DCA 2 - TRANSFER OF FILES BETWEEN OFFICES

DEFENCE COMPENSATION ADVICE - NO 2

Commonwealth Employees Rehabilitation And Compensation Act 1988

TRANSFER OF FILES BETWEEN OFFICES

1.  There appears to be some confusion concerning the transfer of files between offices. To simplify matters, the following procedures are to take place:

Where a claimant moves to another State, the originating office is to continue to action the claim to finality except when one of the following circumstances apply:

i).  where reference to a medical referee or specialist is involved.

ii).  where liability has been accepted and there is a continuing active liability i.e. payment of future medical expenses etc. There is no requirement to transfer a file once it has been finalised and there is no obvious further action.

iii).  where it is obvious that a claim was received by a particular addressee in error e.g. claim lodged in Canberra from a claimant living in Sydney. When forwarding the claim to the appropriate actioning office, ensure that the claimant is advised of the action taken.

2.  Should the claimant request the file to be transferred to another state, the claim is to be fully investigated prior to the file being transferred. The claimant is to be kept informed of the action taken on his/her claim and also when the file is tranferred.

3.  In all circumstances when a file is transferred, the claim must be fully investigated and all possible action completed by the originating office prior to the file being transferred.

4.  When transferring files, they must be accompanied by a covering submission which should include the pertinent points of the claim, and the reasons for any recommendations.

D.J. WHITEHEAD

DOHC

   July 1989.