Centrelink and Portability, 2012 and the DSP

[Banjo]

Once again, no mention of how many trips a year.

[zingzingzing]

The Government will achieve savings of $127.2 million over four years from 2012‑13 by reducing the overseas portability period. From 1 January 2013, the period of time that people who travel overseas will continue to be paid will be reduced from 13 to 6 weeks for most income support and family payment recipients. Beneficiaries who are outside Australia on the date of implementation will retain the 13 week portability of their payments until they return to Australia. The Age Pension will be excluded as it can be paid overseas indefinitely, once certain criteria are met.

So those on DSP are getting ripped off, but once you reach Age Pension it's Indefinite portability ?

That's another 30+ years for some FFS.

[Banjo]

Some of the OAP will have their own problems, particularly those who went on it after being on the DSP for years, see my post in the OAP section.

Who costs this stuff?
Where do these savings come from?

[zingzingzing]

Yup I read, moving goal posts when it suits them.

[wazza]

Hi guy's This new reduction of 13 to6 week portability is stated in this new budget ,it dose not state anything about the qualifications required for long term portability for DSP it only states wot for for OAPers ,is it still based on not able to work report and impairment ratings acessment or have I missed something. and if so when can you apply for these measures do you think.
It all seems a bit iffie to me
Like to read whats going on in here ,dont say much ,thanks to the people like banker and banjo and all the addmin and senior members who keep us appraised to the info

[zorro1]

I wonder if they will still pursue the residency issues as they did with the 13 week gig

getting screwed with increasing travel and its costings and the never ending possible tap on the shoulder is making the DSP all of a sudden not very attractive at all abroad

[skeptic]

I have only come across this website recently and this being my first post, I would just like to thank everyone involved for providing this useful information that is greatly appreciated.

I have a question if anyone can help as I am not very familiar with DSP portability (as I went on my first overseas trip in over 13 years recently).

I was told by Centrelink that my payments would be suspended after 13 weeks out of the country and I would have to be back in Australia before 6 months lapsed (since the date of leaving Australia) otherwise I would be taken off DSP and would have to re apply and go through the entire procedure again.

Does anyone know if the 6 month period will still apply as of January 2013 when the portability changes to 6 weeks or will that change as well?

[Banjo]

Welcome to the board, we're having our best week with new members for a while.
We need to wait and see with the 6 month rule, I doubt if anyone has worked it out yet.
I suppose that logic dictates that if people on the DSP with work capacity can leave the country for 6 weeks then they will be able to remain out for another 6 weeks unpaid without losing their pension.
Centrelink can do some very illogical things when it suits them though.
Another issue would be how many 6 week trips a year could be done without threatening your residency?
It's all in the future at the moment.

[skeptic]

Thanks for that. I don't see why people on DSP (especially the ones with permanent disabilities) aren't afforded the same rules and treated the same as people who receive the OAP.

I don't know much about the residency laws either, but I can't see how someones residency can or should be affected if they have lived most of their lives here in Australia. For example if you have lived here for 40 years it's not as if you can go and live somewhere else and be given a pension elsewhere. I know there are laws which allow the more affluent to pay a certain amount to the country to be given residency and allowed some social security benefits but I don't think that the above mentioned would apply to people on this website.

[Banjo]

No arguments here.

[Banjo]

My current information is that anyone with dodgy residency qualifications will be cut off the DSP if they leave the country again.
The new portability rules that start on the 1st July have also had a good tampering with and a figure of work ability of less than 2 hours a week mentioned.
Gonna be a long year and I'm getting too old for this shit.

[spaceyone]

Not sure if this has been posted before.


Questions and answers

Who will be affected by this Budget measure?

People who receive Disability Support Pension (DSP) and who have a permanent disability and who have no future work capacity will be affected if they wish to leave Australia for more than 13 weeks.

To be eligible, a DSP customer must be assessed as having a permanent disability and also assessed as having no future work capacity. These assessments must be completed in Australia, prior to departure and may involve a medical review.


Who will not be affected by this Budget measure?

Any DSP customer not meeting the eligibility criteria will be unaffected and remain subject to existing portability rules.

Is it a new measure that will affect existing Portfolio customers or people? If so, how will they be affected?

Yes. Existing DSP customers who are assessed as having a permanent disability and no future work capacity will be payable overseas indefinitely.

When will the changes be implemented?

Answer: The measure is expected to commence from 1 July 2012.

How will I know if I am eligible for this Budget measure?

If you think you may be eligible, contact Centrelink and ask for advice. From 1 July 2012, Centrelink will assess your eligibility as part of a pre-departure interview and will advise you of your eligibility.

Do I need to do anything?

