DI-12-2018 Exchange Rate Variation of Pound Sterling - Effect on Income Support and Disability Pensioners

DATE OF ISSUE : 3 December 2018

Exchange Rate Variation of Pounds Sterling - Effect on Income Support & Disability Pensioners

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the Pounds Sterling exchange rate variation exercise.
Introduction	Following the recent variation in UK – Australian exchange rates, DVA will apply a new exchange rate for the assessment of the rate of income support and disability pensions for those in receipt of all income paid in Pounds Sterling: war disablement pensions (British DP, including EATS and Composite) social security pensions official public service pensions armed forces superannuation pensions British other income (all other British income)
New Exchange Rate	The exchange rate used to convert Pounds Sterling to Australian dollars for income support assessment purposes has changed: - from one Pound Sterling equals A$1.7238 - to one Pound Sterling equals A$1.6725 (ie A$1 = £0.5979) This rate reflects the average of the “on demand airmail buying rate” for the two weeks to 30 November 2018.
Date of Effect and Payday	Effective from 4 December 2018 the current exchange rate will change. On pension payday 20 December 2018 pensioners with relevant British income will receive a full instalment at the new assessed rate.
Automatic Processing	Processing to implement the new exchange rate is scheduled for the evening of Monday, 3 December 2018. Amounts recorded as foreign super type non-government British other income (07), British Social Security Pension (08) or British Official Public Service/Forces Pension (09) will be varied by applying the exchange rate to the Pounds Sterling amount recorded, to determine the new rate of pension in Australian dollars. The income support payment will then be reassessed automatically.
Manual Cases	Cases with actions in submission or determined status will not be processed automatically and will be frozen. These cases will be listed on the manual listing for follow up action, and CMS/PIPS cases will be created automatically for action. Any cases processed through PIPS should be reassessed with effect from 4 December 2018 for payday 20 December 2018.
Non-Government British Other Income (07)	Previously non-government British other income (07) was refreshed every six months in March and September with other foreign currencies (GROOVER). As a result of a review of British pensions approved by the Repatriation Commission all sterling payments, including British other income (07) are adjusted in uniform exchange rate variations.
British DP Cases	Income Support pensioners who are in receipt of ISS, age pension (AP) or service pension with rent assistance (SPRA); and, who also receive disability (war) pension direct from Britain should have that disability pension converted to Australian dollars using this exchange rate. ISS, AP and SPRA should be recalculated by doing a PIPS assessment. These cases can be extracted through AIS by each location. Note: If DP has already been assessed as income in determining hardship cases it should not also be assessed as income for RA.
EATS and Composite Cases	EATS and Composite cases are subject to the daily exchange rate variation of plus or minus 2.5%. These cases can be extracted through AIS by each location and recalculated by doing a PIPS assessment. Attachment A shows the amount per fortnight in Australian dollars to be applied for the varying United Kingdom amounts. For further details refer to Departmental Instruction DI 22/2005 issued by Veterans’ Compensation.
Printing & Lodgement of Letters	Letters will be progressively lodged with Australia Post by our contracted mailing house. All letters will be posted by Tuesday, 11 December 2018. An advice letter will only be produced for cases where there is a variation in payment. The letters will be four pages and include the new exchange rate, the amount of income and the new ongoing pension amount. Joint letters will be produced where both members of a couple are in receipt of pension from the British government and their pension varies. Age pensioners will receive separate advices unless joint advices have been requested.
Estimated Advice Numbers	The estimated number of advices to be produced is 2,500 based on the previous advices mailout statistics.
Tasmanian Overseas Clients	Tasmanian clients who have an overseas postal address will have the full overseas address printed on their advice letters. The advice letters will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.
Streamed Advices	The advices of the following types of cases will be streamed for printing to local printers at each state location: reduction to nil cases overseas cases for all locations apart from Tasmania treatment changes as a result of the reassessment The nominated local printers are: SA VSSOPR02 TAS VTSOPR03 WA VWSOPR01 VIC VVSOPR02 NSW VNSOPR13 QLD VQSOPR01
Contact officers	The contact officer for this exercise is Elis Lam (Ext 417169)

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

3 December 2018

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-12-2018-exchange-rate-variation-pound-sterling-effect-income-support-and-disability-pensioners

DI-11- 2018 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

DATE OF ISSUE : 24 September 2018

2019 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

Amends DI No:
Replaces DI No:

Purpose

To provide information about the annual bulk issue of the 2019 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).

Background

The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994. The card is re-issued annually and entitles the card holder to pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a concessional rate, the Medicare Safety Net threshold and concessions offered by Australia Post.

In addition, CSHC holders may be entitled to further state/territory concessions on presentation of their card to the relevant department or authority.

CSHC holders may also be entitled to a quarterly payment from DVA.

Eligibility

The CSHC is intended to assist eligible veterans and their partners (including widow/widowers, and war widow/widowers) of pension age who fail to qualify for income support due to assets or income in excess of the current limit. Eligibility is determined manually by Income Support staff.

Eligibility for residents of Norfolk Island

Residents of Norfolk Island are regarded as Australian residents for the purposes of determining eligibility for a CSHC. This is due to changes to VEA section 5Q which includes Norfolk Island in the definition of Australia, allowing access to various income support payments and benefits including the CSHC.

Residents of Norfolk Island may therefore be issued with a CSHC if all of the eligibility criteria are met.

PCC Reissue (for life) Clients

As part of the 2015-16 Budget, the Commonwealth Government announced changes to the assets test to improve the fairness and affordability of the pension system. As a result of this measure commencing on 1 January 2017, some clients had their income support payment and PCC cancelled and were automatically issued with a CSHC if of pension/qualifying age. They were also able to apply for a Low Income Health Care Card from Centrelink. These concession cards were issued without recipients having to meet the usual income test requirements for those cards.

As part of the 2017-18 Budget, the Government announced that the PCC would be reinstated on 9 October 2017 to all those who had their pension cancelled on 1 January 2017. The PCC was automatically issued with the 2018 PCC bulk issue. Those affected will retain the CSHC eligibility and continue to receive the Energy Supplement (where applicable) but will not be issued with a CSHC.

CSHC Carrier

The CSHC is issued on a CSHC Carrier sheet which sets out information about the card and the cardholder’s obligations.

A copy of the CSHC Carrier text is included at Attachment A.

CSHC Income

The CSHC income test is based on a person’s annual adjusted taxable income. Annual adjusted taxable income is the total of:

Taxable income as shown on a Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notice of Assessment; and
Employer provided fringe benefits in addition to salary that are over $1,000; and
Foreign income on which tax is not paid to the ATO; and
Net loss from rental property; and
Net loss from financial investments such as shares and managed investments; and
Reportable superannuation contributions made by an employer as part of a salary package and personal superannuation contributions for which a person can claim a tax deduction.

From 1 January 2015 the CSHC income test also includes income deemed on account-based superannuation pensions.

CSHC Income Limit

The CSHC income limits are as follows:

$54,929 if single;
$87,884 (combined), if a member of a couple;
$109,855 (combined), if accepted as being separated due to ill health or respite care.

These limits are indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year with effect from 20 September.

The above limits are increased for each dependent child by $639.60.

Validity Period

The 2019 CSHC will be valid up to and including 31 December 2019.

Numbers

The number of cards and carriers to be produced for the bulk issue is estimated to be 4,000.

Dates

The following dates apply to the 2019 annual bulk issue:

Task	Date
Production data extract	8 October 2018
Complete data clean by SSO	2 October 2018
Produce reports for states	8 October 2018
Commence using 2019 daily templates	9 October 2018
Mailing house commence production of cards mail packs	10 October 2018
Final lodgement with Australia Post	12 October 2018

Reports

Summary and Non-Issued Reports will be emailed to State Contacts and SSO on Monday, 8 October 2018.

In addition, status reports regarding the progress of the printing, enveloping and lodgement of cards will be provided to the State Contacts, the Client Contact Performance Team and DVA VANQISH as appropriate.

Daily Template

Changes to the daily template will be implemented on Monday 8 October 2018 at 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Testing of the new daily template is conducted by the State Contacts and ICTSB prior to implementation.

Following implementation, State Contacts are to provide samples of the CSHC output to the project coordinator for quality assurance purposes. The samples should include a new grant and a replacement for every state and territory.

CSHC Stock

As there is no change to the pre-printed text on the CSHC carrier, the current stock on hand should continue to be used for daily issue.

Additional stock in batches of one hundred will be provided on request. State Contacts should email the stock request to the Cards and Advices Team in Sydney.

The stock is an accountable item and must be stored securely.

Location Contacts

The CSHC State Contacts are:

Location	Contact
NSW / ACT	Paul Fisher / Sao Lou
QLD	Kerri Muller / Susan Rayner
VIC	Daniel Luba / David Watts
SA / NT	Marion Colliver / Bee Measham
WA	Michelle Pauly / Margarete Mumme
TAS	Guy Siberry / Rodney Quinn / Gilliam Blake

Please advise the project coordinator if there are any changes to the contact officers listed above.

Project Coordinator

The project coordinator for the bulk issue of the 2019 CSHC is:

Elis Lam

Cards & Advices

Income Support

Phone: (02) 9213 7244 or 417244

E-mail: Elis.Lam@dva.gov.au

Janice Silby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support

26 October 2017

ATTACHMENT A

COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD CARRIER TEXT

YOUR COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD

Your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is valid until 31 December 2018.

To remove the card, just peel it from the paper.

The CSHC is subject to an income test*. You have been given your CSHC on the basis that your annual income is less than the applicable income limits below:

$53,799 if you are single;
$86,076 (combined), if you are a member of a couple; or
$107,598 (combined), if you are accepted as being separated due to ill health or respite care..

These limits are current from 20 September 2017 and are indexed in line with the Consumer Price Index on 20 September each year. New limits will be published in Factsheet IS126, Vetaffairs and on www.dva.gov.au. The above limits are increased by $639.60 for each dependent child.

You must read and understand the Your Obligations section on the reverse side of this letter. You must notify the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) if your annual income is greater than the relevant limit, if you or your partner commence a new superannuation account-based pension or if any other events occur which may affect your entitlement to the card.

*If your income support payment was cancelled on 1 January 2017 because of the changes to the assets test, you are not subject to the CSHC income test. You do not need to tell us about changes to your income.

If you have any questions, please contact DVA on 1800 555 254.

[signature]

JANICE SILBY

Assistant Secretary

as Delegate of the Secretary

WHAT BENEFITS CAN I GET WITH MY CSHC?

Your CSHC may entitle you to a quarterly supplement payment from DVA.

Your CSHC may also provide the following concessions:

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines at concession card holder rate;
PBS Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
Medicare Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
bulk billed GP appointments may be available to you as a concession card holder (if your doctor bulk bills);
Australia Post offers MyPost Concession Card. For information on other Australia Post concessions, visit your post office, auspost.com.au or call 13 13 18;
additional concessions may be available from state and local government authorities (Please note these concessions are not determined by DVA).

For more information contact the relevant department or authority.

By presenting this card you consent to your concession eligibility being confirmed with DVA by the concession provider.

You must present both your CSHC and your Medicare card on each occasion to obtain PBS or Medicare concessions.

Concessions available to CSHC holders are at the discretion of the concession provider and may change over time. Please check with concession providers for any changes.

YOUR OBILIGATIONS

You are required under sections 118ZI and 127 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to notify DVA within 14 days if any of the following events occur:

Your Income

If your (and your partner’s) adjusted taxable income plus income deemed on account-based pensions, is more than the applicable limit listed on the front of this sheet.
If you (or your partner) purchase a new superannuation account-based pension.

adjusted taxable income is the total of:

a) Taxable income as noted on your Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notice of Assessment;

b) Employer provided fringe benefits in addition to your salary that are over $1,000;

c) Foreign income that you do not pay tax on to the ATO;

d) Net loss from rental property;

e) Net loss from financial investments such as shares and managed investments; and

f) Reportable superannuation contributions made by your employer as part of your salary package and personal superannuation contributions for which you can claim a tax deduction.

account-based pensions are flexible retirement income stream products purchased with superannuation money. If income is being deemed on your account-based pensions, you will previously have been notified of the amount of deemed income calculated.

More information on the income test for the CSHC can be found in Factsheet IS126 at www.dva.gov.au

Your Personal Circumstances

If there is a change in your family circumstances, e.g. change in your relationship status, or a change in the number of your dependent children.
If you are going overseas permanently or intend to go overseas for more than 6　weeks.

If you are granted a pension, benefit or concession card from Centrelink.

Please be aware that there are penalties for failing to comply with this notice.

Your Privacy

Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988 and may be collected by DVA for the delivery of government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police and their dependants.

For more information about how DVA manages personal information, please visit www.dva.gov.au/privacy.htm, email privacy@dva.gov.au or phone us for a copy of our Privacy Policy.

MORE INFORMATION

Will my CSHC affect my Seniors Card?

No. Your CSHC will not affect your entitlement to concessions you can receive with a state or territory Seniors Card.

What if I have a Repatriation Health Card from DVA?

There is no change to your Repatriation Health Card (Gold or White Card).

Will I have to re-apply each year for a new CSHC?

No. While you remain eligible, a new CSHC will be automatically posted to you each year.

What if I have dependants?

Your CSHC does not give concessions to dependants. If you have dependants you can ask Centrelink about a low income Health Care Card. The low income Health Care Card offers the same pharmaceutical concessions as the CSHC and also covers dependants.

For further information you can contact a DVA office or visit www.dva.gov.au/factsheets

This is an information notice given under the social security law and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-11-2018-commonwealth-seniors-health-card-cshc

DI -09 - 2018 September 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

DATE OF ISSUE : 28 August 2018

September 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction

This Departmental Instruction is to provide you with information about the processing arrangements for:

September 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) advice letter production and mailout.
September 2018 Global Refresh Of OVerseas Exchange Rates (referred to as GROOVER) advice letter production and mailout.

Introduction

Each quarter the Department varies pensions and allowances in accordance with provisions contained in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Statutory Increase or 'SI'). In March and September of each year, the movements in Cost of Living Index and the Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) data are usually combined as one quarterly reassessment process.

This quarter the Department will be sending advice letters to pensioners on less than the maximum rate of service pension (SP), income support supplement (ISS) or age pension (AP) who have MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment and who are affected by the Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs reassessment.

Advice letters will also be sent to AP recipients who commence receiving Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA), or whose DFISA payment is cancelled following the processing run.

AP recipients whose DFISA payment has increased or reduced will only receive an advice following the SI and Global Refresh processing if they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment.

This Departmental Instruction provides information about the advice letter production and mailout process, and provides information on significant issues relating to the mailout.

Significant Issues

Issues of significance with regard to this mailout are as follows:

The asset value of MI and SH data will be reassessed, except for clients in bereavement period;
An advice will only be produced if:

there is MI and/or SH in the assessment; and
the income support pension is payable at less than the maximum rate (or it changed from less than maximum to maximum rate because of the reassessment);

Other conditions that may generate an advice include:

when there is a change to treatment entitlement, regardless of whether the client has any MI and/or SI in the assessment; or
when a DFISA payment is granted or cancelled, regardless of whether there is any MI and/or SH in the assessment; or
pension has been reduced to nil after reassessment;

All advices will be lodged with Australia Post on Monday 17 September 2018.

