C52/1996 INCOME SUPPORT STANDARD LETTERS ON WORD 7.0

DATE OF ISSUE:  10 DECEMBER 1996

INCOME SUPPORT STANDARD LETTERS ON WORD 7.0

Purpose

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information on the use and maintenance of the Word 7.0 letterhead template pack containing the nationally agreed income support standard letters.  This pack was originally installed on each State's LAN in May 1996 and should be updated by the first week of December 1996.  The latest update follows a full review of the content of the letters by a working group consisting of State Offices and National Office (NO) representatives.

Background

2.At the Quality Assurance Conference in December 1994, it was decided that all income support letters should meet certain standards and would replace the States “local standard” letters.  Four States took the responsibility to write a set of standard letters.  The letters were to go through a clearance process prior to approval by the Income Support Management Committee (ISMC) for use in all States.

3.Following the changeover to Windows 95, all the nationally agreed income support standard letters were converted to Word 7.0 in template format and installed on each State's LAN.

4.At the ISMC meeting in June 1996 it was decided that these converted letters  were to be reviewed again.  A workshop was organised in July 1996 and changes to the content format, directory structure and the clearance process were made.


5.The following steps ensure that the standard letters undergo the necessary clearance procedures:

❶the designated State drafts the letters;

❷the letters are then sent to the other States for comment;

❸the comments incorporated where appropriate, into redrafted letters making sure that the letters conform to the presentation standard (a copy of the “Standard Inclusions” for all the standard letters is at attachment A);

❹the new/rewritten letters are then sent through the Manager Income Support in the designated state to the Director of the Business Delivery Section, NO and passed to Ferri Ghazi, the NO contact officer who will;

a)arrange for the approval from relevant areas in NO of those letters in need of policy and privacy clearance;

c)forward the letters to the ISMC for final approval; and

d)maintain a schedule of current status and version number.

6.The NO contact officer will organise for the systems update of the approved letters and provide all States with the updated catalogue.  Any amendments to the current letters or adding new letters require the same steps as described above to be followed.

7.The name of a directory or the file arrangements within a directory may change and new directories may be added to the list as the need arises. The NO contact officer will advise the States of a change.

Overview of the Standard Letters System

8.The income support standard letters system contains all the nationally agreed income support standard templates.  With the systems update, the number of templates total 275 under 15 directories.   These templates are not linked to the payment advice letters and cannot be produced by the Integrated Advices System.

9.With the systems update in December 1996, the names of the directories have been modified to take less space on the dialogue box.  A directory called IS Index has been added to the list containing the index of all the income support standard letters templates.  The IS SP Cont directory has been deleted from the list and two new directories called Relationship Investigation (Relation) and Miscellaneous (IS Misc) have been added.

10.The IS Misc directory only contains templates not related to the other directories.  The aim is to keep the number of templates under this directory to a minimum.  The list of the directories is at attachment B.

How to Create a Letter From the Template

11.The user can create a new document based on the desired standard letter.  This is achieved by selecting File, then New from the Word menu.  In Word 7.0, this presents as a dialogue box containing "tabs" (as per index cards) which carry the name of the folder(s).

12.To create a standard letter document, the user selects a Work group template by clicking once on the tab and then selects one of the templates listed in the window below it.

13.The new document templates have no macros.  This means that users would have to navigate around the document to find the "blank spaces" where the variable data is entered.  The Word 7's locking feature helps the user to enter variables directly into the body of the document without any risk of changes to the rest of the document.  This facilitates fast data entry and minimises errors.

Optional Paragraphs

14.Some letters contain OPTIONAL paragraphs.  Ensure that you delete the additional paragraph(s) not relevant to the specific case.  There is a tool bar button provided for unlocking the document where editing of the optional paragraphs only is required.

Adding New Templates or Amending the Existing Templates

15.Standard letters require a vigorous quality control process and approval before they can be added to or changed on the system.

16. It is the responsibility of the Manager Income Support of the originating State Office to ensure that the new/amended letters are examined for their need to be added to the system.  The letters should then be sent to NO for the approval process as described in paragraph 4.


Contact Officers

17.The following is a list of the standard letters contact officer for each State.  Staff should advise their contact officer if they have any problems with any aspects of the letters.  The contact officer will then co-ordinate a submission to the Director Business Delivery Section, Income Support Branch, NO through the Manager Income Support for the problem to be rectified in the next update of letters.

StateContact OfficerPhone No.

NSWZdenka Zrno(02) 213 7933

VICGraham Koop(03) 9284 6367

QLDDes Dargusch(07) 3223 8803

SARob Fitzgerald(08) 213 2651

WAJohn Gliddon(09) 366 8417

TASJudy Makedos(002) 216 705

Maintenance Arrangements

18.The maintenance of the Income Support standard letters template system is the responsibility of the NO.

MURRAY HARRISON

BRANCH HEAD

INCOME SUPPORT

      December 1996


(Attachment A)

STANDARD INCLUSIONS

  • Appeal Rights and Time-frames

  • Basis for Delegation

  • Content & Style

  • Eligibility Versus Payability

  • Favourable QS Determination

  • FOI Access to Records

  • Legislative Title

  • Obligations and Period for Compliance

  • Privacy Requirement

  • Right of Review

  • Salutations

  • Signatures

  • Standard Paragraphs

  • Thresholds

  • VEA References

  • VEA Terminology


"STANDARD" INCLUSIONS IN LETTERS

Appeal Rights and Time-frames:

Appeal rights should be included in respect of any decision except the decision to recover an overpayment.  The 3 months' time-frame for lodging an appeal is not 3 months from the date of the decision nor the date of the letter advising of the decision.  It is 3 months from "service" of the advice.  This can generally be taken to mean 3 months from when the client receives it, which in turn, can be taken as 3 months plus a few days from the date of posting of the letter.

Also, it is not the role of the person advising of the decision to make judgements about the possible success or failure of an appeal - the advice should not contain any suggestion that it would be useless for the client to lodge an appeal.  To do so would be to pre-empt the decision of the service pension review officer and may be interpreted as denying a client his/her legal rights.

Basis for Delegation:

It is important to be aware of whether a letter to a client is being written by a person under the auspices of Delegate of the Secretary (under 54, s54A, s54AA, s128) or Delegate of the Commission (reasons for decision etc.).

Any author of a letter should be aware of the delegations they hold so that the letter is "authorised" by the legislation.  Due care needs to be taken when the person writing the letter is not the person who is making the "decision".

Content and Style:

  • Open letters where appropriate with “I am writing to you about...”

  • Refer to the date of the pensioner's letter

  • When in doubt leave punctuation out

  • Tone to be positive and friendly

  • Keep the letter short.  Attach brochures and flyers rather than putting the information into the body of the letter

  • Avoid jargon and clichés

  • All letters should be in 14 pitch Times New Roman font

  • An upper case "D" is used in any reference to a specific department ie meaning the Department of Veterans' Affairs

  • “could" should not be used instead of "would".  "could" means can you and "would" means will you

  • Use World War 2 not World War II

  • Headings in the text are to be centred

  • Text is left justified

  • When quoting a section of the Act always use a small “s” ie. s54

  • Except in references to the position of CPM or RPM the plain English spelling for the plural form of money is "money"

  • When in a letter it is referred to the 21 days time-frame, a simple 21 should be used and not the phrase "twenty one (21)"

  • Don't use capital letters for the following terms:

  • service pension
  • disability pension
  • delegates
  • veteran
  • qualifying service etc.

The first time that these terms are used in the letter bold the term.  For example - “I am writing to you about your claim for service pension received at this Department on ......”

  • Use bullets when indenting

  • 1800 phone number is called “FREECALL”

  • When quoting from the Act or other sources:

  • if the quote is less than thirty words it becomes part of the text
  • if the quote is more than thirty words it has to be indented and the text is in a smaller pitch.  If writing to a pensioner the text could be italicised rather than reduced in pitch.

  • Finish letters with - If you have any questions about.........please contact me on the above number

  • Never apologise for Commission policy only apologise for mistakes

  • Secretary and Commission should start with a capital letter

Eligibility Versus Payability:

There is a clear distinction between these two concepts.  If the only thing stopping a person from receiving a pension is that she/he has income and/or assets in excess of the allowable limits - whether it's an appeal or a new claim - the person is still eligible for pension and is not required by the legislation to lodge a new claim for pension.  Income or assets in excess simply means that the person has no payability or has lost payability ie the person has lost their entitlement to a pension payment, not eligibility for the pension itself.

The correct reason for eligibility/non-eligibility should be given in the letter:  eg. some letters say that a claim is unsuccessful because there is no qualifying service where the real reason is that the person is not a "veteran", as defined.  This is particularly important for appeals so that the veteran is clear about possible grounds for appeal.

Favourable QS Determination:

If appropriate - ie the time frames are right - and information available does not indicate that the person would not be eligible for service pension:  we should be inviting a service pension claim when advising of a favourable Qualifying Service determination.

FOI Access to Records:

The Freedom of Information Act was given Royal assent in 1982.  All references to this Act should be "Freedom of Information Act 1982".  A client should be advised about the right to access his/her records under the FOI Act if advising about a decision.

