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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 13:12:53 GMT 7
Hi Guys,
Have found this website very helpful from what I have read already.
I am currently on DSP (blind) and am legally blind not completely blind.
I'm planning to apply for UP some time this year as I would like to move abroad with my partner.
I would like to learn more about UP.
Is it possible to travel back and forth to and from Australia on UP? Or do you need to settle in one place?
Also if I could have the password for the UP sub forum that would be great.
Thank you all
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Post by nomadic on Jul 6, 2020 15:45:00 GMT 7
Welcome & In brief for now. Once you get UP you are free to come and go as you please for any length of time. Getting it is another matter again.
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 16:09:14 GMT 7
Welcome & In brief for now. Once you get UP you are free to come and go as you please for any length of time. Getting it is another matter again. Really appreciate that info, thank you. |
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Post by bear on Jul 6, 2020 16:34:11 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum mickyonline . We like to advise people to obtain their file under FOI (freedom of information) so they can make an educated guess as to whether they are in with a chance to actually receive UP. Being legally blind should actually increase your chances. Here is the link for applying for and receiving your file. It takes 30 days normally, can be done online and is free. There is a specific set of information you will need to ask for......we can advise on that later. FOIwww.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/about-us/access-information/freedom-informationThe lower links are a general view to UP requirements. You must have at least 20 points on one table. I don't know how the department may differentiate degrees of blindness i.e. permanently blind, (see below) as opposed to legally blind, not completely blind. Due to the personal nature of threads in the UP sub forum, until we've gotten to know you; your request for access is being declined. We will happily place this thread into there should it become necessary due to the nature of the information going into posts. Cheers bear
General requirements for UP
guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/7/1/2/10guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/1/1/s/1101.1.S.110 Severely disabled (DSP)
DefinitionFor the purposes of DSP, a recipient is severely disabled if the recipient: has a physical, psychiatric or intellectual impairment, or 2 or all of these impairments, which make the recipient: totally unable to work for at least the next 2 years, and unable to benefit within the next 2 years from participation in a program of assistance or a rehabilitation program, or is permanently blind (1.1.P.210). |
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Post by imajica on Jul 6, 2020 17:01:59 GMT 7
welcome,
The length of portability also varies depending on which payment you are receiving; with portability referring to the amount of time an individual can be absent from Australia without their payments being suspended. A portability period of up to six weeks applies to individuals on the DSP (blind), while those on the Age Pension (blind) can travel overseas for up to 6 months while still receiving their pension. Should an individual return to Australia after the specified time period, their pension will be suspended and subsequently cancelled.
Unlike those on the Age Pension (blind), however, individuals on the DSP (blind) are able to apply for indefinite portability. Indefinite portability; meaning that they are able to be absent from Australia for an unspecified period of time and will still continue to receive payments. As blindness is considered a manifest disability, individuals on the DSP (blind) may be eligible for indefinite portability without the need for a Job Capacity Assessment. If
you wish to apply for indefinite portability, you will need to contact Centrelink’s International Service (ph: 131 673) well in advance of your departure from Australia.
