Australian Capital Territory
Housing Assistance Rental Bonds Housing Assistance Program (Hardship) Operation Guideline 2009 (No 1)
Notifiable Instrument NI2009- 469
made under the  
Housing Assistance Act 2007 s21(1) Approved housing assistance programs—housing operation guidelines

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Housing Assistance Rental Bonds Housing Assistance Program (Hardship) Operation Guideline 2009 (No 1).

2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the day after its notification.

3	Revocation
Subject to section 21(1) of the Housing Assistance Act 2007 and in accordance with the Housing Assistance Rental Bonds Housing Assistance Program 2009 (No 1) (“the Program”) I REVOKE the housing operation guideline concerning hardship notified on 
22 May 2008 (N12008-184).

4	Operation Guideline
In accordance with section 21(1) of the Housing Assistance Act 2007    I issue this housing operation guideline for the Housing Assistance Rental Bonds Housing Assistance Program 2007 (No 1) ("the Program").

Purpose

To provide guidance to decision makers on the application of the hardship discretion.  

The hardship discretion must only be applied where the specific circumstances of the case are sufficient to set aside the established intent of the Program in relation to satisfying the eligibility criteria in clause 9.
Relevant provision of the Program

Clause 10 – Hardship

1.	Clause 10 specifies:

If the housing commissioner is satisfied that, relative to the circumstances of eligible applicants generally, an applicant is suffering severe hardship that cannot be alleviated by any other means, the housing commissioner may, in his or her absolute discretion, disregard any criteria mentioned in clause 9 (other than paragraph 9(1)(d)) in deciding whether the applicant is eligible for rental bond assistance.

2.	Paragraph 9(1)(d) is about the minimum age to qualify for assistance (16 years of age).  Although this criterion may not be disregarded, any of the other eligibility criteria can be disregarded in appropriate circumstances.

3.	A decision to disregard one or more eligibility criteria is at the housing commissioner's absolute discretion.  This is because the eligibility criteria are part of the fundamental structure of the program.    Ordinarily an applicant must satisfy all of the eligibility criteria to be eligible for assistance.

What is severe hardship?

4.	Severe hardship is where circumstances cause an applicant to be deprived of the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, safety and essential medical treatment.  Such circumstances might include:

(a)	where an applicant is part owner of a property; however, has had to flee the family home due to severe domestic violence; or 

(b)	where an applicant has a demonstrated need to come to the ACT because it is the closest place with the required/needed medical services which are of an urgent and continuing nature and which are not available in the town of previous residence.

The above scenarios are examples, are not exhaustive, and are not intended to limit the range of circumstances that might potentially be characterised as giving rise to severe hardship.

Relative need

5.	When exercising the hardship discretion the decision maker must have regard to the relative need of the individual applicant compared to the needs of eligible applicants generally.

Decision-making process

6.	Each application must be considered on its merits in an impartial and unbiased manner.  In essence, the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that their circumstances place them in a greater degree of hardship than those of other applicants generally.

7.	In any case where the discretion is exercised in favour of the applicant, the decision-maker should indicate why he or she is satisfied that the applicant is suffering severe hardship relative to the circumstances of eligible applicants generally.

8.	The reasons for the decision should be documented and reference made to the relevant eligibility requirements against which the hardship criterion has been considered.

9.	Where it is decided not to exercise the discretion, the reasons should be included in the response to the applicant.

10.	Officers should exercise judgement about whether it is necessary to consider the use of the hardship discretion in individual cases.  If the circumstances of the case clearly appear more critical than those of other applicants generally, consideration should be given to exercising the discretion.  In many cases it may be necessary to seek further information about the applicant's circumstances.

General provisions

Further information

11.	If the applicant provides additional information which may further establish their need to be considered as an eligible applicant, the application can be reassessed. 

False or misleading information

12.	Under the Program an applicant is not eligible for assistance if the application is false or misleading in any material way or if an applicant has arranged his or her financial affairs to obtain assistance under the Program.

Review

13.	A decision in relation to:

(a)	an application for rental bond assistance; or 
(b)	revoking or amending a decision mentioned in paragraph (a)

are reviewable decisions in terms of clause 15 of the Program.

14.	Any reference to "Housing ACT" in an operation guideline is a reference to Housing ACT being a section of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services representing the housing commissioner.

Dated this 21 September 2009

Martin Hehir
Commissioner for Social Housing