Legislative Title:

The correct citing of the Acts:

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

Freedom of Information Act 1982

Privacy Act 1988

The italics are not just for emphasis - they are a legal convention.  The dates for the Acts need to be included always and no brackets are used.

Where in a letter the name of the Act is repeated a few times, the first time it is written in full, followed by the abbreviation in bracket "the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA)" and for the subsequent times the abbreviation can be used instead of the full title, ie "VEA" should appear as VEA, no bracket and not in italics.

Obligations and Period for Compliance:

Section 54, 54A and 54AA deal with obligations in respect of advising a change of circumstances and returning forms.  Section 128 is to be used for all other service pension related requests.

"Within 21 Days" is now the standard compliance period.  If any variation is required to this time-frame, it cannot be 14 days or less than 14 days.  The only time the legislation allows for a "within 14 days" time frame is if a person is indebted to the Commonwealth and they change address (subparagraph 128(2)(a)(ii) VEA refers).

Privacy Requirement:

Any standard letter that requests information from a client should first be cleared with the National Privacy Officer for content and compliance with the Privacy Act 1988.  To comply, the letter should state why information is being collected and to whom it may be released.  If the information is never released the disclosure para is not required.

Right of Review:

The VEA does not require a person to have anything other than a "reason" for requesting a review of a decision.  The person does not have to have additional evidence or be able to explain where the decision maker has gone wrong.  Any further evidence may be sought in the letter, as long as it does not place an obligation on the person.


Salutations:

DI B26/92 re Quarterly advices refers; the following rules are approved for use in salutation:

a.If there is a joint assessment and no surname match but both with titles, use "Dear title surname and title surname".

b.If there is a joint assessment and surname match use "Dear title/Mr and title/Mrs surname".

c.If there is a joint assessment and no surname match use "Dear Sir and Madam".

d.If there is a single assessment for a male use "Dear title/Mr surname".

e.If there is a single assessment for a female use "Dear title surname" or "Dear Madam".

f.If there is a single assessment for a female, and a male recorded with the same surname, use "Dear title/Mrs surname" (This case applies where the female receives the pension and her spouse does not but is recorded on the system).

  1. If a joint assessment exists, but individual advices are to be produced for the couple, use "Dear title", then "Dear Mr" and "Dear title" then "Dear Mrs" in accordance with the principles, otherwise use "Dear Sir" and Dear Madam".

Signatures

The signature box to be at the bottom left hand corner.  If you are seeking information sign Delegate of the Secretary (not to include “of the Department of Veterans' Affairs” because it is on the Department's letterhead).  If you are providing a decision sign Delegate of the Commission.  General letter to pensioners sign Service Pensions Examiner.

Standard Paragraphs

When writing a new letter requiring paragraphs on the right of review and freedom of information these standard paragraphs are to be used.


RIGHT OF REVIEW

If you do not agree with this decision, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Service Pension Review Officer at this office.  If you decide to apply you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision.  A request for a review must be in writing and set out your reasons for seeking a review.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 you have access to your personal files or any other non-exempt documents.  You may also inspect the manuals, guide-lines, rules and instructions which may be used by officers in making decisions relating to members of the public.  For further details contact the Department and ask for the Freedom of Information section.  If you are calling from outside the Metropolitan area, dial our FREECALL number shown at the top of this letter.

Thresholds:

If the pensioner's income/assets are in excess of the limits, the pensioner should be advised of  the relevant limits so he/she can keep track of when it may be possible to lodge a request for a review.

VEA References:

The relevant - and correct - legislative reference should be included where a decision is being quoted, an action being taken or information being requested.  For example:

s54 or s54A instead of s127

s5B / 5C instead of s35 in regard to service details

s7A instead of s36 for qualifying service.

VEA Terminology

We should be sure that the clear English, more meaningful terminology is adopted.  Examples of some of the more common new terms are:

"illness separated couple""invalidity service pension"

"age service pension""carer service pension"

"member of a couple""not a member of a couple"

"income free area""asset free area"

"dependent child add-on".


(Attachment B)

Standard Letters and Templates

Table of Contents

Bereavement (Bereavmt Templates).............................................36

Bank Advice........................................................36

Bereavement Advice..................................................36

Bereavement Overpayment.............................................36

Bereavement Payment Calculation........................................36

Funeral Benefit......................................................37

Advice for manual cases...............................................37

Payment to Estate....................................................37

Relationship Investigation (Relation Templates).....................................38

Maintenance........................................................38

Marriage -like Relationships.............................................38

Change of address for Renters...........................................38

Marital Separation under the same roof.....................................38

Separation for Medical reasons...........................................38

Clinical (Clinical Templates)...................................................38

