B16/1992 INCOME SUPPORT : 1. REGISTRATION AGREEMENT & 2. WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS

DATE OF ISSUE:  16 April 1992

INCOME SUPPORT : 1. REGISTRATION AGREEMENT & 2. WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS

The purpose of this instruction is to advise of agreements concerning the recording of service pension reviews on the Claims Management system, which were reached at the 11 - 12 march 1992 Income Support Managers' Conference.

1. Registration Agreement (Attachment A) - defines how cases are to be classified on the Claims Management System.

2. Revised Routine / Involved / Complex Work Levels (Attachment B) - these classifications define how cases are to be attributed on the Claims Management System.

These guidelines should be followed in the classification of all cases as from the date of issue of this Departmental Instruction.

In relation to 2., the Routine / Involved / Complex guidelines will cover the bulk of cases.  Occasional cases which contain other features may require the discretion of the supervisor in determining whether they should be processed at a higher ASO level.

Cases are to be classified according to the guidelines and not the level of staff at which the work is done, except in cases as noted above.

PETER HAWKER

NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

BENEFITS

ATTACHMENT TO THIS INSTRUCTION

ATTACHMENT A

AGREEMENTS ON CMS RECORDING FOR INCOME SUPPORT

CLASSIFICATIONDEFINITION

1.DEATH SP — To cancel SP payment on death.

*Death action not to be processed under a PIR or DIR.

2.DEPT REVIEW ASSETS — SP3A automatically issued annual assets or near assets assessed cases.

3.DEPT REVIEW INCOME — SP3A's issued automatically or selective reviews issued by Branch Offices.

Manual cases produced as a result of a failed superannuation run.

4.FORTNIGHTLY MANUALS — To follow up cases where the three months period of grace for loss of fringe benefits ends

Manual cases from any automatic updates run by Central Office including managed investments runs, British revaluations, deeming rate changes and financial institution refreshes.

5.SUPER PROCESSING — Automatic registration of superannuation reviews from superannuation runs, to be processed manually by the Branch Offices.

6.AMENDING LEGISLATION — Automatic registration for CPI increases of cases to be processed manually by the Branch Offices.

7.FOLLOW-UP ACTION — Not to be used.

8.PENSIONER — Advice received either by telephone or

INITIATION REVIEWS — correspondence from a pensioner or their representative of a change in the pensioner's circumstances that is likely to result in a PIPS action, except those to be classified elsewhere.

PIR will include a claim for Additional Pension for Child; application for rent assistance;  change of address if a questionnaire or SP3/SP3A is sent.  (NB:  This will be registered immediately on receipt of the questionnaire or SP3/SP3A).

PIR can also include a successful section 57 appeal (register from date of DO's decision);  notification of divorce or reconciliation with spouse in receipt of service pension;  review of rent assistance resulting from notification of going overseas or hospital admission.

9.DEPT. INITIATION ACTION — Type a50 reviews where possible PIPS action required.

AVO property valuations received after an action is completed.

Wage fluctuations on resubmit.

Follow-up actions initiated by delegate or SP3/SP3As issued at Delegate's initiative.

CPI indexation adjustments for Immediate Annuities.

12 months reviews on investment/property profit.

Correspondence resulting from a delegate's request and requiring a PIPS action.

Life insurance valuations.

2 year reviews for veterans in nursing homes.

To effect suspension action and check suspensions in order to cancel/vary/resume payment.

To update British DP (where it affects Rent Assistance).

Reviews of deprived income/assets.

British veteran turning 65 years - if Dept. initiated the review.

10.TRANSFER IN SP/DP — Used for transfers from interstate (Tas also from overseas) involving SP and DP.  Changes in file number (to put payments into effect for client on current file number).

11.TRANSFER IN DP — As for T/IN SP/DP but where DP only in payment.  (DPP Category).

12.TRANSFER OUT — Transfers out to interstate.

PAYMENT

Change in file number (to stop payment for client on current file number).

Excludes DSS transfers-out.

13.DSS TRANSFER OUT — Transfers of pensioners to pensions paid by DSS.

14.CHILD REVIEW — 13 years child review of APC.

16 years child review of service pension or disability pension.

15.STUDENT CHILD — APC review for student child > 16 years.

REVIEW — Following student status confirmed at 16 years all further review register under "Student Child Review".

