Social Security Act 1991
The Social Security Act 1991 is an act passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1991 to provide for the payment, to eligible people in Australia, certain pensions, benefits and allowances, and for other related purposes.
The SSA was enacted to replace the Social Security Act 1947. In 1999, the Social Security Act 1999 was enacted, in which the provisions in the SSA concerning the administration of social security payments were split into a separate Act.
The SSA has been criticised by judges for its length and complexity. Most recently, in Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves, Weinberg J, sitting on the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia noted:
As at January 2014, the SSA is administered by the Department of Social Services and the Attorney-General's Department.