Advice Letter Target Audience

A letter will be produced for the following clients after the September 2018 Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs processing:

All less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients including those in receipt of DFISA, regardless of whether MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment;
Maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment who move to less than the maximum rate;
Less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients who move to the maximum rate;
SP/ISS/AP recipients who have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment and are reduced to nil;
War widows or widowers with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment, whose ISS or SP are paid at the nil rate but rent assistance (RA) have varied;
All AP recipients who commence payment of DFISA, or whose DFISA payment is cancelled, regardless of whether they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment; and
Treatment changes as a result of the Statutory Increase (SI) or global refresh of MIs and/or SHs.

Introductory Paragraphs

All letters will have either a single outcome paragraph or a multiple outcome paragraph made up of dot points to advise the pension outcome. Examples are:

Single Outcome Paragraph:

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil. This change will take effect from 20 September 2018.

Multiple Outcome Paragraphs:

This is to advise you that your:

age pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied/reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been granted/increased/reduced/cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 September 2018.

Financial Assets Reassessment

The asset value of MI and/or SH data will be reassessed as part of this process. Clients with MI and/or SHs will receive a paragraph advising them of the ‘Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments’.

This paragraph advises clients about the reassessment program and explains that:

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment….'

OR in case of a reduction to nil,

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil….'

Managed Investments and/or Shares Information Attachment

All less than maximum rate income support recipients with MIs and/or SHs will receive a full listing of all their MIs and/or SHs regardless of which MIs and/or SHs have been reassessed.

Clients will not be issued with a full listing of their Income and Assets.

Change to Pension due to Indexation Increases

All letters will continue to have the paragraph advising that ‘Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.’

Information on indexation adjustments and pension increase will also be provided in the upcoming edition of Vetaffairs, which is to be distrubuted by 28 September 2018.

Obligations

Full and Partial obligations are to be suppressed. Reference will be made to obligations issued to clients in previous letters. For SP and ISS recipients, reference will also be made to obligations provided in the 'You and Your Pension' Booklet.

A Financial Obligations paragraph (including the Prescribed Rates), will be present in the advice for all clients, except for pensioners who are reduced to nil.

AP clients who are reduced to nil, but eligible for payment of DFISA will receive their Financial Obligations paragraph including their prescribed rates.

Right of Review

A right of review paragraph will be included in all letters.

No MI and SH Refresh for Bereavement Period cases

Pensioners currently in a bereavement period will not have their MI and/or SH values refreshed in this SI run. The batch processing will only apply the statutory increase to their pension rates.

A full MI/SH data refresh should be done as part of their post-bereavement review.

Treatment Advices to be checked

The Enclosure (treatment) advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer at each location.

These letters should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs before they are mailed to the clients. It should be noted that not all clients who have an advice produced due to a treatment change will have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment. Clients who do not have MIs and/or SHs in the assessment will not have MIs and/or SHs related paragraphs in their advice.

Tasmanian Overseas Clients’ Advices

Advice letters for Tasmanian Office clients with an overseas postal address will have their advices printed and posted directly from the Mailing House.

No Advices for Blind Clients

Blind clients will not receive an advice. Where a member of a couple is assessed as 'blind', a single advice will be produced for the non-blind member who may be affected by the processing.

An exception to this rule is where a ‘blind’ client with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment is also in payment of RA, which is subject to the income and assets tests and as such, may result in a variation to their RA payment. Where there is a variation to the RA payment for these clients, an advice will be produced.

General Information Sheet

The General Information Sheet (GIS) will not be produced as part of each client’s letter for the September 2018 SI processing.

For information, the GIS will only be produced in the following circumstances:

as part of the annual end of financial year (June) mailout
as part of an income support pension new grant advice
as part of a daily advice when a client is switched over from transitional to non-transitional assessment

Pensioners who reside overseas permanently will not be given the GIS to avoid confusion, because some components of the pension supplement (PS non-taxable and PS flexible) are not payable to overseas pensioners.

Single & Joint Addressed Letters

All SP and ISS recipient couples will receive a joint advice, provided the pensioner addresses are identical. The batch address defaults determining single and joint advices have been aligned with the PIPS PC daily advice defaults. Where both members of a couple have the same postal address recorded, a joint advice will be produced. This includes illness separated couples.

AP couples will receive separate letters.

Important to note: Staff are reminded when granting AP or when clients in a joint assessment request separate advices, this information can be recorded in mainframe PRODIMS - Client Correspondence Client Options (CO.CO) Screen. The advice default requests set in CO.CO will override DOCGEN and PIPS advice rules.

SI Processing

SI Processing will commence on Friday night, 7 September 2018, following the completion of the IPS FORT processing, and will run through until Sunday 9 September 2018.

Critical Dates

Processing within DVA (includes 'advices' processing) - Friday (9pm) 7 September to Sunday 9 September 2018

Transmission of Production Data to Mailing House - Monday 10 September 2018

Mailing House to complete lodgment of all Advice Letters by CoB - Monday 17 Septemeber 2018

Expected Client Numbers

The estimated number of letters to be sent nationally is 16,000 based on March 2018 SI mailout statistics (the last comparable exercise). For reference, the number of mailpacks generated for each location in the March 2017 SI mailout are listed below:

STATE	NUMBER OF ADVICE LETTERS
NSW & ACT	4,614
VIC	3,309
QLD	4,355
SA & NT	1,332
WA	1,639
TAS	594

TOTAL	15,843

Printing of Letters

Our contracted mailing house will print, fold, insert and lodge the advice letters.

National Lodgement of Letters

All letters will be lodged with Australia Post for regular rate delivery on Monday 17 September 2018.

A representative from the Cards and Advices Team will notify and confirm lodgement details.

The Income Support contact officers for this exercise will be given progress reports and advised of any changes to this timetable.

Holding of daily advice letters

From Monday 10 September 2018 PIPS daily advices should be held until lodgement of September 2018 SI advices is completed. Bereavement advices are exempted from these requirements and therefore they may be released.

DFISA Advices from Centrelink Processing

DVA will be suppressing all Centrelink daily DFISA variation advices with an effective date of 20 September 2018, which are transmitted to DVA following the Centrelink processing run. All other advices will print as part of the normal processing, including Centrelink DFISA cancellation and grant advices.

Foreign Pension Refresh Program known as GROOVER

The foreign pension refresh program referred to as 'GROOVER' (Global Refresh Of Overseas Exchange Rates) is a separate processing exercise to the September 2018 Global Refresh processing and is scheduled to run on the evening of Wednesday, 12 September 2018. The effective date of the Foreign Pensions Refresh Run is 20 September 2018 for payday 27 September 2018.

Separate Foreign Income advices are produced for clients who have foreign income, and whose pensions have been varied because of the GROOVER run. A sample GROOVER advice can be found at Attachment B.

Please note: the British Social Security Pension (type 08), British Official Public Service/Forces pension (type 09) and British Other Income (type 07) are not included in the GROOVER update. Instead they are regularly updated in British Pensions exchange rate variation exercises (commonly known as BRI runs) whenever the Pound Sterling exchange rate varies by 2.5% or more.

GROOVER Advices

About 500 GROOVER advices are expected. These advices will be printed at nominated printer at each location. The GROOVER advices should be held until lodgement of September 2018 SI advices is completed.

GROOVER streamlined advices are printed as a separate bundle. These advices require additional checking and manual actions similar to the SI streamed advices

SI Streamed Advices

Several categories of advices are streamed out to print at location printers, as they require additional checking and manual actions.

The following advice types are streamed:

Enclosure (treatment eligibility or student child change);
Overseas postal address (except Tasmanian clients);
Reduction to nil.

They are to be printed at state office printers listed below:

SA - VSSOPR02

TAS - VTSOPR03

WA - VWSOPR05

VIC - VVSOPR02

NSW - VNSOPR13

QLD - VQSOPR01

These advices, in particular treatment eligibility change advices, should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received by each Office, and held pending notification of the successful lodgement of the September quarterly advices. This ensures letters are recieved in chronological order.

Reduction to Nil advice letters also require inclusion of Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim forms, CSHC fact sheets and reply paid envelopes to the mailpacks.

ZIP Files of Advice Schedule Reports

A Zip File listing details of all clients who receive an advice will be emailed to the Contact Officers following the processing run. The Zip File replaces the Advices Schedule Report, which is too large to print on the printers in each office.

Reprints of Advices Available using VIEW – Advices Tab

Reprints of individual advice letters produced from the quarterly processing can be requested via VIEW – Advices Tab reprint facility. Quarterly advice reprints are available and can be requested from day one of the next quarter ie. March quarterly advices from 01/04/yyyy, June quarterly advices from 01/07/yyyy and September quarterly advices from 01/10/yyyy.

'HELD' Advices to be forced

Prior to the SI Batch processing run, any advices in 'Held' status will be forced to print to each location nominated printer.

Please ensure your designated printer is fully operational during the processing period. These advices will need to be checked to ensure the information in them is correct prior to posting.

Income Support Contact Officers

A contact person from each location is required to act as a liaison point for the Cards and Advices Team and is to be the responsible person for distributing any information regarding the September 2017 Global Refresh mailout to staff.

The Income Support (IS) contacts for the September 2017 quarterly processing exercise are listed below:

NSW: Simon Towns

VIC: Arthur Morihovitis/David Watts

QLD: Stephen Hamill/Sharon Golden

SA: Maria Nasilowski

WA: Michelle Pauly / Margarete Mumme

TAS: Craig Conway / Rodney Quin

Cards & Advices Team Contact Details

Any queries regarding this mailout should be referred to the Advices Help Desk - ACT mailbox

Michelle Glanville

Assistant Secretary

Business Improvement and Support Branch (a/g)

28 August 2018

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

Advice Samples

Details of the proposed content of the SI letters are included in Attachment A.

Example 1A: SP Increase, with MIs/SHs in assessment.
Example 2A: Age Pension Increase, DFISA varied, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.
Example 3A: SP Reduction to Nil, RA cancelled, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.

Attachment B contains a sample of the GROOVER advice.

Letter Variables

Please note, in the enclosed examples:

Mail Return Address, Facsimile Number, DC name and signature block will change according to State.
The words “service pension”, “age pension” and “income support supplement” each represent variables which will appear for those clients in receipt of the applicable pension.
The introductory paragraphs will advise clients of the outcome of their re-assessment, being either ‘increased’, ‘reduced’ or ‘reduced to nil’. Variables such as 'increased', 'reduced', 'granted', 'commenced' or 'cancelled' may be used when referring to Income Support allowance outcomes.

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT A

EXAMPLE 1A:

OVERALL INCREASE – EITHER FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE OR INCREASE FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO MAX RATE AMOUNT
SINGLE OUTCOME
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
SERVICE PENSIONERS
MARRIED ASSESSMENT
INCOME TESTED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

8 September 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

29 MARGARET STREET

IPSWICH QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX999999

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 September 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters and the booklet 'You and Your Pension'. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Assistant Secretary

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 27 September 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Payment for 12 October 2017	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

SHARES AND MANAGED INVESTMENTS INFORMATION

(Information currently used to assess your pension)

You are receiving service pension at less than the maximum rate payable. (If the client goes from LMAX to MAX rate this sentence will read: You are receiving service pension at the maximum rate payable.)

You are currently paid under the income test. The total of your assessed gross fortnightly income is $x,xxx.xx. The total of all your assets (excluding any deductible assets) is $xxx,xxx.xx.

Information about your shares and managed investments is provided below.

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or your unit based managed investments have been automatically updated.

The asset values of any unlisted public company shares, overseas shares, options, rights and futures or account based managed investments you hold have not been updated. You must tell us if the asset value of these investments has varied by $1,000 or more.

The information below sets out the values for the shares and/or managed investments in your current assessment.

Listed Securities and Unlisted Public Securities

Description	No. of Shares	Asset Amount
XXXXXX	X,XXX	$XX,XXX.XX
QQQQQQQQQQQQQ	XXX	$ X,XXX.XX

Managed Investments

Description	Units	Asset Amount
VVVVVVVVVV	XXX	$XXX.XX
CCCCCCCCCCCCC	XXX	$XXX.XX

Note: Income from financial assets is deemed.

Important Information: We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment, as they have not been changed in this assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of service pension you are paid. If they have changed, please notify the Department immediately.

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if the above list of your Shares and/or Managed Investments is incomplete or incorrect; or if the number of shares or units you hold has changed. Please note that failure to advise of incorrect or missing information about your shares or managed investments, or about other income or asset changes, may lead to your pension being overpaid. Such overpayments are recoverable.

EXAMPLE 2A:

AGE PENSION INCREASE
ASSETS TESTED
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES
DFISA VARIATION
MIs/SHs
LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

Age pension has been increased.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied.

This change will take effect from 20 September 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if you gain or dispose of any assets, or the value of your total existing assets varies, or your gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you can contact your nearest Veterans' Affairs office and discuss the reasons for the decision. If you remain dissatisfied, you may apply to have the decision reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer, with no prior involvement in the case. If you decide to apply for a review more than 13 weeks from the day this notice is given to you, you can only be paid an adjustment from the date we receive your application. Requests for review may be made in person, by telephone or in writing. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

The rate of DFISA paid to you is derived from your age pension assessment. You may seek to have your age pension assessment reviewed if you are dissatisfied with your DFISA rate.

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and Managed Investments Information Attachment

EXAMPLE 3A:

SERVICE PENSION - REDUCTION TO NIL
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
RENT ASSISTANCE CANCELLED
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

service pension has been reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 September 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share and managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Pensioner Concession Card

As your service pension is no longer payable, you no longer qualify for a Pensioner Concession Card. From 20 September 2017, your Pensioner Concession Card is no longer valid and you are unable to use it.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

If you are of pension age and you are not receiving an income support payment, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). A CSHC claim form and a fact sheet are enclosed for your information. If you do not already have a CSHC from Centrelink and would like to claim a CSHC from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, please return your claim form in the envelope provided.

Quarterly Energy Supplement

As your income support pension has been cancelled, your gold card may entitle you to quarterly energy supplement. This payment is made quarterly in September, June, September and December. If you are eligible, you will be notified separately.

Your Right to Re-Apply

You may re-apply to have your service pension restored at any time if your income and/or assets fall below the limits that would allow for payment of the pension.

DVA Factsheet IS30 Pension Rates, Limits and Allowances Summary is regularly updated to reflect the latest pension rates and limits. To obtain a copy, please contact us or visit our web site at www.dva.gov.au.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and/or Managed Investments Information Attachment

ATTACHMENT B

EXAMPLE OF GROOVER ADVICE:

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 September 2017.

The rate of exchange used to convert your Foreign Income to Australian Dollars for income support pension assessment purposes has been reviewed. The new rate of exchange is shown below.

