B61/1991 STATUTORY PENSION INCREASES EDUCATION ALLOWANCE AND ORPHAN'S PENSION FROM 9 JANUARY 1992 - ADP PROCEDURES

DATE OF ISSUE:

STATUTORY PENSION INCREASES EDUCATION ALLOWANCE AND ORPHAN'S PENSION FROM 9 JANUARY 1992 - ADP PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION

1.The rates of the allowances paid to children in the Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) have been reviewed and adjusted to bring them into alignment with rates in the AUSTUDY or ABSEC schemes.

Note:A separate instruction will be distributed for the Additional Pension for Children and Guardian's Allowance increases.

TIMETABLE

2.The annual indexation increase in Orphans Pensions, and the VCES adjustment will be effective from 9 January 1992.  Processing is scheduled for the weekend of 14-15 December 1991.

NEW RATES

3.The new rates for Orphans Pensions will be:

Double Orphan rate$106.50 per fortnight

Single Orphan rate$53.30 per fortnight

processing

4.Processing will be divided into cases updated automatically, and cases requiring manual action.

Automatic Cases

5.Where possible, rates will be increased automatically by program RSPYAL05.

Manual Cases

6.Manual cases will be listed on action schedules with all PMF segments shown at pre-increase rates.  Manual action will comprise entering the new rate in the "new fortnightly" column and where necessary, amending the pension category and/or code of the relevant segment.

7.Care must be taken when performing output examining checks, to ensure that the Education Allowance increase transaction has not deleted a one-time adjustment, applied to the Payment Master File between the commencement of pay-period 66 and the manual update.

Suspensions

8.After processing on the weekend of 14-15 December, should any records contain a suspension code (category 71), the following steps should take place:

.Increase the suspension component to the new rate and continue EA, if this has already been increased by the automatic runs.

.Increase the suspension component and EA if this has not been increased by the automatic runs.

Punching of Transactions from Action Schedules

9.Pay Period - The Pay period number 66 should be entered for both cheque and direct credit payees.  The day within pay period field may be left blank.

10.Keyfast Batch Description - Manual transactions should be transmitted under the usual Pension Payment KEYFAST Code of $PENSIO by cutoff for payday 9 January 1992.

Parameter Cards

11.Listings of the parameter cards used in processing these increases are attached.  These listings should be checked by an officer of your Branch to ensure that they are correct before processing commences.

Pension Code Book and Rates Charts

12.Replacement ADP Pension Payments Code Book and Rates Charts will be produced and distributed separately.

NCC Implications

13.This exercise is scheduled for 14/15 December 1991.  Benefits Applications Section will provide a detailed schedule closer to the processing date.

Contact Officer

14.Should you have any difficulties with the exercise or find any discrepancies in the parameter cards please advise Glenys Canning on telephone (06) 289 6019.  The after hours contact officer is KEN STEWART telephone (06) 282 4794.

DAVID MACKRELL

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT