3.10.3 Lodging a Claim under Financial Hardship Provisions

Lodgement of a claim for consideration under hardship rules

A request for consideration under the hardship rules must be made in writing by a person seeking to have the hardship rules applied in the calculation of their pension and must be lodged at an office of the Department in Australia.

Information required to determine claim

It will be necessary to obtain the following information from the claimant in order to determine whether the financial hardship rules apply:

• details of what the person considers to be unrealisable assets,    
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  Section 3.10.4 Unrealisable Assets

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• information in support of their claim that they cannot sell or realise or could not reasonably be expected to sell or realise those assets,
• details of estimated unavoidable or reasonable expenditure,

• weekly living expenses including food, health/medical insurance, fares, child care, etc.,
• quarterly living expenses including electricity, gas, telephone,
• yearly living expenses including car registration, car insurance, rates, education, clothing, etc.,

• information in support of their claim that they cannot use those assets as security for borrowing, or, could not reasonably be expected to use those assets as security for borrowing.

Signatories if assets are jointly held

If assets are in joint names both parties must sign the request. If the partner is also applying for payment under the hardship provisions, they must also sign.