Forms and Letters

[Banjo]

Copies of forms like JCA applications, TDRs and standard Centrelink letters of reply can be placed here.
Please make sure that all personal information is removed.

[murphy]

The Treating Doctor's Report is no longer provided to DSP recipients during the review process, so don't wait for one to come in the mail.

You can, however, ask your doctor to complete a Centrelink Medical Report. These are acceptable:

Report forms:

Medical Report for Disability Support Pension - 11 pages:
Medical Report Disability Support Pension.pdf (89.83 KB)

Treating Doctor's Report for Disability Support Pension (outside Australia). Although the report is labelled "outside Australia," you may still submit this document during review to provide details of your conditions. This is an extensive report - 32 pages:
Treating Doctors Report Outside Australia.pdf (149.03 KB)

These are the Medical Evidence Requirements for DSP Review required by Centrelink. You will receive this document when you are selected for review.
Medical Evidence Requirements DSP Review.pdf (59.99 KB)

About Collecting Evidence:

As you will have 21 days to submit your evidence, start collecting it now.

Think about any hospital or medical practice at which you have received treatment, and approach them for your records. It will take more than 21 days to obtain your records from almost all hospitals, so start now.

Public hospitals generally do not charge for providing records. Private hospitals will charge, and charges vary considerably. When you submit your request, advise them that you are a Disability Support Pensioner and ask if a concession is available.

 

[murphy]

This Factsheet was developed by the Welfare Rights Centre (NSW).

It focuses on appeals, but also describes in considerable detail the aspects of your disability upon which your doctor should comment.

On page 5 is a sample letter to your doctor. It is quite a blunt letter, and you may wish to make it more subtle. Alternatively, you could simply take the whole Factsheet to your doctor. Advise your doctor's practice that you will require a long appointment.

Welfare Rights Centre Factsheet:
Disability Support Pension Medical Appeals ....pdf (422.06 KB)

[Banjo]

Suggestion by a member for a letter to a health care professional by someone applying for the DSP

Dear Psychologist

I am writing to ask for your help with my application for disability support pension (DSP).
Under s. 94 of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth), a person qualifies for DSP when they:

1. are aged over 16 and
2. meet the Australian residence requirements and
3. have participated in a program of support for at least 18 months in the three years prior to
applying for DSP (unless a single permanent medical condition scores 20 points or more
on the impairment tables listed at www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2011L02716) and
4. have permanent medical condition/s, which means:
a. fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised and
b. unlikely to significantly improve in the next two years and
5. score at least 20 points for their impairments on the impairment tables and
6. have a continuing inability to work more than 15 hours per week for the next
two years.

Please write a letter to Centrelink which answers the following questions about my mental
health condition:

1. Fully diagnosed and treated
a. What is the name of the doctor or psychiatrist who diagnosed my condition?
b. When did they diagnose my condition?
c. What are my symptoms?
d. What treatments have I had?
e. What treatments will likely be continued for the next two years?

2. Fully stabilised and unlikely to improve
a. Are further treatments reasonably available that are likely to lead to a significant
functional improvement in my conditions enabling me to work in the next 2 years?
b. If there is treatment which is reasonably available which I have not undertaken, is
there a medical or other reason for me not to undertake the treatment?

3. Impairment ratings
a. In close reference to Impairment Table 5, what impairment rating do you allocate to
my mental health condition?
b. In close reference to the Descriptors in Impairment Table 5, what are the functional
impacts of my mental health condition on the relevant activities?

4. Continuing inability to work

a. Am I unable to work for at least 15 hours a week for at least the next two years
because of the functional impairments caused by my mental health condition?
b. Am I unable to undertake training activities for at least the next 2 years because of
the functional impairments caused by my mental health condition?
c. If I am able to undertake training, will my impairments still prevent me from working
in the next 2 years?
d. If I have provided you with a Job Capacity Assessment report from Centrelink, is
there anything in that report that you disagree with?
e. Is there any other information that you think is relevant?

I need you to read Impairment Table 5 and the Rules for Applying the Impairment Tables
before you write your letter and state which Impairment Tables you are using to rate my
impairments.

Please make sure that your letter is on your letterhead and is signed and dated.
Thank you for your support and assistance.

Yours faithfully

[murphy]

DSPers who commenced pre-2005 have the 30 hour rule apply to them, so references to 15hrs should be changed to 30hrs. (see Ashard and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review) [2016] AATA 497 (15 July 2016))