Social Security Appeals Tribunal
SSAT
1975 – 1 July 2015
Independent first-tier tribunal that reviewed decisions on social security payments and, later, family assistance, student assistance and child support decisions, with further appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
How it came into existence
Set up administratively in 1975 by the Minister for Social Security as a network of non-statutory appeals tribunals reviewing decisions of the Department of Social Security. It was given a statutory basis under the Social Security Act 1947 in 1988.
- Review of social security decisions
Created as a non-statutory review body attached to the department; before 1975 decisions were reviewed only within the department.
Legislation: Social Security Act 1947; Social Security Act 1991; Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
Changes during its life
- 1988Became a statutory tribunal under amendments to the Social Security Act 1947.
- 1 July 2000Began reviewing family assistance decisions under the new family assistance law.
- 1 January 2007Gained jurisdiction to review child support decisions as part of the child support scheme reforms.
How it ended
Abolished on 1 July 2015 by the Tribunals Amalgamation Act 2015, which transferred its jurisdiction, members and staff to the Social Services and Child Support Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
- First-tier review of social security, family assistance and child support decisions
Main functions
- Merits review of social security decisions
- Review of family assistance decisions
- Review of student assistance decisions
- Review of child support decisions (from 2007)
- Informal, non-adversarial hearings for applicants
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Social Services.
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to 18 May 2015)
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.