Are you ill, injured or do you have a disability?
a guide to your options and our services
July 2011
Help in other languages
If you need an interpreter or translation of documents for Centrelink business, we can arrange this for you free of charge.
To speak to Centrelink in languages other than English, call 13 1202 or visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre and ask for an interpreter. For information in languages other than English visit www.centrelink.gov.au and select ‘We speak your language’.
Centrelink information in other formats
Some Centrelink information is available in alternative formats. These formats include audio CD/DVD, large print, Braille and E-text. You can also select the ‘listen to this page’ icon to hear the contents of selected web pages from our website. We can also arrange to provide information products in other formats upon request.
If you are interested in this service call 13 2717 or ask at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Sign language interpreters
An Auslan Interpreter can be arranged if you need to attend an appointment with us. If you have a TTY phone, call Freecall™ 1800 810 586 to request an interpreter, or ask at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre before your appointment.
TTY Service
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can contact us through our TTY service on Freecall™ 1800 810 586. To provide compliments, suggestions or complaints, please call our TTY Customer Relations Line on Freecall™ 1800 000 567. A TTY phone is required to use this service.
National Relay Service
If you are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment, you can also contact us through the National Relay Service. Call 13 3677 and request any of our ‘13’ or ‘1800’ numbers at the back of this booklet. For more information visit www.relayservice.com.au
Centrelink claim forms and information products
Visit www.centrelink.gov.au for downloadable and printable claim forms and information products.
Contents
Introduction 5
About this booklet 5
Payments to help you if you are ill, injured or have a disability 5
Disability Support Pension 5
Mobility Allowance 7
Newstart Allowance 7
Sickness Allowance 8
Youth Allowance 8
Pension Supplement 9
Pensioner Education Supplement and ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement 9
Activity Test and participation requirements 10
What is an Employment Pathway Plan? 10
Mature Age requirements (if you are 55 years of age or over) 10
Employment Services Assessment and
Job Capacity Assessment 11
Lodging a medical certificate 11
Options to help you participate 11
Extra assistance 13
Assurance of Support 13
Financial Information Service 13
Medicare card 14
Medicare Safety Net 14
Making a claim 14
Your rights and responsibilities 15
You must tell us if things change 15
Dealing with third parties 15
Getting someone to deal with Centrelink for you 15
Person Permitted to Enquire 15
Nominee arrangements 15
Our service commitments 16
Reviews and appeals 16
How to provide feedback 16
Keeping your personal information private 17
More information 17
Weekly Payments 17
Income Management 17
Centrepay 18
Rent Deduction Scheme 18
Specialist staff 18
How to contact us 18
Centrelink self service 20
Medicare Australia Online Services 20
Other organisations and useful information 21
Introduction
Centrelink is an Australian Government agency within the Human Services Portfolio. We deliver payments and services for a number of government departments including: the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
We advise customers about relevant service and payment options including referrals to employment services providers, our specialists and other departments and agencies. These services can assist you to improve your chances of getting a job; to access study, training and work experience placements; build your skills and confidence for work; undertake community work and ultimately help you to become financially independent.
About this booklet
This booklet is a guide to the payments and services we offer to support you if you are ill, injured or have a disability. It includes details about:
• payments, services and opportunities
• how to claim payments and use our services
• your rights and responsibilities, and
• how to find out more.
The information complements and should be read in conjunction with Centrelink—the basics. This is available by visiting www.centrelink.gov.au calling 13 2717 or asking at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre. To see the full range of our customer booklets turn to the back cover.
Payments to help you if you are ill, injured or have a disability
Disability Support Pension
Disability Support Pension assists you if you have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment that prevents you from working, or if you are permanently blind.
Am I eligible?
You may receive Disability Support Pension if:
• you are 16 years of age or over and at the time of claiming are under age pension age, and
• you are an Australian resident* and in Australia when you claim, and
• you are either:
– permanently blind, or
– assessed as having a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment of at least 20 points and are either:
– participating in the Supported Wage System, or
– unable to work or be retrained for work of at least 15 hours or more per week at or above the relevant minimum wage within the next two years because of your impairment, and you are assessed as either having a severe impairment or as having actively participated in a program of support.
*For more information on residence requirements see Centrelink—the basics.
You must also have lived in Australia for a total of 10 years as an Australian resident (five of these years continuously) or become unable to work (because of disability or permanent blindness) while you were an Australian resident or have a qualifying residence exemption (for example, you hold a permanent refugee or humanitarian entrant visa).
Australia has international social security agreements with a number of countries. These may help you get Disability Support Pension even if you are not an Australian resident or do not have the required period of residence. For more information see the Australia’s International Social Security Agreements factsheet.
How does it work?
You may receive:
• a fortnightly Disability Support Pension—see the Disability and Carer Payment Rates factsheet
• Pharmaceutical Allowance (if you are under 21 with no dependent children)
• a Pensioner Concession Card.
If your and your partner’s income and assets are above a certain amount, you may only be eligible for a reduced pension or not eligible at all. For more information, see the Disability and Carer Payment Rates factsheet.
If your illness, injury or disability will prevent you from working or studying for only a short period, then depending on your age and circumstances you may be eligible for Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (with a modified Activity Test or an exemption from looking for work).
