DI-09-2020 June 2020 Statutory increase Processing - Production And Mail Out Of Advice Letters With Payment Summaries, Stand Alone Payment Summaries And Medicare Levy Exemption Certificates

June 2020 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

Janice SIlby

Assistant Secretary

Income Support  Branch

3 June 2020

ATTACHMENT A

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

ESTIMATES BASED ON 2018 STATISTICS

 Please note:

• Northern Territory clients are included in the numbers for South Australia and ACT clients are included in the NSW numbers.

ATTACHMENT B

JUNE 2020 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: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

15 June 2020

123 456 789  044                                                     

JOHN SMITH                                          

MARY SMITH                                                                 

22 ACACIA AVE                                               

VILLAGETOWN  QLD   4000

                                                   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 2020.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information sheet attached to this letter.

Cost of living changes to the Income and Assets Test

The Consumer Price Index has been applied to address recent increases in the cost of living. The following limits that are used to calculate your service pension have been adjusted:

• 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 2019/2020 Financial Year Payment Summaries

As it is the end of the 2019/2020 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,

JANICE SILBY

Assistant Secretary

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.

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.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SERVICE PENSION RATES AND LIMITS

(Information current as at 1 July 2020)

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 75 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:- 0.25% interest up to the threshold of $XX,XXX

                     High Rate:- 2.25% interest for the remaining balance

Couples        Low Rate:- 0.25% interest up to the threshold of $XX,XXX

                     High Rate:- 2.25% 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)

Singles Rate                           $XXX.XX              

Couples Rate(combined)        $XXX.XX               

Rent Limit (per fortnight)

Singles Limit                          $XXX.XX              

Couples Limit (combined)     $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: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

16 June 2020

123 456 789  044                                                     

MR ROBERT VETERAN

22 ACACIA AVE

VILLAGETOWN  QLD  4000

                                                   YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX000000

Dear Mr VETERAN,

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 2020.

Payment Information

Details of your fortnightly payments are provided in the Payment Information sheet attached to this letter.

Cost of living changes to the Income and Assets Test

The Consumer Price Index has been applied to address recent increases in the cost of living. The following limits that are used to calculate your age pension have been adjusted:

• 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 2019/2020 Financial Year Payment Summaries

As it is the end of the 2019/2020 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 VETERAN 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

Your obligations as outlined in previous letters to you and in the Booklet ‘You and Your Pension’ 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,

JANICE SILBY

Assistant Secretary as Delegate of the Secretary

ATTACHMENTS

• Payment Information Attachment

• Payment Summary

• General Information Sheet

Example 3.

• INVALIDITY SERVICE PENSION

• MAXIMUM RATE

• PAYMENT SUMMARY ENCLOSED

• GIS ENCLOSED

GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001

Telephone: 1800 555 254

Facsimile: (07) 3223 8479

15 June 2020                                             

MR BILL BROWN

123 SERVICE STREET

VILLAGETOWN QLD  4000

                                                   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

The Consumer Price Index has been applied to address recent increases in the cost of living. The following limits that are used to calculate your service pension have been adjusted:

• 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 2019/2020 Financial Year Payment Summaries 

As it is the end of the 2019/2020 financial year, Payment Summaries are being issued.  You will need this information if you are required to lodge a tax return.

Payment Summary for MR 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,

JANICE SILBY

Assistant Secretary 

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

Payee Details

XXXX SMITH

XXXXXXX STREET

SUBURB STATE POSTCODE

Payer Details

Payer’s ABN or withholding number:    2396 4290 824

Payer’s name:    Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Signature of authorised person:    JANICE SILBY

Date:    15/06/20

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

            Client address

Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate

Dear Beneficiary