1 Background Information

There are approximately 5000 claimants currently being paid on the Dirpay system.  The following procedures are designed to assist State Offices in taking over this function with the introduction of PRACSYS and in answering claimant queries regarding Dirpay.  A Help desk facility will be available in the Human Resources Group, Corporate Centre, to address any further queries that may arise.  All liaising with the Department of Finance (DoF) and reconciliation of DoF reports will be done by the Human Resources Group.

Since 1 December 1988, payment of all incapacity payments has been done by the Agencies on Comcare's behalf.  Agencies had access to a Comcare Trust Account through DoF to facilitate reimbursement of these payments.  A large number of errors were identified with this system to the point where it was decided that the system was operating to the disadvantage of all concerned.

In view of this, the Comcare payroll administered by the Direct Payments Team in the Corporate Centre, was implemented on 1 July 1990 to make incapacity payments to all ex-employees of budget dependent agencies (finance and non finance), and off budget agencies, provided the date of injury is post premium (1 July 1989).

The Department of Finance has been contracted by Comcare to make payments on our behalf.  A special scheme has been set up for Comcare called 'C' Scheme and all payments are made through DoF, Canberra.