Need advice on portability

[dan42]

Hello all,
Firstly thank you for this forum, you guys are doing amazing work.

My query is about the stages of applying for portability. I have asked for my records through an FOI request and am waiting to hear back. Once that happens, I plan to ring the international services line and ask to apply for portability. So what happens next?

Do they send out forms that myself and any medical personnel need to fill, which I then return to centrelink? Is there a time limit to when the forms need to be sent back and are there penalties for being late?

And at what stage is a JCA arranged? Will I be asked to go through one after the forms are received by them or will it happen as soon as I apply for portability?

Many thanks in advance,
Dan

[bear]

Once that happens, I plan to ring the international services line and ask to apply for portability. So what happens next?

G'day dan42, welcome to the forum.

When you call Centrelink international Services, (CIS) they may or may not try to put the frighteners on you about losing your DSP if your application fails, but, in answer to your other questions; let's not get ahead of ourselves......

Q1 Do they send out forms that myself and any medical personnel need to fill, which I then return to centrelink? YES.

Q2 Is there a time limit to when the forms need to be sent back and are there penalties for being late? NO 
If after receiving your FOI and it is not conducive to a probable positive application outcome, you can put the forms in the draw, the bin or do whatever you want with them. There won't be any penalty applied for not returning them.

A JCA will be arranged at their leisure after you've returned the application.

Anecdotally, age is believed to play a part in some circumstances. There is also a provision to self fund portability beyond the mandated 28 days per calendar year.

An Over Seas(OS) location may also make the application simpler, should you be intending to go to a country that has a social security agreement with Australia. You coul ask CIS about this when you call. Also ask for receipt numbers for your calls to ensure they will remain with your file indefinitely. Cheers 🐻


www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/international/international-social-security-agreements/current-international-social-security-agreements

The point of obtaining your file is to see if you fit the criteria of 20 points on one table and whether you have No Future Work Capacity (NFWC) of 0-2 hrs for the next 5 years to qualify for IP/UP.

Recent member's successful applications have had their medicos apply Centrelink Speak as used in the disability tables in the relevant section.

Notes:- New tables here www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2023L00188 have come into force this year, and will be in force until 2033.

General rules of portability Summary:-
guides.dss.gov.au/social-security guide/7/1/2/10#:~:text=To%20be%20eligible%20for%20indefinite,impairment%20within%20this%20period)%2C%20and

[dan42]

Thank you so much for the in-depth response! I do have a follow-up question. Is a JCA arranged regardless of the forms that I submit, or is it a sign that I have met the points requirement? Like, will they just not do a JCA if they think I won't meet the points requirement or is it done as a mandatory thing after they receive the forms?

If I make it to that stage (JCA), I just need to know how hopeful I should feel.

Also, if they need more medical evidence, is this asked during or before a JCA occurs?

Thanks again, I'm learning so much from this forum, it's invaluable.

[anthonydsp]

They will definitely do a JCA to see if you qualify for unlimited portability you have to get 20 points in 1 table if you have extra medical evidence you should put that in with your application for unlimited portability then they will assess your new medical evidence that you provide with your application to see if you get 20 points in one table to qualify for it good luck with your application for unlimited portability keep us posted

[bear]

As anthonydsp has said dan42

Once you submit your forms a JCA will be arranged regardless of anything written on the forms, your file or your points; hence my comment re not rushing in and getting ahead of yourself. 
 
Provided you've requested your file from pre DSP application to current date; with the info from links provided, that should give you a fair indication of just how hopeful you should be through an honest self assessment of the info that they hold on you.

Then submit your forms because, an IP/UP application is for all intents and purposes a client requested review of their DSP.  Cheers 🐻 

[nomadic]

Welcome, Dan. Without knowing anything about your disability, if you are listed on your file as manifestly disabled as I was you should have no trouble getting portability. Good luck and you seem to be doing it correctly depending on what's in your file. More chance of getting it also if you have only been on DSP since 2012 when the rules got harsher. Prior to that is more risk of a DSP review in general.

[bear]

dan42..... Another option to see how things look regarding portability, is to go into your local office and pick up a copy of your JCA that your DSP was granted on.

[dan42]

I'm so grateful to all of you for the advice. I'm going to request the application forms today so that I can have a logical think about my chances in the weeks to come.

My dsp was granted pre 2012 so I'm a little worried. I'm pretty sure that I didn't have JCAs back when it was granted (early 2000s) as my memory from that time is dim. In my FOI, I have requested my file from dsp application time to current, especially asking for:

Medical & psychological reviews & assessments
Any JCAs, work capacity assessments or equivalent
Disability officer assessments
The tables and points therein that were used for my dsp application

Should I have requested anything more?

[bear]

Should I have requested anything more?

That sounds like you have it covered dan42

Though the extra information does bring these two questions into the equation.

Q1. Have you ever been reviewed pre 2012 since receiving your DSP grant?
If not that may be a reasonable indicator of you having NFWC and a high points score; though possibly over a numer of tables, which can prove problematic when being reviewed under the newer harsher 2012 rules.
   
