Last amended: 15 August 2022
Consideration of permanent incapacity without medical examination – invalidity service pension
A person may be regarded as permanently incapacitated for the purpose of invalidity service pension without need to seek a medical examination where the person is:
- blind in both eyes,
- a special rate (TPI) pensioner (but not receiving a temporary special rate colloquially known as TTI pension), or
- manifestly disabled.
Consideration of permanent incapacity without medical examination – invalidity income support supplement
A person may be regarded as permanently incapacitated for the purpose of invalidity income support supplement (ISS) without the need to seek a medical examination where the person:
- is blind in both eyes, or
- has qualified for disability support pension from Centrelink within the last two years, or
- is manifestly disabled.
Blind in both eyes
People who provide evidence of being permanently blind in both eyes are accepted as permanently incapacitated without further investigation. A determination of being permanently blind in both eyes is made on the basis of evidence from an ophthalmologist. The Snellen Scale is the specified tool which must be used to gain a measure of visual acuity.
People who are permanently blind in both eyes may be engaged in casual or full-time work without affecting their eligibility for invalidity service pension or invalidity ISS.
People in receipt of invalidity service pension or invalidity ISS because they are permanently blind in both eyes are not subject to the income or assets tests for pension purposes.
Special (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated) Rate Pensioners
Pensioners in receipt of the special rate of Disability Compensation Payment on a permanent basis either because they are Special Rate (T&PI) or are blind in both eyes, are automatically regarded as permanently incapacitated (for the purpose of invalidity service pension). Where such a person claims invalidity service pension, there will be no requirement for further medical examination. Receipt of special rate is not an automatic qualification for invalidity ISS. However, in the majority of cases receipt of special rate would be sufficient to make a decision on permanent incapacity without further investigation.
Manifestly Disabled
In order to prevent veterans or invalidity ISS claimants being sent to medical examinations that are unnecessary, Commission has defined 'manifest'.
Definition of manifest – service pension
'Manifest' for service pension purposes means that the veteran clearly and obviously meets the invalidity service pension eligibility criteria, based on the presenting medical evidence available to the Department. No additional medical assessment or work capacity test is required for the decision maker to form an opinion regarding 'permanently incapacitated'.
Definition of manifest – ISS
For invalidity ISS purposes, the definition of manifest is the definition used in the Guide to Social Security Law. This is because permanent incapacity for invalidity ISS purposes is assessed by using the impairment tables in the Social Security Act.
Guide to Social Security Law 1.1.M.30 Manifest DSP
'Manifest' means that the person is clearly and obviously medically qualified for invalidity ISS, based on the presenting medical evidence. No additional medical assessment is required for the decision-maker to form an opinion regarding medical qualification for invalidity ISS.