If you take up work, you can still receive Disability Support Pension depending on the hours you work and how much you earn. You must tell us details of your employment within 14 days of starting work. We can provide you with help to find work, education or training—see ‘Options to help you participate’ on page 11.
What else should I know?
You may also receive:
• Education Entry Payment
• Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement
• Mobility Allowance
• Pensioner Education Supplement or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement
• Pension Supplement
• Remote Area Allowance
• Rent Assistance—special rules apply if you receive Disability Support Pension on the grounds of permanent blindness
• Telephone Allowance
• Utilities Allowance.
For more information on other assistance, see ‘Extra assistance’ in Centrelink—the basics. This is available by visiting www.centrelink.gov.au calling 13 2717 or asking at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Mobility Allowance
Mobility Allowance assists you if you have a disability, cannot use public transport permanently or for an extended period without substantial assistance, and are engaged in certain activities. These activities include looking for work, participating in a Disability Employment Services program or any combination of paid employment, voluntary work, vocational training and independent living/life skills training.
Am I eligible?
You may receive Mobility Allowance if you:
• are 16 years of age or over, and
• cannot use public transport without substantial assistance for the next 12 months or longer because of your disability (there does not need to be public transport in your area for you to be eligible), and
• need to travel to and from your home as part of your work, training or job seeking, and
• are an Australian resident*, and
• have been in Australia as an Australian resident for at least 104 weeks (there are some exceptions), and
• are in Australia when you claim.
*For more information on residence requirements see Centrelink—the basics.
There are two rates of Mobility Allowance. The rate you receive will depend on whether you meet certain criteria in addition to those mentioned above.
To be eligible for the standard rate of Mobility Allowance, you must also:
• be undertaking vocational training, voluntary work, paid work, independent living/life skills or any combination of these for at least 32 hours every four weeks on a continuing basis, or
• have an agreement to look for work through an employment services provider (for example, Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services), or
• be participating in a Disability Employment Services-Disability Management Service program, or
• be receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance or Austudy and be required to meet the Activity Test.
Voluntary work must be for a charitable, welfare or community organisation on a continuing basis.
To be eligible for the higher rate of Mobility Allowance, you must also be receiving Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (job seeker) and:
• be working for at least 15 hours per week on wages that are at or above the relevant minimum wage, or
• be undertaking job search activities for work of at least 15 hours per week on wages that are at or above the relevant minimum wage under an Employment Pathway Plan with Centrelink or an employment services provider (e.g. Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services), or
• be working for at least 15 hours per week on productivity based wages under the Supported Wage System.
How does it work?
You may receive a:
• fortnightly Mobility Allowance
• Health Care Card if you are not getting any other payments from us.
Mobility Allowance is not subject to an income or assets test and is not taxable.
You do not need to get other payments from us to be eligible for the standard rate of Mobility Allowance.
For more information visit www.centrelink.gov.au call 13 2717 or ask at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Newstart Allowance
If your illness, injury or disability will prevent you from working or studying for only a short period, then depending on your age and circumstances you may be eligible for Newstart Allowance. Newstart Allowance assists you while you are looking for work and supports you to take part in activities that may increase your chances of finding work.
Am I eligible?
You may receive Newstart Allowance if you:
• are 21 years of age or over and under age pension age
• are unemployed or working part-time
• are prepared to enter into and comply with an Employment Pathway Plan
• are an Australian resident*
• have been in Australia as an Australian resident for at least 104 weeks (there are some exceptions)
• are in Australia when you claim
• are not involved in industrial action
• meet the income and assets test, and
• meet Activity Test or participation requirements, or are exempt from these requirements.
*For more information on residence requirements see Centrelink—the basics.
In special circumstances (such as if you are ill or injured or have a personal crisis) you may be able to get a short-term exemption from the Activity Test or participation requirements. If your family situation meets certain special circumstances you may be exempt for longer periods.
For more information on Newstart Allowance see Looking for work? And the Newstart Payment Rates factsheet. This is available by visiting www.centrelink.gov.au calling 13 2850 or asking at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Sickness Allowance
Sickness Allowance assists you if you are employed and temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition. In some situations full-time students may also be eligible for Sickness Allowance. Sickness Allowance is not a long-term payment. It is only paid because of a temporary incapacity to work or study.
Am I eligible?
You may receive Sickness Allowance if you are temporarily unable to carry out your usual work or study because of illness, injury or disability and you:
• are 21 years of age or over but under age pension age and have a job to return to, or
• are 21 years of age or over but under age pension age and receive ABSTUDY, or
• are 25 years of age or over but under age pension age and receive Austudy, and
• meet the income and assets tests, and
• are an Australian resident*, and
• have been in Australia as an Australian resident for at least 104 weeks (there are some exceptions), and
• are in Australia when you claim.
*For more information on residence requirements see Centrelink—the basics.
You must have work or study to return to when you are well again.
For more information about income and assets limits see the Disability and Carer Payment Rates factsheet. This is available by visiting www.centrelink.gov.au calling 13 2717 or asking at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
How does it work?
You may receive:
• a fortnightly Sickness Allowance
• Pharmaceutical Allowance
• a Health Care Card
• a Pensioner Concession Card—if you are 60 years of age or older and have been in continuous receipt of an income support payment (or a social security pension) for at least the preceding 39 weeks.
What else should I know?
You may also receive:
• Rent Assistance