If the Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below is not the same as the gross amount (in foreign currency) you are currently receiving, you should notify the Department within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance). The Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below may be incorrect if you have received an increase in your foreign payment, or the amount has been recorded incorrectly.

Foreign Income

Description	Foreign Income per fortnight	Exchange Rate	Assessed Income per fortnight
Euro	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx
Turkish Lira	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply for a review, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. A request for review must be in writing and set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-09-2018-september-2018-global-refresh-managed-investments-shares-and-overseas-exchange-rates

DI-08-2018 July 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

DATE OF ISSUE : 29 June 2018

July 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

Amends DI No:	Amends Manual
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about advice production from the July 2018 Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria state based superannuation pension reassessment.
Background	ComSuper was merged into Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) in July 2015. CSC includes Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS), Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit Scheme (DFRDB) and Military Superannuation Benefit Scheme (MSBS) Superannuation pensions. It is adjusted bi-annually in January and July. The cost of living increase to be applied to the CSS and PSS pensions in July 2018 is 1.1%. The cost of living increase to be applied to DFRDB and MSBS pensions in July 2018 is 1.26% The July 2017 CSC reassessment run will also include an update to Victoria state based superannuation pensions namely Vic Vision. The increase to be applied to Vic Vision pension in July 2018 is 1.26%.
Processing Date	Reassessment processing to reflect the July 2018 CPI increases is scheduled to run overnight on Monday, 2 July 2018. Following completion of processing, the advice data files will be transmitted to the mailing house for printing and lodgment.
Effective Date	The effective date of reassessment will be 3 July 2018. On pension payday 19 July 2018, pensioners will receive a full instalment at the new assessed rate.
Advice letter target audience	A letter will be produced for income support pensioners in receipt of CSC and/or Victoria state based super pension, whose pension rate is varied by the reassessment run. There will be approximately 17,000 advice letters produced nationally.
Advices content and presentation	The advice will comprise of a 2 page letter and a Payment Information Attachment. The advice will inform clients of the outcome to their pension reassessment and provide information on gross superannuation income, deductible and/or non-deductible amounts. The information relating to their super payment is presented in a tabular format. The advice will also provide the client with their Financial Obligations (prescribed rates) and a right of review. Please see Attachment A which shows a sample of: advice for clients with a deductible amount; advice for clients without a deductible amount; and advice for clients with both a deductible and non-deductible amount.
Printing and mailing of advice letters	With some exceptions explained below, advice letters will be printed and mailed through the Department's contracted mailing house. All letters will be lodged with Australia Post as a national lodgment by close of business Monday, 9 July 2018.
Advices for Overseas Addressees	Advice letters produced for Tasmanian State Office clients who have an overseas address will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.
Enclosure (Treatment change) Advice Letters	Enclosure (treatment change) letters will be printed separately at nominated state location printers. They are to be mailed by close of business Monday, 9 July 2018. The streamed advice letters should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs. If any advice with incorrect treatment information is found, please consult with the Income Support Contact Officers listed below to ensure correct information is provided in the manual replacement advice.
Reduction to Nil Letters	Any Reduction to Nil advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer in each location. Staff are required to include a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim form, a CSHC fact sheet and a reply paid envelope with the advice letter.
Location of printers	The streamed advices are to be printed at the following printers: SA VSSOPR02 TAS VTSOPR03 WA VWSOPR01 VIC VVSOPR02 NSW VNSOPR13 QLD VQSOPR01
DVA – Income Support Contact Officers	A contact person from each location acts as a liaison point for the Advices Team, and to assist with the handling of streamed advices printed at each nominated location printer. The Income Support Location Contacts for the July 2016 CSC processing exercise are as follows: NSW / ACT Simon Town VIC David Watts/ Arthur Morihovitis QLD Stephen Hamill / Sharon Golden SA / NT Maria Nasilowski WA Michelle Pauly/Margarete Mumme TAS Craig Conway / Rodney Quinn
Contacts	For Advice issues – Ganes Jagadeeswaran on extension 412310. For Systems issues – Denis Lacy on extension 440300.

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

29 June 2018

ATTACHMENT A

COMSUPER ADVICE FOR CLIENT WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

3 July 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 3 July 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name

Description

Gross Income

Deductible Amount

(tax free component)

Assessed Income

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp (CSS & PSS)

$585.95

$135.50

$450.45

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 19 JULY 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

BOTH VET AND SPOUSE HAVE INCOME FROM SUPER - THEY DO NOT HAVE 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

3 July 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 3 July 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name	Description	Assessed Income
JOHN SMITH	Commonwealth Super Corp (DFRDB & MSBS)	$450.95
MARY SMITH	Commonwealth Super Corp (CSS & PSS)	$265.00

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 19 JULY 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

CLIENT HAS INCOME FROM SUPER WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT' AND WITHOUT A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

3 July 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 3 July 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name

Description

Gross Income

Deductible Amount

(tax free component)

Assessed Income

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp

(CSS & PSS)

$585.95

$135.50

$450.45

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp

(DFRDB & MSBS)

$846.44

$0.00

$846.44

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your total assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 19 JULY 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-08-2018-july-2018-reassessment-commonwealth-superannuation-corporation-csc-and-victoria-state-based-superannuation-pensions

DI-07-2018 June 2018 Statutory Increase Processing

DATE OF ISSUE : 12 June 2018

June 2018 Statutory Increase Processing - Production and Mailout of Advice Letters with Payment Summaries, Standalone payment Summaries (Issued without a Covering Letter), and Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction

This Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the processing arrangements for the June 2018 Statutory Increase (SI) processing of advice letters with payment summaries, Standalone Payment Summaries (issued without a covering letter), and Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate production and mailout.

Overview

Introduction

In June each year the Department undertakes a bulk exercise to issue advice letters to persons in receipt of service pension, age pension including those in payment of Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) only, or income support supplement.

Commencing in 2018 advice letters will also be issued to veteran payment recipients.

The majority of these letters will include payment summaries for the end of the financial year.

Standalone Payment Summaries (issued without a covering letter) and Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates will also be issued at this time.

The estimated number of mail packs is given at Attachment A.

Major features of SI

The key points of this SI and mail out are:

Production of advice letters to all recipients of service pension (SP), income support supplement (ISS), age pension (AP) including those being paid DFISA only and veteran payment (VP) – income support payment;
Reassessment of payment rates in accordance with adjustments to the Income Free Area, Assets Free Area and Deeming Thresholds;
Full Obligations will be issued with ALL advices;
Full Income and Assets will be issued to those receiving less than maximum rate of income support payment;
End of Financial Year payment summary production;
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) insert – ‘Do you need to lodge a tax return this year?’ will only be issued to clients paid at less than the maximum rate of income support payment, and to those receiving a Standalone Payment Summary (without a covering letter) or a Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate;
Standalone Payment Summaries (SAPS), i.e. payment summaries sent without a covering letter, will be issued to clients who received some payment during the financial year but do not receive an advice letter, e.g. Centrelink DFISA clients or clients no longer in payment of income support;
Production of Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates (MLEC);
Advice to clients of any gain or loss of treatment eligibility; and
Advices for clients with a valid overseas postal address for all states will be printed and posted directly from the mail house.

Production of Advice Letters

Processing Weekend

Processing is scheduled to run from Friday evening, 15 June 2018 to Sunday, 17 June 2018.

Any payment variations resulting from this exercise will be effective from 1 July 2018 for payday 5 July 2018.

Critical Dates

Processing period within DVA – (includes 'advices' processing)	Friday (pm) 15 June 2018 – Sunday (pm) 17 June 2018
Commence production of advice letters with payment summaries, SAPS and MLECs mail packs	Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Progressive lodgment of all advice letters, SAPS and MLECs with Australia Post	Commencing Monday, 25 June 2017 and completed by Friday, 29 June 2018

Letter Production

The contracted mail house located in Canberra will print the advice letters, SAPS and MLECs, insert the ATO flyers where applicable, envelope and lodge all mail packs with Australia Post.

Lodgment of Letters

Letters will be progressively lodged with Australia Post commencing Monday, 25 June 2018. All letters will be posted by close of business Friday, 29 June 2018.

Return Address if not delivered

All mail packs sent from the mail house will be enveloped in a single window-faced envelope with a return address of GPO Box 9998 BRISBANE QLD 4001

Letter Content

Letters and Attachments

Sample copies of the expected advice letter content for this run are reproduced at Attachment B. Samples of the Payment Summary and Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate are reproduced at Attachment C and Attachment D, respectively.

Single and Joint Advices

All service pensioners and income support supplement recipient couples will receive a joint advice, provided both members of a couple, including the illness separated, have the same IMS postal address recorded.

Age pensioners receive single advice letters unless otherwise requested.

Important to note: Staff are reminded that if a client in a joint assessment requests separate or single advices, they need to update this information using the mainframe PRODIMS – Client Correspondence (CO.CO) Screen prior to the processing run to initiate the client request.

Advice default requests in CO.CO will override the DOCGEN advice rules.

Full Obligations & Full Income and Assets attachment

Full Obligations and Full Income and Assets attachments will not be issued to pensioners this year.

This is in line with the Repatriation Commission policy that:

Pensioners receiving pension at less than the maximum rate be provided with their Full Obligations and Full Income and Assets every two years – Full Obligations and Full Income and Assets were last issued to this group in June 2016.

Full Obligations will not be issued to SP/ISS/AP recipients receiving the maximum rate of pension.

This is in line with the Repatriation Commission policy that:

Pensioners receiving the maximum rate of pension are required to be provided with their Full Obligations at a minimum interval of once every five years – Full Obligations were last issued to this client group in June 2016. The next issue will be in June 2020. Full Income and Assets attachments are not issued to this client group.

Financial Obligations including Prescribed Rates

The Financial Obligations paragraph, which includes prescribed rates information, will be present in all the advices for SP/ISS/AP pensioners.

Payment Information Attachment

SP/ISS/AP pensioners who remain on maximum rate following the processing will not have a Payment Information Attachment printed as part of their advice as they are considered to be continuation cases.

SP/ISS/AP pensioners whose pension rates have varied following the processing will receive a Payment Information Attachment.

Tasmanian Office Clients with Overseas Postal Address

Advice letters for Tasmanian Office clients with an overseas postal address will have their advices printed and posted directly from the Mailing House.

PAYG Payment Summary

Payment summaries will be issued to all clients who received a payment from DVA during the 2017/2018 financial year. Clients will be sent a payment summary listing both taxable and tax exempt (i.e. non-taxable) payments. The tax exempt payment information will be broken into the following categories:

Tax-free pensions and benefits including tax exempt disability pension, war widow/widower pension, service pension and income support supplement; and
Other tax exempt payments.

Payment summaries will form part of the advice letter for all income support payment recipients. Where a payment summary is sent without a covering letter, it is referred to as a Standalone Payment Summary (SAPS).

Payment summaries will not be sent to clients who are under 16 years of age on 30 June 2018 and did not receive a taxable payment in the financial year 2017/2018.

A sample of the payment summary can be found at Attachment C.

General Information Sheet (GIS)

Each advice letter, except those for overseas pensioners, will have a General Information Sheet (GIS). The GIS provides details of payment rates, income and asset thresholds, deeming rates and thresholds, treatment thresholds, rent assistance rates and other payment information. There will be a separate GIS for clients assessed under the transitional rules and for those assessed under the non-transitional rules because different rates and thresholds apply.

Some components of the pension supplement (pension supplement non-taxable and pension supplement flexible) are not payable to overseas pensioners. Therefore, the information provided on the GIS is not applicable to them. For this reason, overseas pensioners will not be issued with the GIS to avoid confusion.

ATO insert – Do you need to lodge a tax return?'

A 'pensioner flyer' produced by the ATO titled “Do you need to lodge a tax return?” will only be included in the advice letters produced for those in payment of less than the maximum rate of income support pension, those being issued a SAPS or a MLEC.

The flyer will not be sent to those clients being paid at the maximum rate of income support pension.

Each location will be supplied with a quantity of the flyers to insert with their Enclosures (treatment changes) or Reduction to Nil advice letters which will print at each location’s nominated printer.

Pensioners to Contact ATO with Taxation Questions

It is important for DVA staff to note that pensioners have been advised in their letters to contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61 if they have any questions about taxation. Should pensioners ring DVA offices with questions relating to taxation matters, staff should refer them to the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DVA staff must not offer advice about taxation liability or the need to lodge a tax return.

Information on Tax Thresholds in VIEW

The 'Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offsets' amounts are displayed in the 'Tax Threshold Amounts' folder in the 'Fin Year Certificate' tab in VIEW. The 2017/2018 threshold amounts will be available in VIEW from 1 July 2018. Additional information about these thresholds is provided via VIEW Online Help.

Standalone Payment Summaries (issued without a covering letter)

SAPS – sent without a covering letter

SAPS will be produced for the following categories:

Persons issued with an Education Allowance;
Working Rule B Widows;
Pensioners who received income support payment for part of the financial year and are no longer in payment of an income support pension;
Disability pensioners and war widows/widowers who do not receive any income support payments;
Overseas addressees (for clients who were in payment for part of the year but are no longer in payment); and
Centrelink clients in payment of DFISA.

SAPS – posted directly to clients from the Mailing House

All SAPS, with the exception for overseas addressees listed above, are to be printed, enveloped and lodged with Australia Post directly from the mail house.

In June 2017, DVA issued 76,191 SAPS. It is estimated that a similar number of SAPS will be issued in 2018 based on this statistic.

SAPS - Overseas Addressees

SAPS for clients who reside overseas and who are no longer in payment will not be printed at the mail house. A zip file of each SAPS category will be emailed to each location contact officer which lists the clients who reside overseas who are to receive a SAPS. Staff should request a re-print for those overseas clients listed on the report and send their SAPS directly to them.

SAPS - Unknown Addressees

Where a client has an 'unknown address' recorded, a SAPS will not be produced. A list of clients with an 'unknown address' will be provided to each location contact officer.

SAPS - For Deceased Clients

SAPS for clients who have died during the financial year will not be printed at the mail house. Staff will be able to request a re-print of a deceased client's payment summary when required from 1 July 2017.

SAPS Reports

A SAPS report is generated for each of the following categories:

MRCA Education Allowance;

Education Allowance;

Other;

Group Destination;

Overseas;

Unknown Address; and

Deceased.

A report file for each category will be emailed in a zip file to the contact officer in each location.

Payment Summary Reprint Facility - VIEW Advices Tab

From 1 July 2018, payment summaries for the 2017/2018 financial year may be re-generated using the 'Payment Summary Reprint' facility located under the Advices Tab in VIEW.

Payment Summary Template

The June SI Income Support contact officers will be provided with a 2017/2018 financial year Payment Summary Template for manual re-issue if required.

Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates

(MLEC)

A MLEC will be issued to those Gold Card beneficiaries who are not in receipt of an income support payment and who do not receive an advice letter, that is:

Australian veterans with Qualifying Service and over 70 years of age who are not in receipt of any payment from DVA.