Earnings (Earning Templates).................................................39

Earnings...........................................................39

Superannuation......................................................39

Fraud (IS Fraud Templates)...................................................39

Hardship (Hardship Templates)................................................40

Application for hardship pension..........................................40

Review of pension....................................................40

Managed Investment (MIs Templates)...........................................40

Capital Growth Profit Pre 1/7/96..........................................40

Explanation Letters Post Extended Deeming.................................40

Requests for information - Extended Deeming................................41

SP Carer (IS Carer Templates).................................................41

NEW CLAIMS (New Clm Templates)............................................41

SP CSHC..........................................................41

SP New claim Con. Of verbal withdrawal....................................42

SP New claim permanent incapacity.......................................42

SP Qualifying service..................................................42

SP New claim rejection................................................42

SP/QS Reject no qualifying service........................................42

SP/QS reject 'Not a Veteran'.............................................42

SP/QS request for Service details.........................................43

SP/QS Requests for Service details (O'Seas)................................43

Overpayment (Overpay Templates).............................................44

Payment Administration (Pay Admn Templates)....................................46

Payment Processing..................................................46

Payment Delivery.....................................................46

Section 11 (Data Mtch Templates)..............................................47

Section 11..........................................................47

Step 4.............................................................47

Step 1.............................................................47

Transfers (Is Trans Templates).................................................47

Trustees/agents (Trustee Templates)............................................48

Miscellaneous (IS Misc Templates)..............................................48

Student Review......................................................48


Bereavement(Bereavmt Templates)

Bank Advice

Description

Template Name

Access Authority(BA2)

Access Authority

Refund of moneys from financial institution

Refund of $-Fin Inst.

War Widow + ISS or DP + SP usually just one payment after death

WW+ISS or DP+SP 1 pyment

Bereavement Advice

Description

Template Name

General advice to next of kin (not spouse)

General advice NOK

General advice to spouse re WWP, FB and maybe with DSS

Gen advice spouse-WW

EDA or POW - need further info to grant War Wids.

EDA or POW need info

General advice to other authorities, departments etc

Gen advice other dep.

General advice - no money owing - OP offset by BP or payable to the estate

Gen advice - no $ owing

General advice - nil pension or Dep All. Or PA payable

Gen advice - nil pension

Bereavement Overpayment

Description

Template Name

First advice to NOK - formal claim on estate for overpaid money

1st adv to NOK-op$

Seeking refund from joint account owner/account owner /trustee

Seeking refund-Joint ac.

