HOUSING SA RENTS

In reply to Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (8 October 2010).

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability): The inclusion of the one-off increase in rent calculations will only affect people on single rate pensions as the increase for couples is paid in the pension supplement, which is not treated as assessable income for the purposes of calculating social rental housing rents.

Single pensioners also received a small increase of $2.50 per week, which is paid in the pension supplement. This will not be included in rent calculations.

Modelling undertaken in July 2009, prior to the implementation of the one-off increase, indicated that 22,190 households had an occupant receiving a single rate pension and would therefore be affected by the inclusion of the one-off increase in rent calculations.