The number of Medicare Levy exemption days, where applicable, will be stated on the payment summary for all other pensioners.

A sample of the Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate to be issued in 2018 can be found at Attachment D.

Medicare levy exemption – For Blind Pensioners

Blind pensioners in receipt of an income support payment are eligible for full or half Medicare Levy exemption. The number of eligible exemption days will be printed on their Payment Summaries.

Zip File of MLEC Reports

A report of all clients who receive a MLEC will be produced and emailed in a zip file to the nominated contact officer.

A MLEC will not be produced where a client has an 'unknown address' recorded. However, a report will be produced and emailed in a zip file to all contact officers, listing those clients who are eligible to receive a MLEC but have an unknown address recorded.

MLEC Template

The June SI location contact officers will be provided with a MLEC Word template for manual re-issuing of MLECs if required.

Issues Requiring Staff Action

ZIP Files of Advice Schedule Reports

A Zip File listing details of all clients who receive an advice will be emailed to the nominated contact officer in each location during the week following the processing run. The Zip File replaces the Advices Schedule Report, which is too large to print on printers.

Enclosure (Treatment change) Advice Letters

Following the June SI processing, the Enclosure (treatment change) letters will be printed at the nominated printer at each location.

It is requested that the streamed advice letters be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs.

If any advice with incorrect treatment information is found, please consult with the Income Support System Support Officers to ensure correct information is provided in the manual replacement advice.

Reduction to Nil Letters

Following the June SI processing, any Reduction to Nil advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer at each location. Staff are required to include a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim form, a CSHC fact sheet and a reply paid envelope with the advice mail pack.

Handling of Daily Advices

Cases processed prior to the SI run should have the daily advice dispatched prior to the June advice letter being sent.

Daily advices processed after the cutoff date of 15 June 2018 should be held by staff in each location until confirmation is received from the June SI Business Co-ordinator to release such advices. This will ensure that pensioners receive their advices in chronological order.

Reprints of June SI Advices via VIEW Advices Tab

Reprints of individual advice letters produced from the quarterly processing can be requested via VIEW – Advices Tab reprint facility. Quarterly advice reprints are available and can be requested from day one of the next quarter ie. March quarterly advices from 01/04/yyyy, June quarterly advices from 01/07/yyyy and September quarterly advices from 01/10/yyyy.

Staff Requests for Reprints of Daily Advices – Pre-SI Processing

The 'Reprint' scheduled jobs which produce the requested reprints of daily advices by staff are postponed as part of the SI processing. Any requests for an advice reprint on the day of the commencement of the SI processing will not be actioned until after the SI run when the next 'Reprint' job is submitted. 'Unprinted' advice reprint requests will then print when the next 'Reprint' job is submitted.

DVA Income Support Contact Officers

DVA – Income Support Contact Officers

A contact person from each location acts as a liaison point for the Advices Team, and to assist with handling of streamed advices printed at each of the nominated location’s printers.

The Income Support (IS) Contacts for the June 2018 quarterly processing exercise are as follows:

NSW / ACT - Genia Sacharczuk/Simon Towns

VIC - Greg Heitsch/Arthur Morihovitis

QLD - Stephen Hamill/Sharon Golden

SA / NT - Maria Nasilowski

WA - Michelle Pauly/Margarete Mumme

TAS - Craig Conway/Guy Siberry

Cards & Advices Team Contacts

Feedback from Staff

Any concerns regarding letters produced as part of this run should be directed to the Advices Help Desk – ACT mailbox. Please ensure that any problems are reported without delay.

Contact Details

Any queries regarding advice wording, mail house printing and letter lodgement should be directed to the Advices Help Desk – ACT mailbox.

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

12 June 2018

ATTACHMENT A

HOUSEHOLDS TO RECEIVE ADVICE LETTERS WITH PAYMENT SUMMARIES OR STANDALONE PAYMENT SUMMARIES OR MEDICARE LEVY EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES

ESTIMATES BASED ON 2016 STATISTICS

STATE	JOB 1 - Less than Maximum Rate	JOB 2 - Maximum rate	JOB 3 - Overseas	Total no of advice letters (Job 1+2+3)	JOB 4 - Standalone Payment Summary	JOB 5 - Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate
NSW	10675	27647	-	38322	23992	353
VIC	7273	18560	-	25833	13855	227
QLD	8798	16952	-	25750	23673	183
SA	5863	12244	-	18107	5604	64
WA	4289	7932	-	12221	7095	112
TAS	1250	2902	522	4674	1972	24
TOTAL	38148	86237	522	124907	76191	963

Please note:

The advice letters numbers provided are based on the June 2017 statistics.
Northern Territory clients are included in the numbers for South Australia and ACT clients are included in the NSW numbers.

ATTACHMENT B

JUNE 2018 SI PARAGRAPH CONTENT

Example 1.

SERVICE PENSION
LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE – VARIATION (INCREASE)
ASSETS TESTED
JOINT ASSESSMENT
PAYMENT SUMMARIES ENCLOSED
GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET (GIS) ENCLOSED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

16 June 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX000000

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 1 July 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Cost of living changes to the Income and Assets Test

Recent increases in the cost of living have been applied to the following income and assets limits for service pension:

Income Free Area – this is the amount of gross income you can have before your service pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Assets Value Limit – this is the amount of assets you can have (other than your family home) before your service pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Deeming Thresholds – these are the amounts of financial assets you can have before the higher deemed interest rates are applied to the assessment of service pension.

For details on these changes, please refer to the General Information Sheet which is attached to this letter.

Issue of 2017/2018 Financial Year Payment Summaries

As it is the end of the 2017/2018 financial year, Payment Summaries are being issued. You will need this information if you are required to lodge a tax return.

Payment Summary for JOHN SMITH is enclosed with this letter.

Payment Summary for MARY SMITH is enclosed with this letter.

If you are unsure as to whether you are required to lodge a tax return or if you have any questions about taxation matters you should contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ staff are unable to assist with taxation enquiries.

Medicare Levy Exemption

If you have been eligible for full treatment at departmental expense during the past financial year, you are eligible for a full or half exemption from payment of the Medicare levy for that period. The number of days you are eligible for a full or half Medicare levy exemption is shown on your Payment Summary.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if you gain or dispose of any assets, or the value of your combined existing assets varies, or your combined gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters and the booklet ‘You and Your Pension’. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

LEANNE CAMERON

Deputy Commissioner

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Payment Summary/s
General Information Sheet

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 5 July 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Payment for 20 July 2017	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

Example of the General Information Sheet (GIS) for Service Pensioners (non-transitional).

There are separate GIS for transitional, income support supplement and age pension recipients.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SERVICE PENSION RATES AND LIMITS

(Information current as at 1 July 2018)

MAXIMUM RATES OF SERVICE PENSION (including supplements)

Singles Rate $XXX.XX (per fortnight)

Couples Rate (each) $XXX.XX (per fortnight)

PENSION INCOME LIMIT (per fortnight) Income Free Area Cut Off

Singles Limit $XXX.XX $X,XXX.XX

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX.XX $X,XXX.XX

INCOME TEST : Pension rate is reduced by 50 cents for each dollar of income above the income free area.

PENSION ASSETS LIMIT Assets Free Area Cut Off

Home Owner

Singles Limit $XXX,XXX $XXX,XXX

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX,XXX $X,XXX,XXX

Non Home Owner

Singles Limit $XXX,XXX $XXX,XXX

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX,XXX $X,XXX,XXX

ASSETS TEST : Pension rate is reduced by 37.5 cents for every $250 of assets above the assets free area.

NOTE:

Income and assets limits do not apply to blinded service pensioners.
Higher income and assets cut off limits may apply if rent assistance is payable.

Both income and assets tests are applied to work out a pension rate.The rate of pension paid is the lower of the two.

GOLD CARD INFORMATION

The eligibility of some Gold Card holders is linked to income and assets.

The Gold Card income and assets limits shown in the next section apply if:

You receive an Australian disability pension below 50% of the general rate and you also receive an amount of service pension; or
You are an Australian veteran or mariner whose eligibility for the Gold Card is dependent solely on your service pension payment.

NOTE:

If you are not in the groups listed above, the Gold Card cut off limits below do not apply to you.Your income support pension is still subject to the means-test, unless you are exempt because you are a blind pensioner.

GOLD CARD INCOME CUT OFF LIMITS

Singles Limit $XXX.XX (per fortnight)

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX.XX (per fortnight)

GOLD CARD ASSETS CUT OFF LIMITS

Home Owner Non Home Owner

Singles Limit $XXX,XXX $XXX,XXX

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX,XXX $XXX,XXX

DEEMING

Deeming assumes that any money you have invested in financial assets is earning a particular amount of income regardless of the actual amount earned. The deeming rates are:

Singles Low Rate:- 1.75% interest up to the threshold of $48,600

High Rate:- 3.25% interest for the remaining balance

Couples Low Rate:- 1.75% interest up to the threshold of $80,600

High Rate:- 3.25% interest for the remaining balance

ILLNESS SEPARATED COUPLES

Couples separated due to ill health are paid the single rate of service pension but have their income and assets assessed as a couple.

RENT ASSISTANCE

You may be eligible for rent assistance if you pay rent to a non-government body or landlord. Rent assistance is not payable if you reside in a government funded (approved) nursing home, or in government funded housing.

The amount of rent assistance you received depends on the amount of rent you pay and your family circumstances. Rent assistance is paid at the rate of 75 cents in the dollar for every dollar you pay over the set rent limits.

Maximum Amount of Rent Assistance Payable (per fortnight)

No children 1-2 children 3 or more children

Singles Rate $XXX.XX $XXX.XX $XXX.XX

Couples Rate(combined) $XXX.XX $XXX.XX $XXX.XX

Rent Limit (per fortnight)

No children 1-2 children 3 or more children

Singles Limit $XXX.XX $XXX.XX $XXX.XX

Couples Limit (combined) $XXX.XX $XXX.XX $XXX.XX

GIFTING

A gift is an asset which is given away or disposed of without receiving the market value of that gift in return. A gift may be either a cash amount or non cash assets such as a car or other property.

You must notify us if you give away a total of $10,000 or more in a tax year or $30,000 over a rolling five-year period.

The amount above either limit will continue to be counted as if it were still your asset for a period of 5 years and may therefore continue to affect your pension. We will also deem income on the value of any gift above either limit for 5 years.

Example 2.

AGE PENSION PLUS DFISA
LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE – VARIATION (INCREASE)
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
TAXABLE
PAYMENT SUMMARY ENCLOSED
GIS ENCLOSED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

16 June 2018

123 456 789 044

MR ROBERT MURDOCH

223 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX000000

Dear Mr MURDOCH,

This is to advise you that your:

age pension has been increased.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied.

This change will take affect from 1 July 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Cost of living changes to the Income and Assets Test

Recent increases in the cost of living have been applied to the following income and assets limits for age pension:

Income Free Area - this is the amount of gross income you can have before your age pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Assets Value Limit - this is the amount of assets you can have (other than your family home) before your age pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Deeming Thresholds – these are the amounts of financial assets you can have before the higher deemed interest rates are applied to the assessment of age pension.

For details on these changes, please refer to the General Information Sheet which is attached to this letter.

Issue of 2017/2018 Financial Year Payment Summaries

As it is the end of the 2017/2018 financial year, Payment Summaries are being issued. You will need this information if you are required to lodge a tax return.

Payment Summary for ROBERT MURDOCH is enclosed with this letter.

If you are unsure as to whether you are required to lodge a tax return or if you have any questions about taxation matters you should contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ staff are unable to assist with taxation enquiries.

Medicare Levy Exemption

If you have been eligible for full treatment at departmental expense during the past financial year, you are eligible for a full or half exemption from payment of the Medicare levy for that period. The number of days you are eligible for a full or half Medicare levy exemption is shown on your Payment Summary.

If you were previously being paid by Centrelink, they will issue a Payment Summary to you separately.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if your total gross income from all sources is more than $XXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your total assets is more than $XXX,XXX.XX.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you can contact your nearest Veterans' Affairs office and discuss the reasons for the decision. If you remain dissatisfied, you may apply to have the decision reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer, with no prior involvement in the case. If you decide to apply for a review more than 13 weeks from the day this notice is given to you, you can only be paid an adjustment from the date we receive your application. Requests for review may be made in person, by telephone or in writing. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

The rate of DFISA paid to you is derived from your age pension assessment. You may seek to have your age pension assessment reviewed if you are dissatisfied with your DFISA rate.

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

LEANNE CAMERON

Deputy Commissioner as Delegate of the Secretary

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Payment Summary
General Information Sheet

Example 3.

INVALIDITY SERVICE PENSION
MAXIMUM RATE
NON TAXABLE
PAYMENT SUMMARY ENCLOSED
GIS ENCLOSED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

16 June 2018

123 456 789 044

MR BILL BROWN

323 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX000000

Dear Mr BROWN,

I am writing to you about your service pension payment from Veterans’ Affairs. You currently receive the maximum rate of service pension and this amount remains unchanged.

Cost of living changes to the Income and Assets Test

Recent increases in the cost of living have been applied to the following income and assets limits for service pension:

Income Free Area – this is the amount of gross income you can have before your service pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Assets Value Limit – this is the amount of assets you can have (other than your family home) before your service pension is reduced below the maximum rate payable;
Deeming Thresholds – these are the amounts of financial assets you can have before the higher deemed interest rates are applied to the assessment of service pension.

For details on these changes please refer to the General Information Sheet which is attached to this letter.

Issue of 2017/2018 Financial Year Payment Summaries

As it is the end of the 2017/2018 financial year, Payment Summaries are being issued. You will need this information if you are required to lodge a tax return.

Payment Summary for BILL BROWN is enclosed with this letter.

If you are unsure as to whether you are required to lodge a tax return or if you have any questions about taxation matters you should contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ staff are unable to assist with taxation enquiries.

Medicare Levy Exemption

If you have been eligible for full treatment at departmental expense during the past financial year, you are eligible for a full or half exemption from payment of the Medicare levy for that period. The number of days you are eligible for a full or half Medicare levy exemption is shown on your Payment Summary.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your total income from all sources is more than $XXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your total assets is more than $XXX,XXX.XX.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters and the booklet ‘You and Your Pension’. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

LEANNE CAMERON

Deputy Commissioner

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Summary
General Information Sheet

ATTACHMENT C

GPO Box 9998 in your Capital City

XXXX SMITH

XXXXXXXX STREET

SUBURB STATE POSTCODE

PAYG PAYMENT SUMMARY

INDIVIDUAL NON BUSINESS

Payment Summary for the year ending 30 June 2018

Payee Details

XXXX SMITH

XXXXXXX STREET

SUBURB STATE POSTCODE

DVA file number	QX000000
Payee’s tax file number	444 444 444
Total tax withheld	$XXX.XX
Gross taxable payments	$XXXX.XX
Total tax exempt payments	$XXXXX.XX
- Tax-free pensions and benefits	$XXXX.XX
- Other tax exempt payments	$XXXX.XX
Medicare levy full or half exemption days	XXX
Remote area allowance	$XXX.XX

Payer Details

Payer’s ABN or withholding number: 2396 4290 824

Payer’s name: Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Signature of authorised person: LEANNE CAMERON

Date: 16/06/18

See notes on reverse.