16.SP DATA CHANGE — Textual changes not requiring a service pension variation.

17.NIL PENSION — Changes in status from age to invalidity.

VARIATION

Any arrears only payments.

Vic and Tas Benevolent Home Cases.

Respite care cases.

18.MANUAL AUTHORITY"Grab All"for system problem cases.

Transfers in from DSS (age pension).

Includes a successful appeal arising from a claim being rejected.

20.NEW CLAIM PI — Claims for service pension on the grounds of permanent incapacity for work.

Transfers in from DSS (invalid pension).

Includes a successful appeal arising from a claim being rejected.

21.NEW CLAIM — Claims for service pension for spouse or de

DEPENDANT — facto wives only.

Transfers from DSS (spouse's pension).

Includes a successful appeal arising from a claim being rejected.

22.QUALIFYING SERVICE — Application for decision on qualifying service.  Carer's pension applications.  (CMS only).

23.PENSIONER CORRO — Correspondence received not requiring PIPS action (CMS only).

24.OVERPAYMENTS — Suspected or known overpayments, for investigation and calculation phases (recovery is a separate phase).  (CMS only).

25.S57 APPEAL — Appeals made under section 57 of VEA against Repatriation Commission decision on service pension matters.  (CMS only).

26.TAS OVERSEAS REVIEW — Service pension assessment reviews initiated by the Department for pensioners residing overseas.  Available only for Tasmanian Branch Office.

27.SP (S175 AAT) APPEAL — Appeals made under section 175 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act against a Repatriation Commission decision on service pension matters.  To be used only by Central Office Review Section.  (CMS only).

28.VARIATION ADVICE — Not to be used.

29.HARDSHIP — Requested for application of financial hardship pensions (s.52Y-Z of the VEA) to assessment of service pension.  (CMS only).

30.PENSION LOAN SCHEME — Request for assistance under the pension loan scheme (s.52.ZA-ZM).  (CMS only).

31.SPECIAL REVIEW — One-off special reviews which are automatically generated.  Central Office to determine types of cases.

GENERAL NOTES ON AGREEMENTS

1.Death SP

Branch Offices are not to process death actions on PIRs or DIRs.

2.Dept. Initiated Action

DIA to be registered when correspondence is received if an examiner has initiated a request for more information on another matter.

Type 51 and 52 child and student reviews not to be registered as DIAs.  (Register as child or student reviews).

Textual changes (eg Bank A/c No.) not to be registered as DIA.  (Register as SP data change).

Changes of address where no further action required are not to be registered as DIAs.  If a questionnaire or SP3/SP3A issued on change of address, register as a PIR not a DIA as soon as form issued.

It is valid to register a DIA if the same pensioner has other PIPS actions outstanding.

3.Manual Authority

To continue to be used for cases which cannot be done by normal automatic submission.

4.New Claim Dependant

To be used only for claims by wives or de facto wives.

Claims for APC to be registered as PIRs.

5.Pensioner Initiated Review

It is valid to have more than one PIR for the same pensioner case.  If further advice is received from a pensioner about different circumstances, then a second PIR is to be registered.

ATTACHMENT B

WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS FOR MANAGED INVESTMENTS,

AS AGREED AT INCOME SUPPORT MANAGERS' CONFERENCE, 12 MARCH 1992

Agreed Classification

Friendly Society

Pre 1.11.83 InvestmentsASO 3

Investments 1.11.83-31.12.87:

Single withdrawalASO 3

Multiple withdrawalsASO 3

Top UpsASO 3

Multiple Withdrawals and Top UpsASO 3

Investments after 31.12.87ASO 2

Insurance Bonds

Accruing Return InvestmentASO 2

Market Linked Investment, after 9.9.88ASO 2

Market Linked Investment, pre 9.9.88:

Single withdrawalASO 3

Multiple withdrawalsASO 3

Multiple Ins and Out, one assessmentASO 4

Fund SwitchingASO 3

Unit Trusts

Investments pre 9.9.88:

Bonus units distributed/reinvestedASO 3

Single withdrawalASO 3

Multiple withdrawalsASO 3

Investments post 9.9.88:

Bonus units distributed/reinvestedASO 2

WithdrawalsASO 2

Investments pre 9.9.88:

