C29/1997 EXCHANGE RATE VARIATION OF POUNDS STERLING - EFFECT ON INCOME SUPPORT PENSIONERS IN RECEIPT OF BRITISH RETIREMENT INCOME (BRI)

DATE OF ISSUE:  2 MAY 1997

EXCHANGE RATE VARIATION OF POUNDS STERLING - EFFECT ON INCOME SUPPORT PENSIONERS IN RECEIPT OF BRITISH RETIREMENT INCOME (BRI)

INTRODUCTION

1.In line with the Repatriation Commission decision for the determination of foreign exchange rates, the Secretary of the Department of Social Security has set a new rate for the Pound Sterling and, as a consequence, DVA will apply the new rate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

2.On payday 22 May 1997 the current exchange rate will change from one Pound Sterling equals $2.0239 to one Pound Sterling equals $2.0781 being the average of the "on demand airmail buying rate" for the two weeks to 24 April 1997.  This is the same exchange rate as the Department of Social Security will be holding from 15 May 1997.

BRITISH DP CASES PAID RENT ASSISTANCE

3.Income Support pensioners who are in receipt of Rent Assistance and who also receive British Disability Pension direct from Britain (not EATS and Composite cases) should have that DP pension converted to $A using the BRI exchange rate.  The resulting reassessment of their SP could vary the RA paid.  A listing of affected cases can be obtained from Murray Chynoweth, Business Delivery Section.  These cases have previously been assessed at the agreed UK DP exchange rate.  The use of that exchange rate is not appropriate.

TIMETABLE

4.This exercise is scheduled for processing on Tuesday evening, 6 May 1997.

AUTOMATIC SUPERANNUATION PROCESSING

5.The amount recorded as super type 08 or 09 will be varied by applying a conversion factor.  The amount in Australian dollars of income recorded as BRI superannuation type 08 or 09 will be multiplied by the conversion factor to find the new rate of superannuation.  The pension amount will then be reassessed accordingly.

MANUAL CASES AND MS CASES

6.Cases with actions in frozen status will not be processed.  These cases will be listed on the manual case listing for follow up action, and CMS/PIPS cases will be created automatically for State Office action.

ADVICE LETTERS

7.The advice letters for this exercise will contain a reason paragraph to explain the exchange rate has varied.  This is followed by another paragraph which advises that the rate has been applied to the following dot pointed BRI pensions.  A pay box has been included in all advices.  An advice will only be produced for cases where a variation in payment results.

REGULATION 45A PROCEDURES

8.The Income Support Branch Head, Compensation and Support Division, in National Office will issue certificates in the terms of Finance Regulation 45A that will be forwarded to the Authorising Officer in your Finance Branch.

ISSC IMPLICATIONS

9.ISSC will be producing the cartridge and will forward it to the Lane Print Group Pty Ltd in South Australia.  Overseas, Special Register and cases where a change to treatment entitlement occurs will be separated by ISSC and despatched to the State Offices for manual distribution.

MAIL OUT OF BULK ADVICES

10.Lane Print Group will print and prepare the advices for progressive lodgement with Australia Post by Friday 16 May 1997.

CONTACT OFFICER

11.The Income Support Branch contact officers for this exercise will be:

Murray Chynoweth — Telephone:(06) 289 6799

Premala Walsh — Telephone:(06) 289 4737

MURRAY HARRISON

BRANCH HEAD

INCOME SUPPORT

   MAY 1997

POUND STERLING EXCHANGE RATES

Foreign exchange period — Exchange rate

£$

17 Feb 94 — to 16 March — 0.4708 — 2.1240

17 Mar 94 to — 3 August 94 — 0.4902 — 2.0400

4 August 94 — to — 23 Nov 94 — 0.4762 — 2.1000

24 Nov 94 — to — 7 Dec. 94 — 0.4576 — 2.1853

8 Dec. 94 — to — 21 Dec. 94 — 0.4723 — 2.1173

22 Dec. 94 — to — 15 March 95 — 0.4898 — 2.0416

16 March 95 — to — 26 April 95 — 0.4770 — 2.0964

27 April 95 — to — 13 Sept. 95 — 0.4576 — 2.1853

14 Sept. 95 — to — 11 Nov. 95 — 0.4774 — 2.0947

12 Nov. 95 — to — 10 April 96 — 0.4899 — 2.0412

11 April 96 — to 8 May 96 — 0.5050 — 1.9802

9 May 96 — to 4 Dec. 96 — 0.5191 — 1.9264

5 Dec. 96 — to 12 Feb. 97 — 0.4873 — 2.0521

13 Feb. 97 — to  9 April 97 — 0.4685 — 2.1345

10 April 97 — to — 21 May 97 — 0.4941 — 2.0239

22 May 97 — to — 4812 — 2.0781