Notes:

Total tax withheld: The amount Veterans’ Affairs has deducted from your payments for tax. If you have an amount in total tax withheld, you should lodge a tax return to ensure that you receive any refund of withheld tax you may be entitled to. If no tax was withheld, you may still have to lodge a tax return.

Gross taxable payments: The amount you should include as income under ‘Australian Government pensions and allowances’ in the Income section if you are completing a tax return.

Total tax exempt payments: The total of the tax exempt payments you were paid for the tax year, including Tax-free pensions and benefits and Other tax exempt payments.

Tax-free pensions and benefits: Tax exempt payments that you should include on your tax return under ‘Tax-free Government Pensions or Benefits’. This amount may also need to be declared on your spouse’s tax return as ‘spouse’s tax exempt pension income’.

Other tax exempt payments: Tax exempt payments that you do not need to show on your tax return.

Medicare levy exemption: A holder of a Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card for medical treatment is eligible for a full or half exemption from paying the Medicare Levy. If you are eligible for an exemption, your number of Medicare Levy exemption days is shown on this payment summary. The number of days shown should be included in the Medicare levy section of your tax return.

Remote area allowance: You will need to include your Remote area allowance separately on your tax return if you are claiming a zone tax offset.

Further assistance: If you have any taxation enquiries, including whether you need to lodge a tax return or whether you qualify for a full or half Medicare Levy exemption, read the Individual tax return instructions for the relevant financial year, call the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61 between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm Monday to Friday, or visit www.ato.gov.au. Enquiries about your payments should be directed to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Australian Taxation Office checks information shown in tax returns against information provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

ATTACHMENT D

SAMPLE OF MEDICARE LEVY EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE

GPO Box 9998

In Your Capital City

Client name

Client address

Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate

Dear Beneficiary

This is your Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate showing the number of days you were eligible for full or half exemption from payment of the Medicare Levy. This exemption applies because you were eligible for full treatment at the expense of the Department of Veterans' Affairs during those days.

Your File Number is: XXXXXXXX

The number of days you are eligible for a full or half Medicare Levy Exemption during 2016/2017 is: XXX

Please note: If you lodge an income tax return YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTACH this Certificate to your tax return. However, you should retain this Certificate for your records.

If you need to lodge a tax return, the number of days you were eligible for full or half exemption will need to be stated against the relevant question on your tax return.

If you have any enquiries about the number of days, please contact your nearest DVA office.

If you have any enquiries about whether you are fully or half exempt from the payment of Medicare levy, read Individual tax return instructions 2018 or contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

Yours faithfully

Deputy Commissioner

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-07-2018-june-2018-statutory-increase-processing

DI-06-2018 Exchange Rate Variation of Pound Sterling - Effect on Income Support and Disability Pensioners

DATE OF ISSUE : 1 June 2018

Exchange Rate Variation of Pounds Sterling - Effect on Income Support & Disability Pensioners

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the Pounds Sterling exchange rate variation exercise.
Introduction	Following the recent variation in UK – Australian exchange rates, DVA will apply a new exchange rate for the assessment of the rate of income support and disability pensions for those in receipt of all income paid in Pounds Sterling: war disablement pensions (British DP, including EATS and Composite) social security pensions official public service pensions armed forces superannuation pensions British other income (all other British income)
New Exchange Rate	The exchange rate used to convert Pounds Sterling to Australian dollars for income support assessment purposes has changed: - from one Pound Sterling equals A$1.7337 - to one Pound Sterling equals A$1.6748 (ie A$1 = £0.5971) This rate reflects the average of the “on demand airmail buying rate” for the two weeks to 1 June 2018.
Date of Effect and Payday	Effective from 5 June 2018 the current exchange rate will change. On pension payday 21 June 2018 pensioners with relevant British income will receive a full instalment at the new assessed rate.
Automatic Processing	Processing to implement the new exchange rate is scheduled for the evening of Monday, 4 June 2018. Amounts recorded as foreign super type non-government British other income (07), British Social Security Pension (08) or British Official Public Service/Forces Pension (09) will be varied by applying the exchange rate to the Pounds Sterling amount recorded, to determine the new rate of pension in Australian dollars. The income support payment will then be reassessed automatically.
Manual Cases	Cases with actions in submission or determined status will not be processed automatically and will be frozen. These cases will be listed on the manual listing for follow up action, and CMS/PIPS cases will be created automatically for action. Any cases processed through PIPS should be reassessed with effect from 5 June 2018 for payday 21 June 2018.
Non-Government British Other Income (07)	Previously non-government British other income (07) was refreshed every six months in March and September with other foreign currencies (GROOVER). As a result of a review of British pensions approved by the Repatriation Commission all sterling payments, including British other income (07) are adjusted in uniform exchange rate variations.
British DP Cases	Income Support pensioners who are in receipt of ISS, age pension (AP) or service pension with rent assistance (SPRA); and, who also receive disability (war) pension direct from Britain should have that disability pension converted to Australian dollars using this exchange rate. ISS, AP and SPRA should be recalculated by doing a PIPS assessment. These cases can be extracted through AIS by each location. Note: If DP has already been assessed as income in determining hardship cases it should not also be assessed as income for RA.
EATS and Composite Cases	EATS and Composite cases are subject to the daily exchange rate variation of plus or minus 2.5%. These cases can be extracted through AIS by each location and recalculated by doing a PIPS assessment. Attachment A shows the amount per fortnight in Australian dollars to be applied for the varying United Kingdom amounts. For further details refer to Departmental Instruction DI 22/2005 issued by Veterans’ Compensation.
Printing & Lodgement of Letters	Letters will be progressively lodged with Australia Post by our contracted mailing house. All letters will be posted by Tuesday, 12 June 2018. An advice letter will only be produced for cases where there is a variation in payment. The letters will be four pages and include the new exchange rate, the amount of income and the new ongoing pension amount. Joint letters will be produced where both members of a couple are in receipt of pension from the British government and their pension varies. Age pensioners will receive separate advices unless joint advices have been requested.
Estimated Advice Numbers	The estimated number of advices to be produced is 3,000 based on the previous advices mailout statistics.
Tasmanian Overseas Clients	Tasmanian clients who have an overseas postal address will have the full overseas address printed on their advice letters. The advice letters will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.
Streamed Advices	The advices of the following types of cases will be streamed for printing to local printers at each state location: reduction to nil cases overseas cases for all locations apart from Tasmania treatment changes as a result of the reassessment The nominated local printers are: SA VSSOPR02 TAS VTSOPR03 WA VWSOPR01 VIC VVSOPR02 NSW VNSOPR13 QLD VQSOPR01
Contact officers	The contact officer for this exercise is John Eden (Ext 417169)

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

1 June 2018

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-06-2018-exchange-rate-variation-pound-sterling-effect-income-support-and-disability-pensioners

DI/05/2018 Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

DATE OF ISSUE: 10 April 2018

Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

Replaces DI No.

C09/2013

Purpose	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of processing arrangements for the manual indexation of British War Pensions.
War pensions to increase 10 April 2017	The British Government has advised that British War Pensions will rise from 9 April 2018. The British Government has published their rates chart at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-disablemen…
Effective date and payday	The effective date for the variation will be Tuesday 10 April 2018, for payday 26 April 2018.
Cases affected	These changes will affect the following cases: Composite cases (with or without income support) Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) cases (with or without income support) British war pension in assessments of rent assistance, age pension or income support supplement
Exchange rate for EATS and composite cases	The exchange rate to use for EATS and composite cases (DP paid by Australia on behalf of the UK) is £1 = A$1.6650. These cases are now subject to the daily exchange rate variation of plus or minus 2.5%. For further information refer to DI 15 - 2017.
Exchange rate for British DP paid direct from the UK	The exchange rate to use for British DP paid direct from the UK is £1 = A$1.6650. This is the same exchange rate used for British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions.
Rates charts in Australian dollars and AIS reports	British war pension rates converted to $A at both old and new rates have been e-mailed to the Income Support Senior Management group along with the AIS report. EATS and composite cases have been provided to the Rehabilitation Compensation & Systems Support Group. There have been occasional problems with the AIS results. If for any reason the list provided appears inconsistent with your expectations please contact the Income Support officer listed below
Manual examination	No cases will be processed automatically. All cases will be listed for manual examination and updated in PIPS.
Contact officer	The Income Support contact officer for this exercise is Louise Parker (x470766)

Janice Silby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

10 April 2018

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di052018-indexation-british-war-pensions-disability-pensions-0

DI/05/2018 Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

DATE OF ISSUE: 10 April 2018

Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

Replaces DI No.

Purpose	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of processing arrangements for the manual indexation of British War Pensions.
War pensions to increase 10 April 2017	The British Government has advised that British War Pensions will rise from 9 April 2018. The British Government has published their rates chart at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-disablemen…
Effective date and payday	The effective date for the variation will be Tuesday 10 April 2018, for payday 26 April 2018.
Cases affected	These changes will affect the following cases: Composite cases (with or without income support) Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) cases (with or without income support) British war pension in assessments of rent assistance, age pension or income support supplement
Exchange rate for EATS and composite cases	The exchange rate to use for EATS and composite cases (DP paid by Australia on behalf of the UK) is £1 = A$1.6650. These cases are now subject to the daily exchange rate variation of plus or minus 2.5%. For further information refer to DI 15 - 2017.
Exchange rate for British DP paid direct from the UK	The exchange rate to use for British DP paid direct from the UK is £1 = A$1.6650. This is the same exchange rate used for British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions.
Rates charts in Australian dollars and AIS reports	British war pension rates converted to $A at both old and new rates have been e-mailed to the Income Support Senior Management group along with the AIS report. EATS and composite cases have been provided to the Rehabilitation Compensation & Systems Support Group. There have been occasional problems with the AIS results. If for any reason the list provided appears inconsistent with your expectations please contact the Income Support officer listed below
Manual examination	No cases will be processed automatically. All cases will be listed for manual examination and updated in PIPS.
Contact officer	The Income Support contact officer for this exercise is Louise Parker (x470766)

Janice Silby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

10 April 2018

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di052018-indexation-british-war-pensions-disability-pensions-1

DI-04-2018 Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

DATE OF ISSUE : 10 April 2018

Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of processing arrangements for the automatic indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces pensions (formerly Indexed BRI, code 09). The reason for the change of terminology was explained in DI C04/2004 British Income.
Increase in Public Service Pensions	The British Government has announced that British Public Service Pensions will rise in April 2018 by 3.0% in line with their Retail Price Index. The pensions affected are listed below and should be recorded on PIPS as foreign superannuation (British Official Public Service/Forces): British Official Public Service Pension as listed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public… British Armed Forces pension (ie Royal Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force).
Date of effect	The date of effect to be used for the variation is Tuesday 10 April 2018, for payday 26 April 2018.
The conversion factor for this indexation is 1.01	The new amount of pounds sterling to be recorded will be calculated as follows: The variation percentage (3.0%) ----------------------------- + 1 = Conversion factor 100 The Australian dollar amount will then be reassessed accordingly. The conversion factor for this indexation is 1.03.
Date of processing run	The processing run for this exercise will take place on Monday 9 April 2018.
Manual cases	Cases that are in investigation, submission or determination status at the time of the run will be frozen and listed for subsequent manual processing.
Advice Letters	A one-page advice will be generated for all clients who have a variation to their rate of DVA pension payment because of the indexation exercise. All advices produced from this processing exercise will be printed as batch advices on printers in the State locations. Please check advice schedules to reconcile Group Destination cases, and check all advices before they are sent to ensure they contain correct information.
Indexation of British war pensions	British war pensions (British DP) will also increase by 3.0% on 9 April 2018. A separate Departmental Instruction will be issued about the application of this increase to: British war pension in assessments of income support supplement, rent assistance and age pension; Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and other composite cases.
Indexation of British social security pension	British social security pensions will not be indexed automatically. See Part 10, Chapter 1, Section 5 of the CLIK Policy and Procedure Libraries for more information.
Contact officers	The Income Support contact officer for this exercise is Louise Parker (x470766)

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

10 April 2018

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-04-2018-indexation-british-official-public-service-and-armed-forces-pensions

DI-03-2018 Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

DATE OF ISSUE : 6 April 2018

Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the Pounds Sterling exchange rate variation exercise.
Increase in Public Service Pensions	Following the recent variation in UK – Australian exchange rates, DVA will apply a new exchange rate for the assessment of the rate of income support and disability pensions for those in receipt of all income paid in Pounds Sterling: war disablement pensions (British DP, including EATS and Composite) social security pensions official public service pensions armed forces superannuation pensions British other income (all other British income)
Date of effect	Effective from 10 April 2018 the current exchange rate will change. On pension payday 26 April 2018 pensioners with relevant British income will receive a full instalment at the new assessed rate.
Exchange Rate used	The exchange rate used to convert Pounds Sterling to Australian dollars for income support assessment purposes has changed: - from one Pound Sterling equals A$1.6650 - to one Pound Sterling equals A$1.7337 (i.e. A$1 = £0.5768) This rate reflects the average of the “on demand airmail buying rate” for the two weeks to 6 April 2018.
Date of processing run	Processing to implement the new exchange rate is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, 10 April 2018. Amounts recorded as foreign super type non-government British other income (07), British Social Security Pension (08) or British Official Public Service/Forces Pension (09) will be varied by applying the exchange rate to the Pounds Sterling amount recorded, to determine the new rate of pension in Australian dollars. The income support payment will then be reassessed automatically.
Manual cases	Cases with actions in submission or determined status will not be processed automatically and will be frozen. These cases will be listed on the manual listing for follow up action, and CMS/PIPS cases will be created automatically for action. Any cases processed through PIPS should be reassessed with effect from 10 April 2018 for payday 26 April 2018
Advice Letters	Letters will be printed and lodged with Australia Post by our contracted mail house. All letters will be posted by Tuesday, 17 April 2018. An advice letter will only be produced for cases where there is a variation in payment. The letters will be four pages and include the new exchange rate, the amount of income and the new ongoing pension amount. Joint letters will be produced where both members of a couple are in receipt of pension from the British government and their pension varies. Age pensioners will receive separate advices unless joint advices have been requested.
Indexation of British war pensions	Income Support pensioners who are in receipt of ISS, age pension (AP) or service pension with rent assistance (SPRA); and, who also receive disability (war) pension direct from Britain should have that disability pension converted to Australian dollars using this exchange rate. ISS, AP and SPRA should be recalculated by doing a PIPS assessment. These cases can be extracted through AIS by each location. Note: If DP has already been assessed as income in determining hardship cases it should not also be assessed as income for RA
Non-Government British Other Income (07)	Previously non-government British other income (07) was refreshed every six months in March and September with other foreign currencies (GROOVER). As a result of a review of British pensions approved by the Repatriation Commission all sterling payments, including British other income (07) are adjusted in uniform exchange rate variations.
Contact officers	The contact officer for this exercise is Elis Lam (417244).

