C31/2003 REVISED PROCEDURES FOR CENTRELINK CLEARANCES

Purpose

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of a small but important amendment to DI C49/2002 regarding agreed revised procedures between Department of Veterans' Affairs and Centrelink for clearances processing.

Commencement

The changes commence immediately this DI is received.

Background

The current procedures for clearance processing are mutually agreed procedures between DVA and Centrelink.  Centrelink has asked that State offices now supply an additional piece of information on clearance forms and this has been agreed.

The need for this additional information has arisen because of the recent project undertaken by Centrelink to change its processing systems to accurately record the rate of Disability Pension being paid to its clients.

As State Offices have recently been informed, Centrelink staff will now record the percentage rate of DP and Centrelink's systems will automatically calculate the rate and update it at SI time etc.

New Requirement

Centrelink have requested that in addition to the DP rate, DVA advise of the actual level of SDA on the clearance form when the pensioner is in receipt of this allowance.  The clearance form should show the column 1 number of the allowance specified in Section 27 being paid.  It should be expressed as Item 1, Item 2, etc.  The Centrelink processing system will then calculate the correct amount.

Clearance Form

The clearance form will be revised and amended on the Intranet when we have checked whether any additional amendments are required resulting from these changes at Centrelink.  You will be advised when this has happened.  In the meantime please have staff add this additional information to Part A when appropriate.