DI-12- 2019 September 2019 Global Refresh of MI's and Shares

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

                                                                                           Telephone: 1800 555 254

123 456 789  044                                                       Facsimile: (07) 3223 8585

MR JOHN SMITH                                                           

MRS BERYL SMITH                                                       14 September 2019

123 SAMPLE STREET                                                    

FUNKYTOWN  VIC  3666                                             

                                                                                           YOUR FILE NUMBER IS VXxxxxxx

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 2019.

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.  The value of other income and assets you may have has not been affected by this reassessment.

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 26 SEPTEMBER 2019                                   Veteran                      Partner

Payment for 10 OCTOBER 2019                                        Veteran                      Partner

Please Note:  If you have an overpayment or lump sum advance which is currently being recovered by deductions from your fortnightly payment, 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

Managed Investments

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

·         WITH MIs/SHs IN ASSESSMENT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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 2019.

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.  The value of other income and assets you may have has not been affected by this reassessment.

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 should discuss it with the original decision maker, who will explain 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 2019.

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 2019, your Pensioner Concession Card is no longer valid and you are unable to use it.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (Note: This paragraph may vary or not appear for younger clients)

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 factsheet 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 the completed claim form to the Department.  You may also apply online via www.dva.gov.au

Quarterly Energy Supplement

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ASSISTANT SECRETARY 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 2019.

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

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