Janice Silby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support Branch

10 April 2017

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-03-2018-indexation-british-official-public-service-and-armed-forces-pensions

Last amended

Fri, 06/04/2018 - 12:00pm

DI-02-2018 March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

DATE OF ISSUE : 5 March 2018

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction

This Departmental Instruction is to provide you with information about the processing arrangements for:

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) advice letter production and mailout.
March 2018 Global Refresh Of OVerseas Exchange Rates (referred to as GROOVER) advice letter production and mailout.

Introduction

Each quarter the Department varies pensions and allowances in accordance with provisions contained in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Statutory Increase or 'SI'). In March and September of each year, the movements in Cost of Living Index and the Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) data are usually combined as one quarterly reassessment process.

This quarter the Department will be sending advice letters to pensioners on less than the maximum rate of service pension (SP), income support supplement (ISS) or age pension (AP) who have MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment and who are affected by the Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs reassessment.

Advice letters will also be sent to AP recipients who commence receiving Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA), or whose DFISA payment is cancelled following the processing run.

AP recipients whose DFISA payment has increased or reduced will only receive an advice following the SI and Global Refresh processing if they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment.

This Departmental Instruction provides information about the advice letter production and mailout process, and provides information on significant issues relating to the mailout.

Significant Issues

Issues of significance with regard to this mailout are as follows:

The asset value of MI and SH data will be reassessed, except for clients in bereavement period;
An advice will only be produced if:

there is MI and/or SH in the assessment; and
the income support pension is payable at less than the maximum rate (or it changed from less than maximum to maximum rate because of the reassessment);

Other conditions that may generate an advice include:

when there is a change to treatment entitlement, regardless of whether the client has any MI and/or SI in the assessment; or
when a DFISA payment is granted or cancelled, regardless of whether there is any MI and/or SH in the assessment; or
pension has been reduced to nil after reassessment;

All advices will be lodged with Australia Post on Monday 9 March 2018.

Advice Letter Target Audience

A letter will be produced for the following clients after the March 2018 Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs processing:

All less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients including those in receipt of DFISA, regardless of whether MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment;
Maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment who move to less than the maximum rate;
Less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients who move to the maximum rate;
SP/ISS/AP recipients who have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment and are reduced to nil;
War widows or widowers with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment, whose ISS or SP are paid at the nil rate but rent assistance (RA) have varied;
All AP recipients who commence payment of DFISA, or whose DFISA payment is cancelled, regardless of whether they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment; and
Treatment changes as a result of the Statutory Increase (SI) or global refresh of MIs and/or SHs.

Introductory Paragraphs

All letters will have either a single outcome paragraph or a multiple outcome paragraph made up of dot points to advise the pension outcome. Examples are:

Single Outcome Paragraph:

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Multiple Outcome Paragraphs:

This is to advise you that your:

age pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied/reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been granted/increased/reduced/cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Financial Assets Reassessment

The asset value of MI and/or SH data will be reassessed as part of this process. Clients with MI and/or SHs will receive a paragraph advising them of the ‘Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments’.

This paragraph advises clients about the reassessment program and explains that:

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment….'

OR in case of a reduction to nil

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil….'

Managed Investments and/or Shares Information Attachment

All less than maximum rate income support recipients with MIs and/or SHs will receive a full listing of all their MIs and/or SHs regardless of which MIs and/or SHs have been reassessed.

Clients will not be issued with a full listing of their Income and Assets.

Change to Pension due to Indexation Increases

All letters will continue to have the paragraph advising that ‘Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.’

Information on indexation adjustments and pension increase will also be provided in the upcoming edition of Vetaffairs, which is to be distrubuted from 16 April 2018.

Obligations

Full and Partial obligations are to be suppressed. Reference will be made to obligations issued to clients in previous letters. For SP and ISS recipients, reference will also be made to obligations provided in the 'You and Your Pension' Booklet.

A Financial Obligations paragraph (including the Prescribed Rates), will be present in the advice for all clients, except for pensioners who are reduced to nil.

AP clients who are reduced to nil, but eligible for payment of DFISA will receive their Financial Obligations paragraph including their prescribed rates.

Right of Review

A right of review paragraph will be included in all letters.

No MI and SH Refresh for Bereavement Period cases

Pensioners currently in a bereavement period will not have their MI and/or SH values refreshed in this SI run. The batch processing will only apply the statutory increase to their pension rates.

A full MI/SH data refresh should be done as part of their post-bereavement review.

Treatment Advices to be checked

The Enclosure (treatment) advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer at each location.

These letters should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs before they are mailed to the clients. It should be noted that not all clients who have an advice produced due to a treatment change will have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment. Clients who do not have MIs and/or SHs in the assessment will not have MIs and/or SHs related paragraphs in their advice.

Tasmanian Overseas Clients’ Advices

Advice letters for Tasmanian Office clients with an overseas postal address will have their advices printed and posted directly from the Mailing House.

No Advices for Blind Clients

Blind clients will not receive an advice. Where a member of a couple is assessed as 'blind', a single advice will be produced for the non-blind member who may be affected by the processing.

An exception to this rule is where a ‘blind’ client with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment is also in payment of RA, which is subject to the income and assets tests and as such, may result in a variation to their RA payment. Where there is a variation to the RA payment for these clients, an advice will be produced.

General Information Sheet

The General Information Sheet (GIS) will not be produced as part of each client’s letter for the March 2018 SI processing.

For information, the GIS will only be produced in the following circumstances:

as part of the annual end of financial year (June) mailout
as part of an income support pension new grant advice
as part of a daily advice when a client is switched over from transitional to non-transitional assessment

Pensioners who reside overseas permanently will not be given the GIS to avoid confusion, because some components of the pension supplement (PS non-taxable and PS flexible) are not payable to overseas pensioners.

Single & Joint Addressed Letters

All SP and ISS recipient couples will receive a joint advice, provided the pensioner addresses are identical. The batch address defaults determining single and joint advices have been aligned with the PIPS PC daily advice defaults. Where both members of a couple have the same postal address recorded, a joint advice will be produced. This includes illness separated couples.

AP couples will receive separate letters.

Important to note: Staff are reminded when granting AP or when clients in a joint assessment request separate advices, this information can be recorded in mainframe PRODIMS - Client Correspondence Client Options (CO.CO) Screen. The advice default requests set in CO.CO will override DOCGEN and PIPS advice rules.

SI Processing

SI Processing will commence on Friday night, 3 March 2017, following the completion of the IPS FORT processing, and will run through until Sunday 4 March 2018.

Critical Dates

Processing within DVA (includes 'advices' processing) - Friday (9pm) 2 March to Sunday 4 March 2018

Transmission of Production Data to Mailing House - Monday 5 March 2018

Mailing House to complete lodgment of all Advice Letters by CoB - Monday 9 March 2018

Expected Client Numbers

The estimated number of letters to be sent nationally is 20,000 based on September 2017 SI mailout statistics (the last comparable exercise). For reference, the number of mailpacks generated for each location in the September 2017 SI mailout are listed below:

STATE	NUMBER OF ADVICE LETTERS
NSW & QLD	4756
VIC	3436
QLD	4432
SA & NT	1379
WA	1682
TAS	567
TAS OVERSEAS	51
TOTAL	16303

Printing of Letters

Our contracted mailing house will print, fold, insert and lodge the advice letters.

National Lodgement of Letters

All letters will be lodged with Australia Post for regular rate delivery on Friday 9 March 2018.

A representative from the Cards and Advices Team will notify and confirm lodgement details.

The Income Support contact officers for this exercise will be given progress reports and advised of any changes to this timetable.

Holding of daily advice letters

From Monday 5 March 2018 PIPS daily advices should be held until lodgement of March 2018 SI advices is completed. Bereavement advices are exempted from these requirements and therefore they may be released.

DFISA Advices from Centrelink Processing

DVA will be suppressing all Centrelink daily DFISA variation advices with an effective date of 20 March 2018, which are transmitted to DVA following the Centrelink processing run. All other advices will print as part of the normal processing, including Centrelink DFISA cancellation and grant advices.

Foreign Pension Refresh Program known as GROOVER

The foreign pension refresh program referred to as 'GROOVER' (Global Refresh Of Overseas Exchange Rates) is a separate processing exercise to the March 2017 Global Refresh processing and is scheduled to run on the evening of 7 March 2017. The effective date of the Foreign Pensions Refresh Run is 20 March 2018 for payday 29 March 2018.

Separate Foreign Income advices are produced for clients who have foreign income, and whose pensions have been varied because of the GROOVER run. A sample GROOVER advice can be found at Attachment B.

About 500 GROOVER advices are expected. These advices will be printed at nominated printer at each location.

A small number of streamed advices also will be printed at nominated printers at each location. These letters should be checked for accuracy, reconciled against the advice schedule reports, and held pending notification of the successful lodgement of the March quarterly advices. This will ensure that pensioners receive their advice letters in chronological order.

Please note: the British Social Security Pension (type 08), British Official Public Service/Forces pension (type 09) and British Other Income (type 07) are not included in the GROOVER update. Instead they are regularly updated in British Pensions exchange rate variation exercises (commonly known as BRI runs) whenever the Pound Sterling exchange rate varies by 2.5% or more.

Streamed Advices

Several categories of advices are streamed out to print at location printers, as they require additional checking and manual actions.

The following advice types are streamed:

Enclosure (treatment eligibility or student child change);
Overseas postal address (except Tasmanian clients);
Reduction to nil.

They are to be printed at state office printers listed below:

SA - VSSOPR02

TAS - VTSOPR03

WA - VWSOPR01

VIC - VVSOPR02

NSW - VNSOPR13

QLD - VQSOPR01

These advices, in particular treatment eligibility change advices, should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received by each Office.

Reduction to Nil advice letters also require inclusion of Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim forms, CSHC fact sheets and reply paid envelopes to the mailpacks.

ZIP Files of Advice Schedule Reports

A Zip File listing details of all clients who receive an advice will be emailed to the Contact Officers following the processing run. The Zip File replaces the Advices Schedule Report, which is too large to print on the printers in each office.

Reprints of Advices Available using VIEW – Advices Tab

Reprints of individual advice letters produced from the quarterly processing can be requested via VIEW – Advices Tab reprint facility. Quarterly advice reprints are available and can be requested from day one of the next quarter ie. March quarterly advices from 01/04/yyyy, June quarterly advices from 01/07/yyyy and September quarterly advices from 01/10/yyyy.

'HELD' Advices to be forced

Prior to the SI Batch processing run, any advices in 'Held' status will be forced to print to each location nominated printer.

Please ensure your designated printer is fully operational during the processing period. These advices will need to be checked to ensure the information in them is correct prior to posting.

Income Support Contact Officers

A contact person from each location is required to act as a liaison point for the Cards and Advices Team and is to be the responsible person for distributing any information regarding the March 2018 Global Refresh mailout to staff.

The Income Support (IS) contacts for the March 2017 quarterly processing exercise are listed below:

NSW: Simon Towns

VIC: Greg Heitsch/Arthur Morihovitis

QLD: Stephen Hamill/Sharon Golden

SA: Maria Nasilowski

WA: Michelle Pauly / Margarete Mumme

TAS: Craig Conway / Guy Siberry

Cards & Advices Team Contact Details

Any queries regarding this mailout should be referred to:

Elis Lam

(02) 9213 7244 or speed dial 417244

ganes.jagadeeswaran@dva.gov.au

Janice Silby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support and Grants Branch

5 March 2018

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

Advice Samples

Details of the proposed content of the SI letters are included in Attachment A.

Example 1A: SP Increase, with MIs/SHs in assessment.
Example 2A: Age Pension Increase, DFISA varied, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.
Example 3A: SP Reduction to Nil, RA cancelled, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.

Attachment B contains a sample of the GROOVER advice.

Letter Variables

Please note, in the enclosed examples:

Mail Return Address, Facsimile Number, DC name and signature block will change according to State.
The words “service pension”, “age pension” and “income support supplement” each represent variables which will appear for those clients in receipt of the applicable pension.
The introductory paragraphs will advise clients of the outcome of their re-assessment, being either ‘increased’, ‘reduced’ or ‘reduced to nil’. Variables such as 'increased', 'reduced', 'granted', 'commenced' or 'cancelled' may be used when referring to Income Support allowance outcomes.

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT A

EXAMPLE 1A:

OVERALL INCREASE – EITHER FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE OR INCREASE FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO MAX RATE AMOUNT
SINGLE OUTCOME
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
SERVICE PENSIONERS
MARRIED ASSESSMENT
INCOME TESTED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

5 March 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

29 MARGARET STREET

IPSWICH QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX999999

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters and the booklet 'You and Your Pension'. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

LEANNE CAMERON

Deputy Commissioner

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 29 MARCH 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Payment for 13 APRIL 2017	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

SHARES AND MANAGED INVESTMENTS INFORMATION

(Information currently used to assess your pension)

You are receiving service pension at less than the maximum rate payable. (If the client goes from LMAX to MAX rate this sentence will read: You are receiving service pension at the maximum rate payable.)

You are currently paid under the income test. The total of your assessed gross fortnightly income is $x,xxx.xx. The total of all your assets (excluding any deductible assets) is $xxx,xxx.xx.

Information about your shares and managed investments is provided below.

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or your unit based managed investments have been automatically updated.

The asset values of any unlisted public company shares, overseas shares, options, rights and futures or account based managed investments you hold have not been updated. You must tell us if the asset value of these investments has varied by $1,000 or more.

The information below sets out the values for the shares and/or managed investments in your current assessment.

Listed Securities and Unlisted Public Securities

Description	No. of Shares	Asset Amount
XXXXXX	X,XXX	$XX,XXX.XX
QQQQQQQQQQQQQ	XXX	$ X,XXX.XX

Managed Investments

Description	Units	Asset Amount
VVVVVVVVVV	XXX	$XXX.XX
CCCCCCCCCCCCC	XXX	$XXX.XX

Note: Income from financial assets is deemed.

Important Information: We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment, as they have not been changed in this assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of service pension you are paid. If they have changed, please notify the Department immediately.

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if the above list of your Shares and/or Managed Investments is incomplete or incorrect; or if the number of shares or units you hold has changed. Please note that failure to advise of incorrect or missing information about your shares or managed investments, or about other income or asset changes, may lead to your pension being overpaid. Such overpayments are recoverable.

EXAMPLE 2A:

AGE PENSION INCREASE
ASSETS TESTED
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES
DFISA VARIATION
MIs/SHs
LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

Age pension has been increased.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if you gain or dispose of any assets, or the value of your total existing assets varies, or your gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you can contact your nearest Veterans' Affairs office and discuss the reasons for the decision. If you remain dissatisfied, you may apply to have the decision reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer, with no prior involvement in the case. If you decide to apply for a review more than 13 weeks from the day this notice is given to you, you can only be paid an adjustment from the date we receive your application. Requests for review may be made in person, by telephone or in writing. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

The rate of DFISA paid to you is derived from your age pension assessment. You may seek to have your age pension assessment reviewed if you are dissatisfied with your DFISA rate.

