Post by rowdy on Jul 4, 2012 17:33:18 GMT 7
Going back over a letter I received from Macklin's office back in May 2010, I had ask a question why so many SSAT appeals get overturned. This was in a response to a media report that almost one third of SSAT appeal get overturned.
The reply I got stated amongst other things stated:
...."Your email seeks an explanation for why approximately one-third of Centrelink decisions are overturned on appeal by the applicant, and how much this costs the taxpayer each year. Centrelink staff make millions of decisions each year. The proportion of decisions made by Centrelink and subsequently changed by the SSAT is very small. The SSAT reviewed 16,288 separate decisions in 2008-09 of which just over 50 per cent were affirmed as Centrelink making the correct decision, 26 per cent of appeals were set aside or varied and nearly 23 per cent were either withdrawn, dismissed or did not fall within the SSAT's jurisdiction.
According to the 2008-09 SSAT Annual Report, the average cost of reviewing a decision in 2008-09 was $1,732. The vast majority of decisions varied or set aside were the result pf the customer introducing new or additional information. The Government fully supports Australians having the right to ask the independent SSAT to review decisions made by Centrelink"....
Anyone there appealing to the SSAT should do their absolute best to introduce new evidence against Centrelinks decisions. If it is a residency issue, then evidence of factors that Centrelink didn't taken into consideration. If it is an medical assessment issue, then perhaps more doctors or specialists reports.
With Centrelink making millions of decisions each year and having to follow the legislation, they will not always get it right.
The reply I got stated amongst other things stated:
...."Your email seeks an explanation for why approximately one-third of Centrelink decisions are overturned on appeal by the applicant, and how much this costs the taxpayer each year. Centrelink staff make millions of decisions each year. The proportion of decisions made by Centrelink and subsequently changed by the SSAT is very small. The SSAT reviewed 16,288 separate decisions in 2008-09 of which just over 50 per cent were affirmed as Centrelink making the correct decision, 26 per cent of appeals were set aside or varied and nearly 23 per cent were either withdrawn, dismissed or did not fall within the SSAT's jurisdiction.
According to the 2008-09 SSAT Annual Report, the average cost of reviewing a decision in 2008-09 was $1,732. The vast majority of decisions varied or set aside were the result pf the customer introducing new or additional information. The Government fully supports Australians having the right to ask the independent SSAT to review decisions made by Centrelink"....
Anyone there appealing to the SSAT should do their absolute best to introduce new evidence against Centrelinks decisions. If it is a residency issue, then evidence of factors that Centrelink didn't taken into consideration. If it is an medical assessment issue, then perhaps more doctors or specialists reports.
With Centrelink making millions of decisions each year and having to follow the legislation, they will not always get it right.