Seeking refund from whoever cashed cheques

Seeking refund-whoever

General advice - overpayment exists but we have written to bank

Gen advice-opayment

Second request for refund of overpaid moneys

2nd req-refund op $

Advice to solicitor or executor regarding overpayment

Adv solicit re OP

Overpayment - Instalment offer accepted

Opayment-Instal offer

Part Payment received - where's the rest

part pment received

Bereavement Payment Calculation

Description

Template Name

BP payable - access advice

BP-access advice

BP payable - cheque to be sent

BP-cheque to be sent


Funeral Benefit

Description

Template Name

Lodge claim on approved form - form enclosed

FB-Lodge claim - form

Approved - cheque for $550 will be sent soon

FB-Apprvd-chque sent

Approved -cheque for $550 plus transport costs will be sent soon

FB-apprvd-cheque+Trns

Approved -death due to war service

FB-apprvd-war s dth

Disallowed - war widow

FB-Disallwd-WW

Disallowed - death not service related

FB-Disallwd-dth not s

Disallowed - not indignant circumstances

FB-Disallwd-not indig

Disallowed - no eligible service

FB-Disallwd-not elig S

Disallowed - British veteran

FB-Disallwd-Brit Vet

Disallowed - dependant

FB-Disallwd-depndnt

Disallowed - claimant did not pay funeral costs

FB-disallwd-no cost

Disallowed - claim not lodged within required time

FB-Disallwd-notontime

Disallowed - Allied Forces

FB-Disallwd-Allied

Disallowed - Inform spouse to apply for WWP

FB-Disallwd-SpouseWW

Not eligible - does not meet any criteria

FB-Not eligible

No decision - try for indignant circumstances

FB-No deci-circumsta

No decision - await death accepted as service related decision

FB-No deci-await dth

No decision - need further info to establish veteran status

FB-No deci-need info

No decision - try for indignant/needy circumstances or await war widows pension

FB-no deci-await WWP

Second request for further information

FB-2nd reqest-for info

Letter asking for receipt

FB-asking for recipt

second request for receipt

FB-2nd req. for receipt

Letter to person named on receipt

FB-Person eligible

Application transferred from another state

FB-Appn from states

Memo - transferring application to another state

FB-Trans other state

Advice to claimant regarding transferring application to another state

FB-advice trans appn

Advice for manual cases

Description

Template Name

General advice to spouse survivors

MC-Gen advice-spouse

General advice - previously assessed as seperated due to ill health

MC-Gen advice-sep ill

General advice to veteran survivors

MC-Gen advice to Vet

General advice for war widows

MC-Gen advice to WW

Payment to Estate

Description

Template Name

Uncollected pension owing

PTE-uncollctd $ owing

Second request for response

2nd req. to spouse

Need certified copy of will - enclosing will

PTE-need certfd will

Request for  information regarding NOK, executor, etc

PTE-Req-for info re NOK

Section 50 Certificate Required

PTE-Sec 50 cert requrd

Approved - cheque forwarded or enclosed

Pay to estate-chque

No money owed to estate

PTE-No money owed


Relationship Investigation(Relation Templates)

Maintenance

Description

Template Name

Service pensioner paying maintenance - investigation

SP pay maint-invest

Marriage -like Relationships

Description

Template Name

Investigation (Veteran)

Investigation Vet

Investigation (Spouse)

Investigation spouse

Investigation

Investigation

Change of address for Renters

Description

Template Name

Investigation

Invest. Change addr.

Investigation

Invest. Change addr.

Marital Separation under the same roof

Description

Template Name

Investigation

Invest. Seperat usr

Decision not to grant single rate

Not grant single rate

Questionnaire re living under the same roof

Questionaire - Same Roof

Separation for Medical reasons

Description

Template Name

Decision not to grant single rate

Not Grant SR - medic

Clinical(Clinical Templates)

Description

Template Name

Certificate of attendance: PI exam

Cert of attend-PI ex

Request for clinical notes

Req for Clinical

SP New claim medical appointment (Vet)

NC-appointment(vet)

SP New claim medical appointment (Doctor)

NC Med Appointment Dr


Earnings(Earning Templates)

Earnings

Description

Template Name

Letter to employer confirming details of COMMENCED employment

confrm comnced date

Letter to employer confirming details of COTINUATION of employment

Confrm contnu employ

Letter to employer confirming details of CESSATION of employment

Cessation of employm

Letter to pensioner acknowledge employment advice + explaining Earning Credit scheme

Explanation of scheme

Letter to pensioner acknowledge employment advice - work continuing

work continuing

Superannuation

Description

Template Name

Letter to pensioner requesting SUPERANNUATION INFORMATION

Req - for super info

Letter to Commissioner of Superannuation requesting details of SUPERANNUATION

to Comisnr of Super

Letter to Superannuation fund manager requesting details of SUPERANNUATION

to Super fund managr

Letter to DHSS confirming details of RETIREMENT BENEFITS

to DHSS-conf detail

Letter to Overseas fund manager confirming details of RETIREMENT BENEFITS

to O-Seas fund mngr

Letter to Pensioner explaining how the BRI Exchange Rate is calculated

to pensnr explan BRI

Fraud(IS Fraud Templates)

Description

Template Name

Initial letter requesting an interview with veteran

Initial req intervw

Record of telephone response to first contact letter

Record of phone resp

Letter sent after interview if not referring to the DPP

After intervw-not DPP

Letter sent where there is no response to request for interview

No response to intrvw

Letter sent after interview advising referral to DPP

After intervw-to DPP

Letter sent after referred to DPP - no prosecution action will be taken

DPP - No prosec action


Hardship(Hardship Templates)

Application for hardship pension

Description

Template Name

Delegate grant - married - no deemed income

Grant-married-no deem

Delegate Grant - single - no deemed income

Grant-single-no deem

Delegate Grant - married - deemed income

Grant-married deemed

Delegate Grant - single deemed income

Grant single deemed

Delegate rejection - married

Reject-Married

Delegate rejection - single

Rejection-single

Review of pension

Description

Template Name

Review - married -no deemed income

Revw-married no deem

Review - single - no deemed income

Revw-single-No deem

Review - married - deemed income

Revw-married-deemed

Review - single - deemed income

Revw-single deemed

Delegate Determination - no longer in hardship - marriage

Determn-no hardsp+m

Delegate Determination - no longer in hardship - single

Determn-no hardship+s

Managed Investment(MIs Templates)