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 17:23:37 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum mickyonline . We like to advise people to obtain their file under FOI (freedom of information) so they can make an educated guess as to whether they are in with a chance to actually receive UP. Being legally blind should actually increase your chances. Here is the link for applying for and receiving your file. It takes 30 days normally, can be done online and is free. There is a specific set of information you will need to ask for......we can advise on that later. FOIwww.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/about-us/access-information/freedom-informationThe lower links are a general view to UP requirements. You must have at least 20 points on one table. I don't know how the department may differentiate degrees of blindness i.e. permanently blind, (see below) as opposed to legally blind, not completely blind. Due to the personal nature of threads in the UP sub forum, until we've gotten to know you; your request for access is being declined. We will happily place this thread into there should it become necessary due to the nature of the information going into posts. Cheers bear
General requirements for UP
guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/7/1/2/10guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/1/1/s/1101.1.S.110 Severely disabled (DSP)
DefinitionFor the purposes of DSP, a recipient is severely disabled if the recipient: has a physical, psychiatric or intellectual impairment, or 2 or all of these impairments, which make the recipient: totally unable to work for at least the next 2 years, and unable to benefit within the next 2 years from participation in a program of assistance or a rehabilitation program, or is permanently blind (1.1.P.210).Thank you for the info. Do you happen to know if there is a pdf version of the application/medical form for UP available here? I would like to see my ophthalmologist with the forms before I dare call international services. I was granted DSP after 2012 though still there is a chance of being booted off. I guess I will ask for my file under FOI and go from there. Do you know what document I should be requesting? Do I just say cl file? |
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 17:25:54 GMT 7
welcome, The length of portability also varies depending on which payment you are receiving; with portability referring to the amount of time an individual can be absent from Australia without their payments being suspended. A portability period of up to six weeks applies to individuals on the DSP (blind), while those on the Age Pension (blind) can travel overseas for up to 6 months while still receiving their pension. Should an individual return to Australia after the specified time period, their pension will be suspended and subsequently cancelled. Unlike those on the Age Pension (blind), however, individuals on the DSP (blind) are able to apply for indefinite portability. Indefinite portability; meaning that they are able to be absent from Australia for an unspecified period of time and will still continue to receive payments. As blindness is considered a manifest disability, individuals on the DSP (blind) may be eligible for indefinite portability without the need for a Job Capacity Assessment. If you wish to apply for indefinite portability, you will need to contact Centrelink’s International Service (ph: 131 673) well in advance of your departure from Australia. Thank you for your info. Though in regards to portability I believe people on DSP are only able to be abroad for 28 days now before their payment is suspended. |
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Post by nomadic on Jul 6, 2020 18:46:00 GMT 7
yes 28 days is correct after they cut it from 6 weeks. Also I think some countries still have reciprocal agreements with Australia so you can go to them without UP. What country do you intend to go to. It may save you a lot of hard work.
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 18:53:45 GMT 7
yes 28 days is correct after they cut it from 6 weeks. Also I think some countries still have reciprocal agreements with Australia so you can go to them without UP. What country do you intend to go to. It may save you a lot of hard work. Unfortunately not so lucky. I plan to reside in the Philippines. |
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Post by bear on Jul 6, 2020 19:10:07 GMT 7
mickyonline .....For your FOI ask for all documents from a date prior to your DSP application to current date. Include your full name, address, d.o.b & CRN and a contact number in the email if that's going to be your preferred method. Application forms are only available from International Services. If you call they'll more than likely go out of their way to try and dissuade you from applying re possibility of losing DSP. Just bear with them and say you want them anyhow. On the upside we did have a member who made a successful application late last year. Cheers bear.
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 6, 2020 19:50:28 GMT 7
Thank you bear. I will apply for my information and go from there.
I also guess what you mean is asking international services for the forms is not the same as submitting them. So I will ask for them and not submit until I'm comfortable that I am completely eligible after seeing my file and speaking to my ophthalmologist.
Will touch base when I have my file.
Thank you all.
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Post by tasjo on Jul 7, 2020 8:07:27 GMT 7
What bear has said regarding the forms is correct micky... I have contacted international services and asked about UP but as yet havent filled them in because I have considered it too risky for me (my dsp claim was only accepted at AAT level 2)
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 7, 2020 10:38:35 GMT 7
What bear has said regarding the forms is correct micky... I have contacted international services and asked about UP but as yet havent filled them in because I have considered it too risky for me (my dsp claim was only accepted at AAT level 2) Thank you tasjo appreciate the confirmation. It will be interesting to see what my ophthalmologist will write in the forms. |
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Post by anthonydsp on Jul 7, 2020 10:49:24 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum im sure you will get very useful information from members here this forum helped me immensley i didnt know anything about unlimited portability until i joined this forum and i applied for it and was granted UP this forum is a very good forum and it and the members have helped me so much so welcome again
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Post by mickyonline on Jul 17, 2020 13:53:04 GMT 7
Okay guys I have just applied for my centrelink files under FOI. Guess that will take sometime to arrive.
I just had the strangest conversation with International services.
I told them I plan to move abroad in 2021 as I cant get out at this time. So I would like to apply for UP.
The operator made me wait on hold for a good 15 mins then come back online and said "good news you have now been pre-approved for UP, just give us a call a couple of weeks before you plan to leave and we will get you to fill out some details."
Sounds to me like they were avoiding sending me the forms which is what I really wanted and was the point of the phone call.
Can anyone explain what just happened. Does being pre-approved even mean anything? Lol
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