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and Managed Investments Information Attachment

EXAMPLE 3A:

SERVICE PENSION - REDUCTION TO NIL
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
RENT ASSISTANCE CANCELLED
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

service pension has been reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share and managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Pensioner Concession Card

As your service pension is no longer payable, you no longer qualify for a Pensioner Concession Card. From 20 March 2018, your Pensioner Concession Card is no longer valid and you are unable to use it.;

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

If you are of pension age and you are not receiving an income support payment, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). A CSHC claim form and a fact sheet are enclosed for your information. If you do not already have a CSHC from Centrelink and would like to claim a CSHC from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, please return your claim form in the envelope provided.

Quarterly Energy Supplement

As your income support pension has been cancelled, your gold card may entitle you to quarterly energy supplement. This payment is made quarterly in September, June, September and December. If you are eligible, you will be notified separately.

Your Right to Re-Apply

You may re-apply to have your service pension restored at any time if your income and/or assets fall below the limits that would allow for payment of the pension.

DVA Factsheet IS30 Pension Rates, Limits and Allowances Summary is regularly updated to reflect the latest pension rates and limits. To obtain a copy, please contact us or visit our web site at www.dva.gov.au.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and/or Managed Investments Information Attachment

ATTACHMENT B

EXAMPLE OF GROOVER ADVICE:

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

The rate of exchange used to convert your Foreign Income to Australian Dollars for income support pension assessment purposes has been reviewed. The new rate of exchange is shown below.

If the Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below is not the same as the gross amount (in foreign currency) you are currently receiving, you should notify the Department within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance). The Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below may be incorrect if you have received an increase in your foreign payment, or the amount has been recorded incorrectly.

Foreign Income

Description	Foreign Income per fortnight	Exchange Rate	Assessed Income per fortnight
Euro	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx
Turkish Lira	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply for a review, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. A request for review must be in writing and set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-02-2018-march-2018-global-refresh-managed-investments-shares-and-overseas-exchange-rates

DI-01-2018 January 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

DATE OF ISSUE : 12 January 2018

January 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

Amends DI No:	Amends Manual
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction	The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about advice production from the July 2017 Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria state based superannuation pension reassessment.
Background	ComSuper was merged into Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) in July 2015. CSC includes Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS), Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit Scheme (DFRDB) and Military Superannuation Benefit Scheme (MSBS) Superannuation pensions. It is adjusted bi-annually in January and July. The cost of living increase to be applied to all CSC pensions in January 2018 is 0.8%. The January 2018 CSC reassessment run will also include an update to Victoria state based superannuation pensions namely Vic Vision and Vic Health. The increase to be applied to all the above Victoria state based superannuation pensions in January 2018 is 0.64%.
Processing Date	Reassessment processing to reflect the January 2018 CPI increases is scheduled to run overnight on Monday, 15 January 2018. Following completion of processing, the advice data files will be transmitted to the mailing house for printing and lodgement.
Effective Date	The effective date of reassessment will be 16 January 2018. On pension payday 1 February 2018, pensioners will receive a full instalment at the new assessed rate.
Advice letter target audience	A letter will be produced for income support pensioners in receipt of CSC and/or Victoria state based super pension, whose pension rate is varied by the reassessment run. There will be approximately 18,000 advice letters produced nationally.
Advices content and presentation	The advice will comprise of a 2 page letter and a Payment Information Attachment. The advice will inform clients of the outcome to their pension reassessment and provide information on gross superannuation income, deductible and/or non-deductible amounts. The information relating to their super payment is presented in a tabular format. The advice will also provide the client with their Financial Obligations (prescribed rates) and a right of review. Please see Attachment A which shows a sample of: advice for clients with a deductible amount; advice for clients without a deductible amount; and advice for clients with both a deductible and non-deductible amount.
Printing and mailing of advice letters	With some exceptions explained below, advice letters will be printed and mailed through the Department's contracted mailing house. All letters will be lodged with Australia Post as a national lodgment by close of business Monday, 22 January 2018.
Advices for Overseas Addressees	Advice letters produced for Tasmanian State Office clients who have an overseas address will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.
Enclosure (Treatment change) Advice Letters	Enclosure (treatment change) letters will be printed separately at nominated state location printers. They are to be mailed by close of business Monday, 23 January 2018. The streamed advice letters should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs. If any advice with incorrect treatment information is found, please consult with the Income Support Contact Officers listed below to ensure correct information is provided in the manual replacement advice.
Reduction to Nil Letters	Any Reduction to Nil advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer in each location. Staff are required to include a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim form, a CSHC fact sheet and a reply paid envelope with the advice letter.
Location of printers	The streamed advices are to be printed at the following printers: SA VSSOPR02 TAS VTSOPR03 WA VWSOPR01 VIC VVSOPR02 NSW VNSOPR13 QLD VQSOPR01
DVA – Income Support Contact Officers	A contact person from each location acts as a liaison point for the Advices Team, and to assist with the handling of streamed advices printed at each nominated location printer. The Income Support Location Contacts for the January 2018 CSC processing exercise are as follows: NSW / ACT Simon Town VIC Greg Heitsch / Arthur Morihovitis QLD Stephen Hamill / Sharon Golden SA / NT Maria Nasilowski WA Michelle Pauly/Margarete Mumme TAS Craig Conway / Guy Siberry
Contacts	For Advice issues – Ganes Jagadeeswaran on extension 412310. For Systems issues – David De Sanctis on extension 470329.

Amber Vardos

A/g Assistant Secretary

Income Support & Grants Branch

12 January 2018

ATTACHMENT A

COMSUPER ADVICE FOR CLIENT WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

22 January 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 16 January 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name

Description

Gross Income

Deductible Amount

(tax free component)

Assessed Income

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp (CSS & PSS)

$585.95

$135.50

$450.45

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 1 February 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

BOTH VET AND SPOUSE HAVE INCOME FROM SUPER - THEY DO NOT HAVE 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

22 January 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 16 January 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name	Description	Assessed Income
JOHN SMITH	Commonwealth Super Corp (DFRDB & MSBS)	$450.95
MARY SMITH	Commonwealth Super Corp (CSS & PSS)	$265.00

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 1 February 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

CLIENT HAS INCOME FROM SUPER WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT' AND WITHOUT A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

22 Janaury 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

123 SAMPLE STREET

MODELTOWN QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr SMITH,

This is to advise that your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP has been reduced. This change will take effect from 16 January 2018.

Superannuation Pension Reassessment
Your superannuation fund has notified Veterans’ Affairs of the new income details for your superannuation pension. The new income details are shown in the table below. This income is used to work out the rate of your T-PENSION-SP-ISS-AP.

Name

Description

Gross Income

Deductible Amount

(tax free component)

Assessed Income

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp

(CSS & PSS)

$585.95

$135.50

$450.45

JOHN SMITH

Commonwealth Super Corp

(DFRDB & MSBS)

$846.44

$0.00

$846.44

Payment Information
Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your gross income from all sources is more than $xxx.xx per fortnight or the value of your total assets is more than $xxx,xxx.xx.

Your Right of Review
If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au)

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

JANICE SILBY

Senior Responsible Officer

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 1 Febrauary 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-01-2018-january-2018-reassessment-commonwealth-superannuation-corporation-csc-and-victoria-state-based-superannuation-pensions

DI-02-2018 March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

DATE OF ISSUE : 5 March 2018

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Amends DI No:	N/A
Replaces DI No:	N/A

Purpose of Instruction

This Departmental Instruction is to provide you with information about the processing arrangements for:

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) advice letter production and mailout.
March 2018 Global Refresh Of OVerseas Exchange Rates (referred to as GROOVER) advice letter production and mailout.

Introduction

Each quarter the Department varies pensions and allowances in accordance with provisions contained in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Statutory Increase or 'SI'). In March and September of each year, the movements in Cost of Living Index and the Global Refresh of Managed Investments (MIs) and Shares (SHs) data are usually combined as one quarterly reassessment process.

This quarter the Department will be sending advice letters to pensioners on less than the maximum rate of service pension (SP), income support supplement (ISS) or age pension (AP) who have MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment and who are affected by the Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs reassessment.

Advice letters will also be sent to AP recipients who commence receiving Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA), or whose DFISA payment is cancelled following the processing run.

AP recipients whose DFISA payment has increased or reduced will only receive an advice following the SI and Global Refresh processing if they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment.

This Departmental Instruction provides information about the advice letter production and mailout process, and provides information on significant issues relating to the mailout.

Significant Issues

Issues of significance with regard to this mailout are as follows:

The asset value of MI and SH data will be reassessed, except for clients in bereavement period;
An advice will only be produced if:

there is MI and/or SH in the assessment; and
the income support pension is payable at less than the maximum rate (or it changed from less than maximum to maximum rate because of the reassessment);

Other conditions that may generate an advice include:

when there is a change to treatment entitlement, regardless of whether the client has any MI and/or SI in the assessment; or
when a DFISA payment is granted or cancelled, regardless of whether there is any MI and/or SH in the assessment; or
pension has been reduced to nil after reassessment;

All advices will be lodged with Australia Post on Friday 9 March 2018.

Advice Letter Target Audience

A letter will be produced for the following clients after the March 2018 Global Refresh of MIs and/or SHs processing:

All less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients including those in receipt of DFISA, regardless of whether MIs and/or SHs recorded in their assessment;
Maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment who move to less than the maximum rate;
Less than maximum rate SP/ISS/AP recipients who move to the maximum rate;
SP/ISS/AP recipients who have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment and are reduced to nil;
War widows or widowers with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment, whose ISS or SP are paid at the nil rate but rent assistance (RA) have varied;
All AP recipients who commence payment of DFISA, or whose DFISA payment is cancelled, regardless of whether they have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment; and
Treatment changes as a result of the Statutory Increase (SI) or global refresh of MIs and/or SHs.

Introductory Paragraphs

All letters will have either a single outcome paragraph or a multiple outcome paragraph made up of dot points to advise the pension outcome. Examples are:

Single Outcome Paragraph:

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Multiple Outcome Paragraphs:

This is to advise you that your:

age pension has been increased/reduced/reduced to nil.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied/reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been granted/increased/reduced/cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Financial Assets Reassessment

The asset value of MI and/or SH data will be reassessed as part of this process. Clients with MI and/or SHs will receive a paragraph advising them of the ‘Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments’.

This paragraph advises clients about the reassessment program and explains that:

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment….'

OR in case of a reduction to nil

‘The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil….'

Managed Investments and/or Shares Information Attachment

All less than maximum rate income support recipients with MIs and/or SHs will receive a full listing of all their MIs and/or SHs regardless of which MIs and/or SHs have been reassessed.

Clients will not be issued with a full listing of their Income and Assets.

Change to Pension due to Indexation Increases

All letters will continue to have the paragraph advising that ‘Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.’

Information on indexation adjustments and pension increase will also be provided in the upcoming edition of Vetaffairs, which is to be distrubuted from 16 April 2018.

Obligations

Full and Partial obligations are to be suppressed. Reference will be made to obligations issued to clients in previous letters. For SP and ISS recipients, reference will also be made to obligations provided in the 'You and Your Pension' Booklet.

A Financial Obligations paragraph (including the Prescribed Rates), will be present in the advice for all clients, except for pensioners who are reduced to nil.

AP clients who are reduced to nil, but eligible for payment of DFISA will receive their Financial Obligations paragraph including their prescribed rates.

Right of Review

A right of review paragraph will be included in all letters.

No MI and SH Refresh for Bereavement Period cases

Pensioners currently in a bereavement period will not have their MI and/or SH values refreshed in this SI run. The batch processing will only apply the statutory increase to their pension rates.

A full MI/SH data refresh should be done as part of their post-bereavement review.

Treatment Advices to be checked

The Enclosure (treatment) advice letters will be printed at the nominated printer at each location.

These letters should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received in each location to ensure they reflect the correct treatment paragraphs before they are mailed to the clients. It should be noted that not all clients who have an advice produced due to a treatment change will have MIs and/or SHs in their assessment. Clients who do not have MIs and/or SHs in the assessment will not have MIs and/or SHs related paragraphs in their advice.

Tasmanian Overseas Clients’ Advices

Advice letters for Tasmanian Office clients with an overseas postal address will have their advices printed and posted directly from the Mailing House.

No Advices for Blind Clients

Blind clients will not receive an advice. Where a member of a couple is assessed as 'blind', a single advice will be produced for the non-blind member who may be affected by the processing.

An exception to this rule is where a ‘blind’ client with MIs and/or SHs in their assessment is also in payment of RA, which is subject to the income and assets tests and as such, may result in a variation to their RA payment. Where there is a variation to the RA payment for these clients, an advice will be produced.

General Information Sheet

The General Information Sheet (GIS) will not be produced as part of each client’s letter for the March 2018 SI processing.

For information, the GIS will only be produced in the following circumstances:

as part of the annual end of financial year (June) mailout
as part of an income support pension new grant advice
as part of a daily advice when a client is switched over from transitional to non-transitional assessment

Pensioners who reside overseas permanently will not be given the GIS to avoid confusion, because some components of the pension supplement (PS non-taxable and PS flexible) are not payable to overseas pensioners.

Single & Joint Addressed Letters

All SP and ISS recipient couples will receive a joint advice, provided the pensioner addresses are identical. The batch address defaults determining single and joint advices have been aligned with the PIPS PC daily advice defaults. Where both members of a couple have the same postal address recorded, a joint advice will be produced. This includes illness separated couples.

AP couples will receive separate letters.

Important to note: Staff are reminded when granting AP or when clients in a joint assessment request separate advices, this information can be recorded in mainframe PRODIMS - Client Correspondence Client Options (CO.CO) Screen. The advice default requests set in CO.CO will override DOCGEN and PIPS advice rules.

SI Processing

SI Processing will commence on Friday night, 2 March 2018, following the completion of the IPS FORT processing, and will run through until Sunday 4 March 2018.

Critical Dates

Processing within DVA (includes 'advices' processing) - Friday (9pm) 2 March to Sunday 4 March 2018

Transmission of Production Data to Mailing House - Monday 5 March 2018

Mailing House to complete lodgment of all Advice Letters by CoB - Friday 9 March 2018

Expected Client Numbers

The estimated number of letters to be sent nationally is 20,000 based on September 2018 SI mailout statistics (the last comparable exercise). For reference, the number of mailpacks generated for each location in the September 2018 SI mailout are listed below:

STATE	NUMBER OF ADVICE LETTERS
NSW & QLD	4,756
VIC	3,436
QLD	4,432
SA & NT	1,379
WA	1,682
TAS	567
TAS OVERSEAS	51
TOTAL	16,303

Printing of Letters

Our contracted mailing house will print, fold, insert and lodge the advice letters.

National Lodgement of Letters

All letters will be lodged with Australia Post for regular rate delivery on Friday 9 March 2018.