Capital Growth Profit Pre 1/7/96

Description

Template Name

Capital Growth Profit - Total Realisation

Total Realisation

Capital Growth Profit - Partial Realisation

Partial Realisation

Explanation Letters Post Extended Deeming

Description

Template Name

Capital Growth Profit - Total Realisation Extended Deeming

Super total r deem

Capital Growth Profit - Partial Realisation Extended Deeming

Super part r deem

Managed Investment treated as Financial Asset - Unitised Extended Deeming

MI-FA unit deem

Managed Investment treated as Financial Asset - Non Unitised Extended Deeming

MI-FA non-unit deem

Shares treated as Financial Asset Extended Deeming

Shares-FA deem


Requests for information - Extended Deeming

Description

Template Name

Request for Info non-unitised super inv-from date of orig inv Extended Deeming

Non-unit-date origin

Request for info non-unitised super inv-from specified date Extended Deeming

Non-unit-specif-date

Request for info non-unitised super inv-date uncertain Extended Deeming

Non-unit-date uncrtn

Request for info unitised super inv-from date of orig inv Extended Deeming

req-date orig inv

Request for info unitised super inv-from specified date Extended Deeming

req-specified date

Request for info unitised super inv-date uncertain Extended Deeming

req-inv date uncrtn

SP Carer(IS Carer Templates)

Description

Template Name

New claim SP Carer accept & obligations (Married)

Carer accept-married

New claim SP Carer accept & obligations (Single)

Carer accept-single

New claim SP Carer Reject Assets INXS (Married)

Carer reject-asset+M

New claim SP Carer Reject Assets INXS (Single)

Carer reject-asset+S

New claim SP Carer Reject Income INXS (Married)

Carer reject-incom+M

New claim SP Carer Reject Income INXS (Single)

Carer reject-incom+S

New claim SP Carer Reject not prov. constant care

Carer rej-no prov c

New claim SP Carer Reject not req. constant care

Carer reject-not req c

New claim SP Carer Reject in receipt of other pensions

Carer rej-rcvd other

Review of carer's SP - Cancellation due to income assets

Review-no carer(I+S)

Review of Carer's SP - Cancel due to not prov constant care

Rev-cancel carer NPC

Cancellation due to income  and assets

Cancell due to I&A

Cancellation due to not rendering constant care and attention

Cancel-not const care

Information from the carer to determine eligibility for exemption from assets test

caree assets more info

Statement of details from the carer of a non SP recipient

non sp caree details

NEW CLAIMS(New Clm Templates)

SP CSHC

Description

Template Name

CSHC Accept & obligations (Married)

CSHC accept & oblig+M

CSHC Accept & obligations (Single)

CSHC accept&oblig+S

CSHC Reject income INXS (Married)

CSHC rej-income+M

CSHC Reject income INXS (Single)

CSHC rej-income+S


SP New claim Con. Of verbal withdrawal

Description

Template Name

SP New claim confirmation of verbal withdrawal

NC-confirm verb wthd

SP New claim permanent incapacity

Description

Template Name

SP New claim rejection (Not PI)

NC reject (not PI)

SP Qualifying service

Description

Template Name

SP qualifying service enquiry (Accept)

QS enquiry (accept)

SP New claim rejection

Description

Template Name

SP New claim rejection assets INXS (Married)

NC reject-asset x +M

SP New claim rejection assets INXS (Single)

NC reject-asset x+S

SP New claim rejection income INXS (Married)

NC reject-Income x+M

SP New claim rejection income INXS (Single)

NC reject-Income x+S

SP/QS Reject no qualifying service

Description

Template Name

Australian vet 1935/45 (No QS)

Aust vet 1939-45 noQ

Australian vet post 45 (No QS)

Aust vet-post 45 noQS

Australian vet Korea (No QS)

Aust vet-Korea noQS

Australian vet Malaya 1950/57 (No QS)

Aust vet-Malaya 50-57

Australian vet Malaya 1957/63 (No QS)

Aust vet-Malaya 57-63

Australian vet Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei 62/67(No QS)

Aust vet-M-S-S-B 62-67

Australian vet Vietnam 62/73 (No QS)

Aust vet-Vietnam 62-73 no QS

Commonwealth vet (No QS)

Commonwealth vet-No QS

Allied vet (No QS)

Allied vet No QS

Australian Mariner (No QS)

Aust Mariner-no QS

Allied Mariner (No QS)

Allied mariner-No QS

Australian vet with pre & post 45 service (No QS)

Aust vet-pre+post 45

SP/QS reject 'Not a Veteran'

Description

Template Name

SP/QS Reject not an Australian vet

QS reject-not Aust v

SP/QS Reject not a Commonwealth vet

QS reject-not cwlth vet

SP/QS Reject not an Allied (No hostilities)

QS reject-not allied

SP/QS Reject not an Allied (Service with enemy)

QS rej-not allied+SE

SP/QS Reject not an Allied (Not a member of the forces)

