6.2.5.12 DSP - Income & Assets Service Update Mail Reviews (from 20/09/2003)

Summary

This topic explains the provisions for income and assets service update mail reviews and covers the following:

• date of effect of income and assets reviews and debts,
• de facto relationships,
• lodgings, board and lodging and people who appear to be living in government houses, and
• incomplete information or information not verified.

Date of effect of income & assets update reviews & debts

It is important for the customer service adviser to use the correct date of effect for determinations relating to an income and assets service update mail review. Also, where there is an adverse determination (i.e. cancellation, suspension or rate reduction), the customer service adviser must follow-up whether the recipient has incurred a debt.

Act reference: SSAct section 1223 Debts arising from lack of qualification, overpayment etc.

SS(Admin)Act section 118 Date of effect of adverse determinations - general rules

Policy reference: SS Guide 8.6.1 Date of Effect of Determinations - Summary of Legislation, 6.7.1 Amounts Recoverable under the SSAct

De facto relationships

Where a single DSP recipient indicates that they share accommodation with another person (question 7), and that person is of a different or same sex (excluding their children), the customer service adviser must follow-up whether the recipient is living in a de facto relationship.

Act reference: SSAct section 4(2) Member of a couple-general, section 4(3) Member of a couple-criteria for forming opinion about relationship, section 4(3A) The Secretary must not form the opinion…

Policy reference: SS Guide 2.2.5.10 Determining a De Facto Relationship

Lodgings, board & lodging & people who appear to be living in government houses

Where DSP recipients pay another person for lodgings, board and are lodging or appear to be living in a government house, the customer service adviser should telephone the recipient to inquire 'whether the person they pay for accommodation pays government rent?' If the recipient answers 'yes' then the customer service adviser should inquire:

• whether this person pays government rent at the market rate, and
• whether the person notified the state or territory Housing Authority that the DSP recipient is living there.

Details of telephone follow-ups should be recorded on the recipient's record.

For more information on government rent and RA, see 3.8.1.80 in particular 'Person who sub-lets in public housing'.

Act reference: SSAct section 13(3AC) Person living in premises where another person pays Government rent

Incomplete information or information not verified

Where the 'income and assets update' form (SA220) is incomplete or the recipient has not provided verification of their financial information, the customer service adviser should telephone the recipient to follow-up the unanswered questions and/or request verification of their information. Details of telephone follow-ups should be recorded on the recipient's record.

Policy reference: SS Guide 2.2.3 Verifying Financial Information

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Last reviewed: 1 March 2010