Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) A person is experiencing a personal financial crisis if and only if:
(a) the person is in severe financial hardship; and
(b) subsection (2), (3) or (4) applies to the person.
Note 1: This definition relates to ordinary waiting periods.
Note 2: For in severe financial hardship see subsection 19C(2) (person who is not a member of a couple) and subsection 19C(3) (person who is a member of a couple).
Domestic violence
(2) This subsection applies to the person if the person was subjected to domestic violence at some time in the 4 weeks immediately before the person's start day mentioned in paragraph 500WA(1)(a), 549CA(2)(a), 620(1)(a) or 693(a).
Unavoidable or reasonable expenditure
(3) This subsection applies to the person if the person is in severe financial hardship because the person has incurred unavoidable or reasonable expenditure in the 4 weeks immediately before the person's start day mentioned in paragraph 500WA(1)(a), 549CA(2)(a), 620(1)(a) or 693(a).
Note: For unavoidable or reasonable expenditure see subsection 19C(4).
Other circumstances
(4) This subsection applies to the person if the person satisfies the circumstances prescribed in an instrument under subsection (5).
(5) The Secretary may, by legislative instrument, prescribe circumstances for the purposes of subsection (4).
Evidence
(6) Without limiting subsection (2), (3) or (4), that subsection does not apply to the person unless he or she produces evidence that demonstrates a reasonable possibility that it applies to the person.