QS rej-not allied+nmf

SP/QS Reject not an Australian Mariner

QS rej-not Aust Mar

SP/QS Reject not an Allied Mariner

QS rej-no allied mar

SP/QS Reject not an Allied Vet

QS reject - not alid v


SP/QS request for Service details

Description

Template Name

SP/QS Request to CARO Northern Territory Service 39/45

QS req-NT serv 39-45

SP/QS Request to CARO to confirm Rotnest Isl Service

QS-confirm Rotnest sv

SP/QS Request to RAAF re NGSM & Minsweeping

QS req to RAAF re NGSM

SP/QS Reminder to RAAF

QS reminder to RAAF

SP/QS Request to Army re NGSM & Minsweeping

QS req to army NGSM

SP/QS Reminder to Army

QS remind to Army

SP/QS Request to Navy re NGSM & Minsweeping

QS req to navy NGSM

SP/QS Reminder to Navy

QS reminder to Navy

SP/QS Requests for Service details (O'Seas)

Description

Template Name

SP/QS Request to NZ Airforce re service details

QS req to NZ Airforc

SP/QS Reminder to NZ Airforce

QS remind to NZ Airf

SP/QS Request to NZ Army re service details

QS req to NZ Army

SP/QS Reminder to NZ Army

QS remind to NZ Army

SP/QS Request to NZ Navy re service details

QS req to NZ Navy

SP/QS Reminder to NZ Navy

QS remind to NZ Navy

SP/QS Request to UK Army re service details

QS req to UK army

SP/QS Reminder to UK Army

QS remind to UK Army

SP/QS Request to UK Navy re service details

QS req to UK Navy

SP/QS Reminder to UK Navy

QS remind to UK Navy

SP/QS Request to UK RAF re service details

QS req-UK RAF

SP/QS Reminder to UK RAF

QS reminder UK RAF


Overpayment(Overpay Templates)

Description

Template Name

Advice of possible overpayment

Advice - possible op

First recovery letter - previous advice sent

1st recovery letter

First recovery letter - previous advice sent (waiver included)

1st recovery-WT para

First recovery letter no previous advice

1st recov-No pre OP adv

First recovery letter- no previous advice (waiver included)

1st rec. WT-No pre adv

Acknowledgment of full refund

Acknowl.-full refund

Advice of limitations at formula rate

Adv. Limit at form R.

Advice of Administrative charge

Adv of admin charge

Advice of no overpayment

Advice of no OP

Payment Notice letter - Bank/Employer

Pay notice-bank-emp.

Payment Notice letter - Payment Notice

Payment Notice

Payment Notice letter - Letter to Client

Pay Notice to client

Section 128 Letter - general request for information

S128L-Gen req for info

Section 128 Notice Covering Letter

S128N-covering

Section 128 Notice

S128 Notice

Accept offer of limitation

Accept offer of Lim

Sending forms - vet has requested review of limit

Vet req review of lim

Advice to client - Outcome of Req. to R/V lim. Rate

Outcome-req to rv lim

Advice of limitation finished

Adv Limit finished

DSS advise DVA to recover overpayment by limitation - letter to client

DSS advise DVA -rec OP

Initial report on the recovery of DSS overpayment

1 Report Rec DSS OP

Report on the recovery of DSS overpayment

Rep on rec of DSS OP

Request for DSS to commence withholdings from pension

DSS start withhold

Attachment to RCWDSSP & RIWDSSP

Attach to DSS req

Request to increase withholdings from DSS pension

Req inc withhold DSS

Request for information on recovery of DVA O/P

Req recov DVA OP

Attachment to RDVAO

Attach to req DVA OP

DSS/DVA Overlappings

DSS-DVAOverlap

Routine overpayment letter

Routine OP letter

Special recovery letter for payments made after death

Recov-pay aftr dth

Overpayment from estate - first contact next of kin

OP estate-1st NOK

Overpayment from estate - NOK second request

OP estate-2nd NOK

Overpayment from estate - Executor

OP Estate-Executor

Overpayment from estate - Executor - second request

OP Estate-2nd req Exe

Overpayment from estate - Trustee

OP Estate-Trustee

Overpayment from estate - Trustee - second request

OP Estate-2nd Trust

Overpayment from estate - Cheque payee

OP Estate-Cheque Pay

Overpayment from estate - Cheque payee - second request

OP Estate-2nd req chq

Overpayment from estate - Reply that there is no O/P

OP Estate-no OP

Transfer of Overpayment to another state

Transfer OP to State

Overpayment - defer recovery

OP-defer recovery

Public trustee - nil overpayment - advice for multiple clients

Public Trustee-Nil OP


Payment Administration(Pay Admn Templates)

Payment Processing

Description

Template Name

Arrears held, no reply from DSS

Arrears-no reply DSS

Arrears held, reply from DSS, balance to be released to client by cheque

nil adj of arrears-chq pay

Arrears held, reply from DSS, arrears paid by cheque to bank account

Arrea-gnral reply DSS

Arrears held, DSS recovery equals arrears, nil balance owing

nil balance owing

Arrears held, recovery exceeds arrears resulting in small overpayment being waived