A representative from the Cards and Advices Team will notify and confirm lodgement details.

The Income Support contact officers for this exercise will be given progress reports and advised of any changes to this timetable.

Holding of daily advice letters

From Monday 5 March 2018 PIPS daily advices should be held until lodgement of March 2018 SI advices is completed. Bereavement advices are exempted from these requirements and therefore they may be released.

DFISA Advices from Centrelink Processing

DVA will be suppressing all Centrelink daily DFISA variation advices with an effective date of 20 March 2018, which are transmitted to DVA following the Centrelink processing run. All other advices will print as part of the normal processing, including Centrelink DFISA cancellation and grant advices.

Foreign Pension Refresh Program known as GROOVER

The foreign pension refresh program referred to as 'GROOVER' (Global Refresh Of Overseas Exchange Rates) is a separate processing exercise to the March 2018 Global Refresh processing and is scheduled to run on the evening of Wednesday, 7 March 2018. The effective date of the Foreign Pensions Refresh Run is 20 March 2018 for payday 29 March 2018.

Separate Foreign Income advices are produced for clients who have foreign income, and whose pensions have been varied because of the GROOVER run. A sample GROOVER advice can be found at Attachment B.

About 500 GROOVER advices are expected. These advices will be printed at nominated printer at each location.

A small number of streamed advices also will be printed at nominated printers at each location. These letters should be checked for accuracy, reconciled against the advice schedule reports, and held pending notification of the successful lodgement of the March quarterly advices. This will ensure that pensioners receive their advice letters in chronological order.

Please note: the British Social Security Pension (type 08), British Official Public Service/Forces pension (type 09) and British Other Income (type 07) are not included in the GROOVER update. Instead they are regularly updated in British Pensions exchange rate variation exercises (commonly known as BRI runs) whenever the Pound Sterling exchange rate varies by 2.5% or more.

Streamed Advices

Several categories of advices are streamed out to print at location printers, as they require additional checking and manual actions.

The following advice types are streamed:

Enclosure (treatment eligibility or student child change);
Overseas postal address (except Tasmanian clients);
Reduction to nil.

They are to be printed at state office printers listed below:

SA - VSSOPR02

TAS - VTSOPR03

WA - VWSOPR01

VIC - VVSOPR02

NSW - VNSOPR13

QLD - VQSOPR01

These advices, in particular treatment eligibility change advices, should be checked for accuracy, and reconciled against the reports received by each Office.

Reduction to Nil advice letters also require inclusion of Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claim forms, CSHC fact sheets and reply paid envelopes to the mailpacks.

ZIP Files of Advice Schedule Reports

A Zip File listing details of all clients who receive an advice will be emailed to the Contact Officers following the processing run. The Zip File replaces the Advices Schedule Report, which is too large to print on the printers in each office.

Reprints of Advices Available using VIEW – Advices Tab

Reprints of individual advice letters produced from the quarterly processing can be requested via VIEW – Advices Tab reprint facility. Quarterly advice reprints are available and can be requested from day one of the next quarter ie. March quarterly advices from 01/04/yyyy, June quarterly advices from 01/07/yyyy and September quarterly advices from 01/10/yyyy.

'HELD' Advices to be forced

Prior to the SI Batch processing run, any advices in 'Held' status will be forced to print to each location nominated printer.

Please ensure your designated printer is fully operational during the processing period. These advices will need to be checked to ensure the information in them is correct prior to posting.

Income Support Contact Officers

A contact person from each location is required to act as a liaison point for the Cards and Advices Team and is to be the responsible person for distributing any information regarding the March 2017 Global Refresh mailout to staff.

The Income Support (IS) contacts for the March 2017 quarterly processing exercise are listed below:

NSW: Simon Towns

VIC: Greg Heitsch/Arthur Morihovitis

QLD: Stephen Hamill/Sharon Golden

SA: Maria Nasilowski

WA: Michelle Pauly / Margarete Mumme

TAS: Craig Conway / Guy Siberry

Cards & Advices Team Contact Details

Any queries regarding this mailout should be referred to:

Elis Lam

(02) 9213 7244 or speed dial 417244

Elis.Lam@dva.gov.au

Amber Vardos

A/g Assistant Secretary

Income Support and Grants Branch

5 March 2018

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

Advice Samples

Details of the proposed content of the SI letters are included in Attachment A.

Example 1A: SP Increase, with MIs/SHs in assessment.
Example 2A: Age Pension Increase, DFISA varied, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.
Example 3A: SP Reduction to Nil, RA cancelled, with MIs and/or SHs in assessment.

Attachment B contains a sample of the GROOVER advice.

Letter Variables

Please note, in the enclosed examples:

Mail Return Address, Facsimile Number, DC name and signature block will change according to State.
The words “service pension”, “age pension” and “income support supplement” each represent variables which will appear for those clients in receipt of the applicable pension.
The introductory paragraphs will advise clients of the outcome of their re-assessment, being either ‘increased’, ‘reduced’ or ‘reduced to nil’. Variables such as 'increased', 'reduced', 'granted', 'commenced' or 'cancelled' may be used when referring to Income Support allowance outcomes.

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT A

EXAMPLE 1A:

OVERALL INCREASE – EITHER FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE OR INCREASE FROM LESS THAN MAXIMUM RATE TO MAX RATE AMOUNT
SINGLE OUTCOME
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
SERVICE PENSIONERS
MARRIED ASSESSMENT
INCOME TESTED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone:

Capital city callers: 133 254

Non-Capital city callers: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

3 March 2018

123 456 789 044

JOHN SMITH

MARY SMITH

29 MARGARET STREET

IPSWICH QLD 4010

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX999999

Dear Mr and Mrs SMITH,

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters and the booklet 'You and Your Pension'. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

LEANNE CAMERON

Deputy Commissioner

as Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department calculates your payments on a daily basis. This means that your fortnightly payment is made up of 14 days of entitlement. Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your payment will be adjusted from that day. For that reason your payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 29 MARCH 2018	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Payment for 13 APRIL 2017	Veteran	Partner
TOTAL FORTNIGHTLY PAYMENT	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
This is made up of:
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx.xx	xxx.xx
- xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx	x.xx	x.xx

Please Note: If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered (by deductions from your fortnightly pension), the amount paid into your account may be less than the total fortnightly payment shown above.

SHARES AND MANAGED INVESTMENTS INFORMATION

(Information currently used to assess your pension)

You are receiving service pension at less than the maximum rate payable. (If the client goes from LMAX to MAX rate this sentence will read: You are receiving service pension at the maximum rate payable.)

You are currently paid under the income test. The total of your assessed gross fortnightly income is $x,xxx.xx. The total of all your assets (excluding any deductible assets) is $xxx,xxx.xx.

Information about your shares and managed investments is provided below.

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or your unit based managed investments have been automatically updated.

The asset values of any unlisted public company shares, overseas shares, options, rights and futures or account based managed investments you hold have not been updated. You must tell us if the asset value of these investments has varied by $1,000 or more.

The information below sets out the values for the shares and/or managed investments in your current assessment.

Listed Securities and Unlisted Public Securities

Description	No. of Shares	Asset Amount
XXXXXX	X,XXX	$XX,XXX.XX
QQQQQQQQQQQQQ	XXX	$ X,XXX.XX

Managed Investments

Description	Units	Asset Amount
VVVVVVVVVV	XXX	$XXX.XX
CCCCCCCCCCCCC	XXX	$XXX.XX

Note: Income from financial assets is deemed.

Important Information: We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment, as they have not been changed in this assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of service pension you are paid. If they have changed, please notify the Department immediately.

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if the above list of your Shares and/or Managed Investments is incomplete or incorrect; or if the number of shares or units you hold has changed. Please note that failure to advise of incorrect or missing information about your shares or managed investments, or about other income or asset changes, may lead to your pension being overpaid. Such overpayments are recoverable.

EXAMPLE 2A:

AGE PENSION INCREASE
ASSETS TESTED
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES
DFISA VARIATION
MIs/SHs
LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

Age pension has been increased.
Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) has varied.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share or managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you have in your assessment, as they remain unchanged. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if you gain or dispose of any assets, or the value of your total existing assets varies, or your gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight.

Other Obligations

We have explained your obligations to you in previous letters. These obligations still apply.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you can contact your nearest Veterans' Affairs office and discuss the reasons for the decision. If you remain dissatisfied, you may apply to have the decision reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer, with no prior involvement in the case. If you decide to apply for a review more than 13 weeks from the day this notice is given to you, you can only be paid an adjustment from the date we receive your application. Requests for review may be made in person, by telephone or in writing. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

The rate of DFISA paid to you is derived from your age pension assessment. You may seek to have your age pension assessment reviewed if you are dissatisfied with your DFISA rate.

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

Yours sincerely,

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and Managed Investments Information Attachment

EXAMPLE 3A:

SERVICE PENSION - REDUCTION TO NIL
MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT
RENT ASSISTANCE CANCELLED
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your:

service pension has been reduced to nil.
rent assistance has been cancelled.

This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Change to Value of Shares and/or Managed Investments

The asset value of your shares which are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or unit based managed investments has been reassessed. The adjusted value of these investments has been used to work out your pension payment and has resulted in your pension being varied to nil.

Please refer to the 'Shares and Managed Investments Information' Attachment included in this letter. This Attachment details all of your shares and/or managed investments regardless of whether there has been a change to that share and managed investment. It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your shares and/or managed investments.

We have not provided you with a complete listing of any other income or assets you may have in your assessment. However, they continue to be used in assessing the amount of pension you are paid.

Change to Pension due to Cost of Living or Wages Increases

Your pension has been adjusted in line with increases in the cost of living or wages where applicable.

Pensioner Concession Card

As your service pension is no longer payable, you no longer qualify for a Pensioner Concession Card. From 20 March 2018, your Pensioner Concession Card is no longer valid and you are unable to use it.;

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

If you are of pension age and you are not receiving an income support payment, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). A CSHC claim form and a fact sheet are enclosed for your information. If you do not already have a CSHC from Centrelink and would like to claim a CSHC from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, please return your claim form in the envelope provided.

Quarterly Energy Supplement

As your income support pension has been cancelled, your gold card may entitle you to quarterly energy supplement. This payment is made quarterly in September, June, September and December. If you are eligible, you will be notified separately.

Your Right to Re-Apply

You may re-apply to have your service pension restored at any time if your income and/or assets fall below the limits that would allow for payment of the pension.

DVA Factsheet IS30 Pension Rates, Limits and Allowances Summary is regularly updated to reflect the latest pension rates and limits. To obtain a copy, please contact us or visit our web site at www.dva.gov.au.

Changes You Have Already Told Us About

If you have told us recently about a change to your income and assets or your domestic situation, it may not have been processed before this letter was sent. If this is the case, we will send you another letter providing details of your new pension assessment when that change has been finalised. This normally takes no more than 4 weeks.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this variation to your pension, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. Such a request for review must be in writing, and must set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment
Shares and/or Managed Investments Information Attachment

ATTACHMENT B

EXAMPLE OF GROOVER ADVICE:

LETTERHEAD

This is to advise you that your service pension has been increased. This change will take effect from 20 March 2018.

The rate of exchange used to convert your Foreign Income to Australian Dollars for income support pension assessment purposes has been reviewed. The new rate of exchange is shown below.

If the Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below is not the same as the gross amount (in foreign currency) you are currently receiving, you should notify the Department within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance). The Foreign Income per fortnight amount shown below may be incorrect if you have received an increase in your foreign payment, or the amount has been recorded incorrectly.

Foreign Income

Description	Foreign Income per fortnight	Exchange Rate	Assessed Income per fortnight
Euro	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx
Turkish Lira	xxx.xxx	x.xxxx	$xxx.xx

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Financial Obligations

You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if your combined gross income from all sources is more than $XXXX.XX per fortnight or the value of your combined assets is more than $XXXXXX.XX.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office. If you do decide to apply for a review, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision. A request for review must be in writing and set out your reasons for seeking this review. Your application for review may also be lodged online through MyAccount or the DVA website (www.dva.gov.au).

If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact the Department on the telephone number shown at the top of this letter. If you prefer to communicate with us by mail, e-mail or in person, please view our website at www.dva.gov.au for contact details.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE BLOCK

ATTACHMENTS

Payment Information Attachment

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2018/di-03-2017-march-2017-global-refresh-managed-investments-shares-and-overseas-exchange-rates

2018

DI-12-2018 Exchange Rate Variation of Pound Sterling - Effect on Income Support and Disability Pensioners

Exchange Rate Variation of Pounds Sterling - Effect on Income Support & Disability Pensioners

DI-11- 2018 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

2019 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

ATTACHMENT A

YOUR COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD

WHAT BENEFITS CAN I GET WITH MY CSHC?

YOUR OBILIGATIONS

MORE INFORMATION

DI -09 - 2018 September 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

September 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT B

DI-08-2018 July 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

July 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

ATTACHMENT A

COMSUPER ADVICE FOR CLIENT WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

BOTH VET AND SPOUSE HAVE INCOME FROM SUPER - THEY DO NOT HAVE 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

CLIENT HAS INCOME FROM SUPER WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT' AND WITHOUT A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

DI-07-2018 June 2018 Statutory Increase Processing

June 2018 Statutory Increase Processing - Production and Mailout of Advice Letters with Payment Summaries, Standalone payment Summaries (Issued without a Covering Letter), and Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates

Major features of SI

ATTACHMENT B

DI-06-2018 Exchange Rate Variation of Pound Sterling - Effect on Income Support and Disability Pensioners

Exchange Rate Variation of Pounds Sterling - Effect on Income Support & Disability Pensioners

DI/05/2018 Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

Purpose

War pensions to increase10 April 2017

Effective date and payday

Cases affected

Exchange rate for EATS and composite cases

Exchange rate for British DP paid direct from the UK

Rates charts in Australian dollars and AIS reports

Manual examination

Contact officer

DI/05/2018 Indexation of British War Pensions (Disability Pensions)

Purpose

War pensions to increase10 April 2017

Effective date and payday

Cases affected

Exchange rate for EATS and composite cases

Exchange rate for British DP paid direct from the UK

Rates charts in Australian dollars and AIS reports

Manual examination

Contact officer

DI-04-2018 Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

DI-03-2018 Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

Indexation of British Official Public Service and Armed Forces Pensions

DI-02-2018 March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT B

DI-01-2018 January 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

January 2018 - Reassessment of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) and Victoria State Based Superannuation Pensions

ATTACHMENT A

COMSUPER ADVICE FOR CLIENT WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

BOTH VET AND SPOUSE HAVE INCOME FROM SUPER - THEY DO NOT HAVE 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

CLIENT HAS INCOME FROM SUPER WITH A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT' AND WITHOUT A 'DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT'

DI-02-2018 March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

March 2018 Global Refresh of Managed Investments, Shares and Overseas Exchange Rates

Letter Production and Mailouts

Mock-ups of Letters to be Produced

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT B

War pensions to increase

10 April 2017

War pensions to increase

10 April 2017