Article 10.8 is intended to ensure that the calculation methods described in Articles 10.1 and 10.5 are applied in a manner consistent with Australian national law in determining the amount of benefits payable to couples. It has the effect of dividing the total U.S. Social Security benefits payable to one or both members of a couple between them equally for purposes of applying Australia's income test. Thus, if only one member of a couple receives a U.S. Social Security benefit, one-half of that benefit will be assigned to each as income when calculating their Australian benefits. If both receive a U.S. benefit, one-half of their total benefits will be assigned to each.