- Additions post 9.9.88. All variationsASO 3

Terminating property trustsASO 3

ADF and DIA

No preserved super component:

Single withdrawalASO 2

Multiple withdrawalsASO 3

With preserved super component.ASO 4

Immediate Annuities

Initial Data CollectionASO 3

All other actionsASO 2

SERVICE PENSION REVIEWS - WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS

AS AGREED AT INCOME SUPPORT MANAGERS' CONFERENCE, 12 MARCH 1992

CLASSIFICATION: ROUTINE - ASO 2

Transfer to and from interstate of SP and/or DP

Transfer to DSS

Variation of Service Pension as a result of:

-regular superannuation/annuities where the UPP has been established

-worker's compensation rate altered

-wages changed

-income/asset changes in financial institutions, bonds, debentures, money on loan, shares (only if traded on stock market), vehicles.

-annual depletion of income/assets amounts

-deletion of capital growth profits after 12 months

-re-assessment of managed investments after 12 months where deductions for fees are no longer applicable

-updating of managed investments where additions/redemptions are not               involved

-new managed investments where an investment certificate has been provided

-sale of home and another purchased

-suspension of SP/DP due to failure to provide information or where continued eligibility or rate of SP is in doubt

-application for rent assistance and change in rent details

-cancellation of rent assistance due to absence overseas

-initial investigation of income from an estate

-review income from an estate

-separations due to ill health

-divorce finalisations

All child and student child reviews

All death cases

-reassessment of survivor's service pension

Appointment and revocation of agent

Veteran remarries (where new spouse already eligible)

First valuations and reviews of properties, not farms,not appeals, only vacant land and houses

Grants and cancellations of remote area allowances

Sale of Real Estate

Whereabouts of pensioner unknown resulting in suspension of benefits

Benefits resumed; whereabouts known

SERVICE PENSION REVIEWS - WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS

AS AGREED AT INCOME SUPPORT MANAGERS' CONFERENCE, 12 MARCH 1992

CLASSIFICATION: INVOLVED - AS0 3

Involved variation/ cancellation/ suspension/ resumption of service pension as a result of :

-income from self employment

-request for and review of earnings credits

-review of permanent incapacity or blinded status

-payment of arrears and possible variation of SP as a result of MLI investment rate change

-alteration to existing managed investments where there are redemptions or additions to existing policies and where there are new investments without an investment certificate

-remarriage

-if complex financial circumstances

-defacto relationships

-separation due to marital breakdown

-respite care

-establishing care custody and control of dependant children

-determining whether there is deprivation of income/assets, even if the amount is indisputable

-income received from boarders and lodgers

-where bonus shares are issued in addition to dividends maintenance payments

-imprisonment of Veteran or spouse

-review of income/ assets from partnerships where the initial investigation of the partnership has been completed

-determination regarding pensioner status as home owner or non-home owner particularly where retirement villages or life interests are concerned (includes assessment of granny flat right of interest)

-pensioner's home becomes assessable after two years admission to a nursing home

-superannuation/ annuities cases where the UPP has not been established

-benefits cancelled; SP/ DP not drawn on for six months

-initial investigation of income from an estate if involves tax return

-review income from an estate if involves tax return

-initial investigation of 'dob in' cases and then as per overpayments

-rental or lease income from real estate

-trustee appointment/ revocation where Doctor's signatures required

-carer's pension reviews

-separations under the same roof

-child and student child reviews

-Serving Member cases

-suspension of SP/DP due to failure to provide information where continued eligibility or rate of SP Pl is in doubt

SERVICE PENSION REVIEWS - WORK LEVEL CLASSIFICATIONS

AS AGREED AT INCOME SUPPORT MANAGERS' CONFERENCE, 12 MARCH 1992

CLASSIFICATION: COMPLEX - ASO 4

-appeals

-hardship applications and reviews

-investigations and reviews of complex financial arrangements including companies, family trusts and businesses

-deprivation where the question of adequate consideration is applicable and/or the amount of deprivation can be disputed

-initial investigation into the income and assets of partnerships

-home equity conversion

-review of cases involving assets minimisation schemes or complex legal/accounting arrangements including deprivation of income and/or assets and with subsequent variation in income/ assets

-foregone wages, ie. where asset transfer occurs for previously unpaid wages, eg.Veteran farmer to son

-manual rates cases