C02/2007 REASSESSMENT OF COMSUPER ((CSS & PSS) and (DFRDB & MSBS)) SUPERANNUATION PENSIONS - JANUARY 2007

Purpose of instruction

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide information about the January 2007 reassessment of ComSuper ((CSS & PSS) and (DFRDB & MSBS)) superannuation pensions.

Background

ComSuper superannuation pensions are adjusted bi-annually in January and July.  The CPI increase to be applied to the January 2007 adjustment is 2.5%.

Processing date

Reassessment processing to reflect the January 2007 CPI increases to ComSuper and DFRDB superannuation pensions will be conducted over two evenings - NSW, TAS & VIC on Tuesday, 2 January 2007 and QLD, SA & WA on Wednesday, 3 January 2007.  Following the completion of the processing, a national data file will be transmitted to the mailing house for printing and lodgement with Australia Post..

Effective date

The effective date of the reassessment will be 2 January 2007.

On pension payday 18 January 2007, pensioners will receive a full installment at the new assessed rate.

Advice letter target audience

A letter will be produced for Income Support pensioners in receipt of ComSuper ((CSS & PSS) and (DFRDB & MSBS)) superannuation pensions whose pension has been varied by the reassessment run.  There will be approximately 20,000 advice letters produced nationally.

ComSuper Reference Names in Advice Letters

The advice letters will reflect the following references to the Defined Benefit income streams Commonwealth Superannuation Fund and Defence Forces Retirement Benefits - super type codes 03 & 04:

• CLIENT NAME - ComSuper (CSS & PSS) - $XXX.XX per fortnight.
• CLIENT NAME - ComSuper (DFRDB & MSBS) - $XXX.XX per fortnight.

DFISA Payments - Impact on Advices

All DVA Age pensioners who are eligible to commence payment of Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) or whose DFISA payment is varied, continued or cancelled will receive an advice letter following the processing run.

Printing and mailing of advice letters

The advice letters will be printed and mailed through the Department's contracted mailing house, SALMAT.  All letters will be lodged with Australia Post as a national lodgement by COB Friday, 12 January 2007.

Letters for Tasmanian State Office Overseas Addressees

The advice letters produced for Tasmanian Office clients who have an overseas address will be printed, enveloped and sent from the mailing house.

Streamed advices requiring action

The following advices will be streamed and printed by IBMGSA at the IBM Printhub, and sent via courier to the Income Support System Support Officer in each Office for checking and dispatch:

• Reductions to nil (please note Reduction to Nil advice letters will also have a General Information Sheet printed as part of the advice);
• Overseas for all states apart from Tasmania;
• Cases which result in multiple payment boxes (ie., Payment Information Attachment); and
• Enclosures (treatment changes).

'Held' advices to be forced

As part of the batch processing run any advices in 'held' status will be forced to print.  Forced 'held' advices will print at the nominated printer in each Office.

Contacts

For Advice issues - Pat Webb (02) 9213 7288.

For Systems issues - Kevin Chapman (02) 6289 6749.