Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 7:23:57 GMT 7
It's a standard letter, nothing we don't already know, but at least someone replied. It's the only one I've received from 8 sent to various members & senators. It's on standard DSS letterhead, which I just cannot get to att. here. Cheers bear
Australian Government
Department of Social Services
Mr xxxxx xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx@ gmail.com
Dear Mr xxxxxxx
Thank you for your email of 17 June 2014 to the Parliamentary Seoretary to the Minister for
Social Servicas, Senator the Hon Concetta Fienavanti-Wells, about portability of the Disability
Support Pension (DSP). Your email was referred to the Minister for Social Services,
the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, as this matter falls within his portfolio responsibilities.
The Minister has asked the Department to reply to you on his behalf.
Once in receipt of DSP, recipients may be subject to a review process. This is normally brought
about by changes in circumstances such as eamings, assets or updated medical information. The
review process is not intended to cause distress but is part of a general review process regarding
DSP eligibility.
If the person was granted DSP before 11 May 2005, they are reviewed under the 30-hour per
week work capacity rule. However, a DSP recipient who is subject to a review is assessed under
the revised Impairment Tables regardless of when they were granted DSP.
As part ofthe review process people on DSP may be required to provide details about their
medical condition and work ability. They may also be asked to provide a report from their
treating doctor, which includes information about their medical condition such as diagnosis,
clinical features and symptoms, teatment and stability. Additional information from treating
specialists and other health professionals may also be provided.
This is an important aspect of maintaining the integnty of the social sey system.
As you are aware, disability support pensioners who have a severe and permanent disability and
no future work capacity can apply for indefinite portalility of their pension. Disability support
pensioners who wish to claim indefinite portability are required to be assessed against the new
criteria prior to their departure with regard to the severity and permanency of their disability.
Additionally, they are assessed for their capacity for work through the Job Capacity Assessment
process.
The assessment criteria for indefinite portability require that the DSP recipients' severe impairment
will persist for at least the next 5 yems, and will prevent the person from doing any
work independently of a program of support in the next 5 years. This is consistent with the
intention of indefinite portability, which is to support people who have a high level disability,
little prospect of ever entering the workforce in Austalia and wish to travel overseas for
prolonged periods to be with family or friends for care and support.
PO Box 7576 Canbena Business Centre ACT 2610
Telephone 1300653227
National Relay Servlce: TTY: 133 677, Sp6ak and llsten: 1300 555 727, lnternet relay: www.relayservice.com.au
wwudss,gov.au