Introduction To The SSAT

The SSAT is the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink and the Child Support Agency (CSA) about social security, family assistance, education or training and child support payments. Its statutory objective is to provide a mechanism of review that is ‘fair, just, economical, informal and quick’.

History Of The SSAT
Our Role
Our Powers
Our Service Standards
Annual Report
Further Appeal Rights


History Of The SSAT

The SSAT was originally established in 1975 by the Honourable WG (Bill) Hayden to review appealed decisions made by the then Department of Social Security.

It is now a statutory body established under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct merits review of administrative decisions made under the social security law, the family assistance law, child support law and various other pieces of legislation. The Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 and the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 set out the powers, functions and procedures of the SSAT.

The SSAT is within the portfolio of the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Administrative arrangements of long standing exist between FaHCSIA and the Tribunal that allow the Tribunal to benefit from the Department’s administrative infrastructure. The SSAT retains responsibility for and control of decision-making in relation to the deployment of its human resources, information technology and financial resources. It also has its own national case management system to manage and administer appeals.

The SSAT aims to provide a mechanism of review that is ‘fair, just, economical, informal and quick’.

Our Role

The SSAT’s applicants are usually people whose interests are affected by a Centrelink decision or a CSA decision and who want to apply to the SSAT for a review of that decision. Centrelink appeals can be lodged any time after a review of the original decision by a Centrelink authorised review officer. Before the SSAT can review a CSA decision, it must first be reviewed by a CSA objections officer. Child Support appeals must be lodged within 28 days of receiving an objection decision.
Please note: The SSAT can only review CSA objection decisions made on or after 1 January 2007.

The SSAT generally has the power to affirm, vary or set aside a decision under review. Where it sets aside a decision, the Tribunal may either substitute a new decision or send the matter back to Centrelink or the CSA with directions or recommendations for further action.

Centrelink decisions reviewed by the SSAT typically relate to the following:

Social Security Law
§ Not to grant a pension, benefit or allowance.
§ The rate at which an entitlement is to be paid.
§ The suspension or cancellation of an entitlement.
§ The raising of debts relating to overpayments and the rate at which they are to be recovered.

Family Assistance Law
§ Entitlement to family assistance.
§ The rate at which family assistance is paid.
§ The raising of debts relating to family assistance overpayments and the rate at which they are to be recovered.

Health Insurance Act
§ The declaration of disadvantaged persons for entitlement to health care cards.

Child Support (Assessment) Act
§ The adequacy of child support agreements for social security recipients.

Farm Household Support Act
§ Assistance to farmers experiencing financial hardship.

Student Assistance Act
§ Entitlement to various forms of student assistance.
§ Recovery of student assistance debts.

Veterans' Entitlements Act
§ Calculation of arrears of service pension where the veteran's partner was receiving a social security pension or benefit.

From 1 January 2007, the SSAT will also have the power to review most CSA decisions including:
§ Refusal of extension of time to lodge an objection
§ Application for assessment - accept/not accept
§ Particulars of assessment (income or level of care)
§ Particulars of registration
§ Change of assessment
§ Low-income non-enforcement period
§ Refusal to remit penalties
§ Failure to collect arrears
§ Acceptance or refusal of a child support agreement
§ Credit or refusal to credit non agency payments
§ Acceptance or refusal of an estimate

Our Powers

The SSAT’s jurisdiction is derived from the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, the Student Assistance Act 1973, the Employment Services Act 1994and the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988. These Acts provide that where a decision has been reviewed by the Secretary to the relevant department, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency (Centrelink), the Registrar of the Child Support Agency, an authorised review officer or a CSA objections officer, and has been affirmed, varied or set aside, the people affected by the decision may apply to the SSAT for review of that decision.

The SSAT may exercise most of the powers and discretions of the Registrar of the Child Support Agency and the Secretaries to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Education, Science and Training.

Our Service Standards

The SSAT’s Service Charter describes its commitment to providing high quality, timely and courteous service to applicants and other parties to appeals. It also lists rights and responsibilities of applicants and other parties in their dealings with the SSAT and the SSAT’s complaints handling process.

The Charter is sent out after an appeal is lodged. It is also available below and on request from any SSAT office.



Annual Report

The most recent SSAT Annual Reports are available below.



Further Appeal Rights

Centrelink appeals
The SSAT operates as the first tier of external review in the social security appeals system. Further rights of appeal for all parties to a Centrelink appeal include:

§ A full merits review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
§ A full review on questions of law by the Federal Court; and
§ By leave, to the High Court.

Child support appeals
The decision of the SSAT in child support appeals is final. All parties to a child support appeal can appeal to the Federal Court but only on a question of law. There is one exception to this. If the SSAT decides not grant an applicant's request for an extension of time to lodge a child support appeal, the applicant can appeal directly to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.