Child Maintenance Received by an Income Support Recipient

Step

Action

1

In VIEW check the following details to make certain the information has not already been updated and that there is no other reassessment action that is due for processing:

• outstanding cases – if there are any outstanding cases registered, liaise with the officer that the other case is registered to so the cases can be determined and processed in the correct date of effect order.
• the date of the last pension reassessment
• current financial assets.

2

Open PIPS and create a new worksheet.

Select Pensioner Initiated Review (PIR), date of effect rule Apply then enter the following details:

• Notification Date is the date DVA received the initial information about the payment of child maintenance paid eg, date of telephone call, date letter received by DVA, or date of visit to DVA office.
• Date of Event is the date that the maintenance payments were initially deposited in the payee's account with their financial institution
• in the Text field, enter a brief summary of the change in circumstances to be actioned eg, “Commencement of child maintenance payments at $200 per fortnight wef 1 November 2011”.

3

In the Income and Assets folder navigate to the Direct Income sub — folder then select Other Direct Income (CURRENT), then click the Add button.

• at the Owner field select the payee from the drop down options
• at the Type field type a descriptive label for the maintenance payment eg Child maintenance $200 pf wef 1 Nov 2011. Note: the predefined options accessed using the drop down control are not suitable
• at the Income P/F field enter the fortnightly rate of child maintenance paid.

If amending an existing assessment, edit the fields listed above as appropriate.

4

C — lick the “Save” button.

5

If required, select the Financial Assets subfolder and update the financial assets of the person using the Change, Add or Delete function for each financial product that had changed then click the save button.

6

If required, select the Personal Assets subfolder and update the assets of the person using the Change, Add or Delete function for each asset that had changed then click the save button.

7

If required, select the Property/Business subfolder and update the assets of the person using the Change, Add or Delete function for each asset that had changed then click the save button.

8

If the pension is to be automatically calculated select the Calculate Pension screen under the Case Finalisation folder then use the default Calculate tab and wait until the functions are performed. PIPS will automatically save the calculations.
If the pension rate needs to be manually calculated, select the Manual Rates tab instead of the Calculate tab within the Calculate Pension screen. Change the drop down box option for the Type field to Miscellaneous (manual assessment) then amend the amounts attributable for the income support pension and pension supplement fields as appropriate then click on the Save button when complete.

9

When the Calculate Pension function has finished the new rate of pension payable will be displayed. Check that the rate of pension calculated is correct then:

• if the pension rate is correct go to Step 10
• if the pension rate is incorrect change data that was entered incorrectly click the Save button then repeat step 8.

10

In the Review Historical Data screen if the assessment history after the date of effect needs to be updated, the Calculate History screen will be a mandatory screen. If the Calculate History screen is:

• not a mandatory screen then proceed to Step 11
• a mandatory screen select Calculate History screen then click Calculate. After the calculate history function has been performed click the Save button then go to Step 11.

11

If the Calculate Arrears screen is mandatory select the Arrears screen under the Calculate Arrears folder then click Calculate. After the arrears has been calculated click on the Save button then go to Step 12.

12

Select the Advices screen – the type of advice and obligations to be sent will automatically default to departmental guidelines for the type of case being processed. If additional text is required enter this text in the Free Text field then click on the Save button.

13

Select on the Worksheet Summary screen and review all of the screens that have been accessed and when the data is correct, click on the Save button. If any errors are detected return to the screen that contains the incorrect data, key in the correct data repeating Steps 3 to 11 if required.
Note the Assessment Number shown on this screen for recording later.

14

Once satisfied that the data entered and the rate of pension is correct the case can be finalised by navigating to the Authorise screen then:

• click on the Calculate History button if it is active
• click the Authorize button
• enter your password in the Password Verification dialog box then press OK to finalise the case.

Note: there is an option to register a new case after finalisation if another PIR, DIA is required.

15

Stamp the source document with the green authorisation stamp. In the stamped area, record the Assessment Number (found on the Worksheet Summary Screen or in the VIEW Pension Outcome tab after the case has been authorised) then date and sign your name as delegate.