Small opayment waived

Reply from DSS received, nil adjustment required next pay

Nil adj of arrears-next pay

Memo to DSS regarding clearances

DSS re Clearance

Arrears of disability grant or increase to be released + Rent

DP Arrears be paid+rent

Additional bereavement payment - recently granted war widow pension

Add brvmnt pay ww grant

Additional bereavement payment - a posthumous decision

Add brvmnt pay DP deci

Resumption of pension

Resume pension

Notice of variation to pension for Protective Commissioner

Protective Com note

Payment Delivery

Description

Template Name

Tax Statement/payment enquiry - deceased client not in receipt of benefits

Decsed-no benefits

Tax Statement/payment enquiry - statement/info enclosed

Statement enclosed

Pension exempt from tax - separate response will be forwarded for other enquiries

Pension not tax-sep advice req

Pension not taxable

Pension not taxable

Reply to estate - deceased not in receipt of benefit

Decsd-no benf-reply req

TWIMC - duplicate group certificate

TWIMC - dup Group Cert.

Adjustment to tax statement due to service pension overpayment recovery

Adjust tax-SP OP recov

Adjustment to tax statement due to ISS overpayment recovery

Adjust tax-ISS OP recov

TWIMC - rate and type of pension

TWIMC-Rate & type pension

TWIMC - permanent incapacity

TWIMC - Perm. Incap

Statement of service pension  and allowances

Statement of SP+allo

Instalment returned from financial institution - new details required

New detail required

Instalment to be returned

Instalm be returned

Replacement cheque

Replacement cheque


Section 11(Data Mtch Templates)

Section 11

Description

Template Name

External match - payment matching DVA v DEET

External Mtch-DVA v Deet

Internal match - Duplicate payments (Service Pension)

Internal Mtch SP

Internal match - Duplicate payments (War Widow's Pension)

Internal Mtch WW

Internal match - Duplicate payments (Disability Pension)

Internal Mtch DP

Income match DVA v ATO

Income Mtch DVA ATO

Income match DVA v ATO (for surviving client where partner has since died)

Income Mtch DVA ATO 2

Incorrect TFN recorded (detected through data matching)

Incorrect TFN-Data M

Pensioner has provided incorrect TFN

Incorrect TFN by P

Step 4

Description

Template Name

Pensioner has provided incorrect TFN (possibly family members)

Incorrect TFN-Family

Personal discrepancies identified through step 4 (Name is different between DVA & ATO)

Discrep Step4-Name dif

Step 1

Description

Template Name

Request for supply of correct TFN as original supplied is invalid

Req for correct TFN

Transfers(Is Trans Templates)

Description

Template Name

Letter to pensioner querying a possible INTERSTATE TRANSFER

Advice-interstate tfr

Letter to Pensioner advising of the  OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATION of pensions BY TASMANIA

Advice-O-S admin TAS

Letter to Pensioner advising of INTERSTATE TRANSFER

Query interstate tfr

Letter to pensioner querying possibility of permanent stay o/seas

Query overseas transfer


Trustees/agents(Trustee Templates)

Description

Template Name

Letter to holder of Power of Attorney re: request of POA document.

POA-Request of doc

Letter to Power of Attorney advising of return of POA document & how POA will affect him/her (ie. change of address & obligations).

POA-advise return doc

Letter to Pensioner in response to "Application for Appointment  of an Agent" request if application is to be sent to pensioner.

To pensnr-appoint agnt

Letter to Agent (most likely Director of Nursing) in response to "Application for Appointment of an Agent" request if application is to be sent to agent.

letter to agent

Letter to Agent advising details of appointment.

To agent-detail appt

Letter to PENSIONER advising details of appointment of agent.

Advise detail of agent

Letter to Public Trustee advising details of payment, accepted disabilities, if any (if this is the first advice to Public Trustee) & obligations.

To Truste advise pay

Letter to Trustee in response to "Application for Appointment of Trustee" request.

To Truste in respons

Letter to Trustee confirming appointment of trustee.

To Truste-confirm app

Miscellaneous(IS Misc Templates)

Description

Template Name

Statement of Annual Pension

Statement of pension

Statement of fortnightly pension

State of 4thntly payment

Return of documents

Return of Doc

Student Review

Description

Template Name

Letter to Pensioner advising cancellation of DCAO, maintaining income deduction & obligations, due to ST/CH receiving a living allowance

student revw-cancel

Letter to pensioner advising of student child obligations

student revw-obligat

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/1996/c521996-income-support-standard-letters-word-70