It is in your interest to notify Centrelink as early as possible of your travel plans. This will allow time for Centrelink to assess your entitlements, organise a work capacity assessment and any necessary medical reviews. The work capacity assessment, including any medical review, must be conducted in Australia before departure.

If I am eligible for this Budget measure, will there be changes to my obligations or reporting requirements?

Generally, normal DSP obligations and reporting requirements will remain unchanged. Customers who depart Australia will be required to update their contact details with Centrelink.

If the Budget measure involves a payment, when/how will it be paid?

The basic rate of DSP will not change under this measure. Some supplementary payments, such as Pension Supplement, will be affected if DSP customers remain outside Australia for more than 13 weeks.

For extended periods outside Australia, the frequency of DSP payments will change from fortnightly to every four weeks. Payments will continue to be made directly to customers’ nominated bank account.

What does ‘no work capacity’ mean?

Eligibility criteria for meeting the ‘no work capacity’ test are yet to be defined. Centrelink will provide information once they become available.


www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1112/measures/disability-and-illness/9888

[skeptic]

I advised c/l international services yesterday that I would I going overseas and would be coming back early September. No problems getting the 13 weeks.

I also told her that I want to apply for portability and she asked when I was leaving. I told her I will be applying when I get back from my next trip and didn't have a definite date in mind and that I wanted the forms sent out to me.

She then started telling me about the possibility of me losing my dsp if I went ahead with it. I got a little agitated and asked her why is it only now that I want to apply for potability that my disability is in question and why hasn't this been addresses before to which she didn't give me a meaningful reply.

I also said that I am not afraid to lose my dsp as I am qualified enough to be on it. She said that the forms will be going to a c/l specialist ( I think she said ) to be assessed or reviewed and then they will be sent to me.

I received a letter from c/l today confirming my plans to travel but nothing relating to the forms that I have asked for.

I noticed on the list of things to tell c/l within 14 days "if the balance of your financial investments (such as you bank account) changes by more than $2000". Does anyone know what is the amount of money that one can have before their dsp payment is affected ( eg pensioners can have up to 160k or so before their payment is affected ). Also aren't you allowed to have your dsp payment accumulate whilst you are overseas. I borrowed the money from family and will pay them back when I get here. Does that mean that I have to tell c/l after the money goes over $2000 or do I need to somehow keep on withdrawing the money.

I might give them a call now and see if I can get through just in case no one knows the answer.

[rowdy]

Jul 6, 2012 12:09:52 GMT 7 skeptic said:

I advised c/l international services yesterday that I would I going overseas and would be coming back early September. No problems getting the 13 weeks.

I also told her that I want to apply for portability and she asked when I was leaving. I told her I will be applying when I get back from my next trip and didn't have a definite date in mind and that I wanted the forms sent out to me.

She then started telling me about the possibility of me losing my dsp if I went ahead with it. I got a little agitated and asked her why is it only now that I want to apply for potability that my disability is in question and why hasn't this been addresses before to which she didn't give me a meaningful reply.

I also said that I am not afraid to lose my dsp as I am qualified enough to be on it. She said that the forms will be going to a c/l specialist ( I think she said ) to be assessed or reviewed and then they will be sent to me.

I received a letter from c/l today confirming my plans to travel but nothing relating to the forms that I have asked for.

I noticed on the list of things to tell c/l within 14 days "if the balance of your financial investments (such as you bank account) changes by more than $2000". Does anyone know what is the amount of money that one can have before their dsp payment is affected ( eg pensioners can have up to 160k or so before their payment is affected ). Also aren't you allowed to have your dsp payment accumulate whilst you are overseas. I borrowed the money from family and will pay them back when I get here. Does that mean that I have to tell c/l after the money goes over $2000 or do I need to somehow keep on withdrawing the money.

I might give them a call now and see if I can get through just in case no one knows the answer.

Anyone applying for unlimited portability will have their disability assessed under the new impairment tables. Some people therefore may not qualify for the DSP let alone unlimited portability. It is as simple as that unfortunately. Remember that the new impairment tables were bought in to make it harder to qualify for the DSP and not easier.

[skeptic]

Thanks for that Rowdy I have looked at the new impairment tables and see no reason why I shouldn't qualify. If we are not willing to stand up for ourselves then we deserve whatever they dish out.

I know that the system is corrupt and unjust but we can't just blindly accept whatever they throw at us without a fight.

Brian Wilshire 2gb radio host quoting from a placard in Parliament House Canberra ( I think ) " if the law is unjust then resistance is our duty"

Getting back to my question in my previous post. Started calling c/l at 3.30pm, phone busy till 4pm, on hold untill 4.50pm to finally speak to someone. The guy at the other end was very helpful and told me that you can have approx. $101,000 before payment gets adjusted but when over approx $44k they deem interest at 3%. For more info you can find tables and asset test for dsp at following website
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/disability-support-pension