C25/2005 REASSESSMENT OF COMSUPER ((CSS & PSS) and (DFRDB & MSBS)) SUPERANNUATION PENSIONS

Purpose of instruction

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the July 2005 reassessment of ComSuper ((CSS & PSS) and (DFRDB & MSBS)) superannuation pensions.

Background

ComSuper superannuation pensions are adjusted bi-annually in January and July.  The CPI increase to be applied to the July 2005 adjustment is 1.4%.

Processing date

Reassessment processing to reflect the July 2005 CPI increases to ComSuper superannuation pensions will be conducted over two evenings - NSW, TAS & VIC will be processed on Monday, 4 — th July 2005 and QLD, SA & WA on Tuesday, 5 — th July 2005.

Effective date

The effective date of the reassessment will be 5 — th July 2005.

On pension payday 21 — st July 2005, pensioners will receive a full installment at the new assessed rate.

Advice letter target audience

A letter will be produced for Income Support pensioners in receipt of ComSuper superannuation pensions whose pension has been varied by the reassessment run.  There will be approximately 20,000 advice letters produced nationally.

Change in  ComSuper Reference Names in Advice Letters

Changes were introduced in January 2005 to the provider name changes for Defined Benefit income streams Commonwealth Superannuation Fund and Defence Forces Retirement Benefits (Super type codes 03 & 04) to reflect the official ComSuper name as it appears in the ComSuper website and on their stationary letterhead.

The advice letters will reflect the following references to Super type codes 03 & 04:

• CLIENT NAME - ComSuper (CSS & PSS) - $XXX.XX per fortnight.
• CLIENT NAME - ComSuper (DFRDB & MSBS) - $XXX.XX per fortnight.

DFISA Payments - Impact on Advices

All DVA Age pensioners who are eligible to commence payment of Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) or whose DFISA payment is varied, continued or cancelled will receive an advice letter following the processing run.

Printing and mailing of advice letters

The advice letters will be printed and mailed through the Department's bulk mailing house, Security Mailing Services (SMS) in Sydney.  All letters will be lodged with Australia Post by COB Friday 15 — th JULY 2005.

Letters for Tasmanian State Office Overseas Addressees

The advice letters produced for Tasmanian State Office clients who have an overseas address will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.

Streamed advices requiring state office action

The following advices will be streamed and printed by IBMGSA, and sent via courier to each State Office for checking and dispatch:

• Reductions to nil;
• Overseas for all states apart from Tasmania;
• Cases which result in multiple payment boxes (ie., Payment Information Attachment); and
• Enclosures (treatment changes).

'Held' advices to be forced

As part of the batch processing run any advices in 'held' status will be forced to print.  Forced 'held' advices will print at each respective State Office's nominated printer.

Contacts

Advice issues - Pat Webb (02) 9213 7288.

Systems issues - Craig Bettess (02) 6289 6532