16487 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

16487 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Have there been any changes since 1 November 2023 to eligibility criteria, or assessment and decision-making processes, in relation to applications for the Residential Care Subsidy; if so, what were they and when did they come into effect?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that from 6 November 2023, amendments to Regulations provided that for people receiving a Residential Care Subsidy, severe weather-related payments were exempt from consideration as an income or a cash asset for a period of 12 months from the date of the receipt of the payment. I am further advised that from 1 August 2025, the 12-month time limit on the income and cash asset exemption for payments to former patients of the Lake Alice Hospital was removed, making the exemption permanent. This includes making a permanent exemption for these payments to be considered cash assets for the purpose of assessing eligibility to the Residential Care Subsidy.