Q2. Have you maintained an ongoing up to date relationship with your original medical team regarding your disability?

If not, as previously mentioned, having your records brought up to date to reflect the newest tables is imperative; before making an application which shows at least 20 points on one table.

Though the closer you are to receiving aged pension, the less stringent they're likely to be, if they consider the length of time you've been on DSP with no departmental interaction; IMO only!! Cheers 🐻

[dan42]

Hello bear I haven't ever been reviewed for dsp but am not sure how I scored across or within a table. Hopefully, the FOI request will show what had occured. As for your 2nd question, I haven't maintained an ongoing relationship with the original docs but my current gp is excellent and should be able to update the records. Do the portability application forms only accept specialist assessments or will a GP's suffice?

I'm still a couple decades away from the age pension but I've been on dsp since my early 20s so hoping centrelink will be kind towards me *fingers crossed*

[bear]

Do the portability application forms only accept specialist assessments or will a GP's suffice?

A GP assessment would suffice but; why not fully update your history and give them your specialist's most current diagnoses as well. In our experience, the more you put into it, the better your chances of a successful application first time around.

Eg. As there's no limit on the number of times you can apply; would it make sense to only go with your GP, only to be denied. Personally I'd consider that outcome frustrating, knowing that I'd definitely be reapplying and knowing I'd be going back to my GP as well as to my specialists.

When your file arrives you'll be able to prepare with confidence. You'll be able to peruse the tables, make notes to help your doctors use Centrelink's own descriptors to strengthen your case, by having your doctors use their own words to describe your situation; verbatim from the tables.  The points and associated tables on my file were written in the LH margin and required several readings to find, and ascertain exactly where I stood in the scheme of things and although I had points spread over several tables, the highest majority were only in one. Note:- The lower points 5 & 10 from memory were discontinued from 2012 onwards.

Never having been reviewed is great, for the reason previously outlined. The possibility of having been declared as NFWC. Fully upgrading you medical will bring it up to the latest modern medical standard, which is what they need to do your JCA to the best of their ability.

"hoping centrelink will be kind towards me *fingers crossed*"; me too. Knowing you've got freedom to come and go at will is better than winning lotto imo. Cheers 🐻

[dan42]

Thanks for that advice, bear. You're absolutely right, I should get specialists reports and give myself the best chance possible. I was worried about the wait times to see specialists but the freedom to travel is worth it.

Now this may sound like a stupid question, but why does the staff warn people that applying for portability may take their dsp entirely away if people can apply any number of times?

Also thank you for giving me an idea of how complicated the file may seem.

Thank you for all you do here!

[JJJ88]

May 26, 2023 22:48:43 GMT 7 bear said:

Do the portability application forms only accept specialist assessments or will a GP's suffice?

A GP assessment would suffice but; why not fully update your history and give them your specialist's most current diagnoses as well. In our experience, the more you put into it, the better your chances of a successful application first time around.

Eg. As there's no limit on the number of times you can apply; would it make sense to only go with your GP, only to be denied. Personally I'd consider that outcome frustrating, knowing that I'd definitely be reapplying and knowing I'd be going back to my GP as well as to my specialists.

When your file arrives you'll be able to prepare with confidence. You'll be able to peruse the tables, make notes to help your doctors use Centrelink's own descriptors to strengthen your case, by having your doctors use their own words to describe your situation; verbatim from the tables.  The points and associated tables on my file were written in the LH margin and required several readings to find, and ascertain exactly where I stood in the scheme of things and although I had points spread over several tables, the highest majority were only in one. Note:- The lower points 5 & 10 from memory were discontinued from 2012 onwards.

Never having been reviewed is great, for the reason previously outlined. The possibility of having been declared as NFWC. Fully upgrading you medical will bring it up to the latest modern medical standard, which is what they need to do your JCA to the best of their ability.

"hoping centrelink will be kind towards me *fingers crossed*"; me too. Knowing you've got freedom to come and go at will is better than winning lotto imo. Cheers 🐻

Well I must have got jackpot because that's what the kind man at international services said, "You can come and go as you please".

Dan, I found that having some sort of support worker with you helps with the JCA interview. In my case it was a mental health nurse who knew me well  and helped me answer the questions in the interview. That was before I even knew about the FOI file that you can get. Mind you to qualify you need 20 points and apparently I'm closer to 30 points. Anyway good luck.

Cheers

J

Cheers 

J

[bear]

why does the staff warn people that applying for portability may take their dsp 

Because when the new rules came in people who were granted under the old system weren't grandfathered and that was a distinct possibility when you got to the JCA stage where allied health professions got to play doctor and set your points & tables. Eg. A Sports Therapist doing a JCA on a new application or a review on a mental health patient. What could possibly go wrong?

Back then it was also all about lowering the numbers on DSP, by any means. Though I think I recall a recent applicant say they never gave them the warning speech, so, perhaps things have been relaxed in that regard. Cheers 🐻

[JJJ88]

I'de say it's because the Gov. is now ALP. More compasion if you like.

Cheers

J