reduced from 1 July 2018. A new minimum threshold of $42,000 will be established with a 1% repayment rate and a maximum threshold of $119,882 with a 10% repayment rate.
Changes are also being made to the Commonwealth Grants Scheme with an efficiency dividend of 2.5% introduced in 2018 and 2019. In addition, access to the CGS will end for permanent residents and to most New Zealand residents – these students will be able to access concessional loans instead. The changes apply to students enrolled from 1 January 2018.
See A stronger, sustainable and student-focussed higher education system for all Australians
Funding for schools
The Government is introducing a “needs based” funding model for schools. Recurrent funding will be based on a needs based Schooling Resource Standard of 20% for Government schools and 80% for non-Government schools. The standard provides a base amount of $10,953 in 2018 for every primary school student and $13,764 for secondary school students, plus loadings for students and schools that need extra support.
SOURCE: Knowledge Shop
To discuss how this may impact your circumstances please contact PPT on (03) 5331 3711.
DISCLAIMER: The material and contents provided in this publication are informative in nature only. It is not intended to be advice and you should not act specifically on the basis of this information alone. If expert assistance is required, professional advice should be obtained.
