DATE OF ISSUE: 16 FEBRUARY 1996
MEDICAL REPORT ON PERMANENT INCAPACITY FOR INCOME SUPPORT SUPPLEMENT (ISS) AND SERVICE PENSION (SP)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of the new Medical Report (Form D551) for use with claimants of both ISS and SP on the grounds of permanent incapacity.
This form replaces the previous SP Medical Report (Form D2569).
BACKGROUND
2.With the introduction of ISS, a Medical Report was required for claimants of ISS on the grounds of permanent incapacity. The initial draft was based on the existing Medical Report (Form D2569) for Service Pension claimants. However, examination of the existing form brought to light deficiencies.
REVISED FORMAT
3.Consultation with State Offices provided the basis for the revised Medical Report (Attachment 1) and major changes include:
incorporating both ISS and SP Medical Reports into one form due to similarities in the formats (Form D551);
removal of employment and education background (as the information is already supplied by the claimant on the Invalidity Details module as part of the SP or ISS invalidity claim (Forms D512 and D543 refer);
inclusion of specific categories to ensure comment by the treating doctor on the claimant's capacity to undertake employment.
FURTHER ACTION
4.All copies of the previous SP Medical Report (Form D2569) are obsolete and should be destroyed upon receipt of the new Form D551.
5.An evaluation on the effectiveness of the revised form will be undertaken after a 3 month period of usage. Feedback will be requested from State Offices, in particular to the level of information provided by the treating doctor regarding the claimants incapacity for work and the facilitation of the decision making process.
CONTACT OFFICER
If you have any queries regarding this matter, please contact Tina Keur on (06) 289 6539.
W R MAXWELL
DIVISION HEAD
COMPENSATION