Cancellation or suspension of Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) 009-03110010

Service Officers must be mindful of permission to enquire rules and not release information if the person contacting has no permission to enquire.

Service Officers must not:

• send Fast Notes to CD1 relating to information provided by the carer, or allegations received from third parties or care receivers
• record allegations the carer is no longer providing care on the carer or care receiver's record
• record allegations of family and domestic violence within the carer/care receiver relationship on the carer or care receiver's record

This information is accessible under Freedom of Information (FOI) and places the reporter and the care receiver at risk.

If any party discloses, or it is suspected a child is affected by family and domestic violence (FDV), follow the Risk identification and management of threats to the safety or welfare of a child.

Has there been any allegations, from any party, relating to carer neglect within the carer/care receiver relationship or it is suspected?

• Yes, see Reporting, reviewing and actioning reports of carer neglect. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 3

If Service Officers:

• receive allegations, from any party, relating to potential fraud, or staff suspect there is. See Report suspected fraud and corruption. Procedure ends here
• identify correspondence has been returned from the carer or care receiver's address. See Return to sender (RTS) mail for Centrelink. Procedure ends here
• are allocated a Manual Follow Up (MFU) for a returned payment. See Reissue a payment returned from financial institution. Procedure ends here
• are allocated an MFU for a 'Request for Information' which has not been responded to, see Table 3 >Step 1
• are allocated an MFU or handoff from the Report Employment Income online service due to the carer’s employment or self-employment income precluding payment see Table 5> Step 1
• are making an update to employment or self-employment income resulting in CP cancelling for reason 12F or INC including where the warning ‘W038PN Check possible eligibility for extended SUS period’ presents, see Table 5> Step 1
• are allocated an MFU due to CP cancelling for reason RBE or HBE, see Temporary Cessation of Care (respite) provisions for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA)
• are advised of a change in circumstances and no carer neglect is identified or suspected within the carer/care receiver relationship, by the:
• carer (or care receiver or a third party with the required authority), go to Step 4
• care receiver or a third party and they do not have the required authority, see Accepting information from and disclosing information to a care receiver or third party

If the carer (or care receiver/third party if authorised):

• advises they (the carer) are in prison or psychiatric confinement, see Carer Allowance (CA) carer is absent and Carer Payment (CP) carer is absent. Procedure ends here
• advises they are undertaking paid employment or self-employment, see Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) carer undertakes paid employment, self-employment, voluntary work, education or training activities. Procedure ends here
• advises the care receiver has permanently entered an institution see Care receiver permanently enters or temporarily/permanently leaves an institution. Procedure ends here
• reports the care receiver has died, see Centrelink - Notification, confirming and recording a death. Procedure ends here
• advises they have separated from their partner, and:
• the separation has not already been notified and assessed, see Change in relationship status from partnered to single. Procedure ends here
• their partner was the care receiver, and the separation has been notified and assessed, go to Step 5
• advises a change of address, see Change of address for Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA). Procedure ends here
• advises they have ceased to provide care to the care receiver, or the care receiver has left care of the carer, go to Step 5
• requests cancellation of CP and/or CA and does not want to provide any additional information or the reason why, go to Step 9

Check if the carer is receiving Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance.

In the Carer record go to the CRS screen and select the care receiver. In next, go to the Carer General Information (CGI) screen and press [Continue].

Linked carers will display default values in the following fields:

• Carer Name
• CRN
• Carer Payment
• Carer Allowance

Once the change in care has been recorded, the system will auto-cancel CP and/or CA for the carer.

To update a change of care/care receiver leaving care, access the Carer Receiver Task Selector (CETS) screen in Customer First. To do this for:

• an adult, or a child with an adult Centrelink record:
• go to the care receiver's record
• open the Care Receiver Summary (CRS) screen
• 'S'elect 'Self' and press [Continue]
• a child care receiver (under 16 years of age) with a child record:
• in the carer's record
• go to the CRS screen
• 'S'elect the child care receiver, press [Continue]

Is the carer receiving CA for the care receiver?

• Yes, go to Step 7
• No, go to Step 8

From the CETS screen, select Care Details, press [Continue].

Code the following fields for CA in the section 'Carer Allowance Care Details'

• Effect Date: day after care ceased
• Carer CRN: select from the dropdown menu
• Relationship to Carer Receiver: select from the dropdown menu
• Does the Carer Live Separately: select the following
• Yes: Living Separately fields will show
• No: Living Together fields will show
• Other Carer Details: free text field
• Complete the Source: and Receipt Date: fields
• Select [Add] once all fields are coded

If living separately, code the following

• Paid Relevant Minimum Wage: select Yes or No
• Provides Daily Care field: select Yes or No
• Shared Care: select from the dropdown list
• Hours of care per week as verified by CSO: Select from the dropdown menu
• Hours of care per week as advised by the customer: Key value between 0-168

If living together, code one of the following fields:

• Care Days: number of days the care receiver is in the carer's care each fortnight. Value between 0-14, or
• Care%: value between 0-100

Note: a value must be keyed in either the care days or care % field, but not in both.

Is the carer also receiving CP?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No:
• Complete the Source and Receipt Date fields
• Go to the assessment results (AR) screen and finalise the activity
• Go to Step 11

From the CETS screen select Care and Institution Details, press [Continue].

Code the following fields for CP in the section 'Carer Payment Care Details'.

• Date of Event: enter the relevant Date of Event (DOV)
• Carer CRN: select from the dropdown menu
• Carer is: select the relationship of the carer to the care receiver from the dropdown menu
• Constant care: select from the dropdown menu
• Complete the Source: and Receipt Date: fields
• Select [Add] once all fields are coded
• Go to the Assessment Results (AR) screen and finalise the activity
• Go to Step 11

The code CLR -withdrawn/voluntary surrender - is only to be used where the carer has requested cancellation of CP and/or CA and does not want to provide more information or the reason why. If the customer has requested cancellation and cannot/will not provide further information, cancel CP and/or CA in Customer First using the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow.

Note: staff can cancel both CP and CA in the same activity, if applicable.

To cancel CP and/or CA:

• select the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow
• to cancel CA at the care receiver level:
• Select the relevant care receiver/s
• Reason: select CLR: Withdrawn/Voluntary Surrender from the dropdown menu
• Action: will automatically populate
• Date of Effect: This is usually the date the carer requests cancellation (see Resources for example)
  While CP can be cancelled from a future date, CA cannot
• to cancel CA at the carer level:
• Reason: select CLR: Withdrawn/Voluntary Surrender from the dropdown menu
• Date of Effect: This is usually the date the carer requests cancellation (see Resources for example)
  While CP can be cancelled from a future date, CA cannot
• to cancel CP at the carer level:
• Reason: select CLR: Withdrawn/Voluntary Surrender from the dropdown menu,
• Date of Effect: This is usually the date the carer requests cancellation
• Code Source and Receipt Date
• Select [Continue]
• The carer cancellation and suspension workflow will automatically create a DOC using the Notepad function. The DOC will include:
• suspension or cancellation reason
• Date of Effect (DOE)
• Act Reference
• Check the DOC and include the reason for making the decision to cancel payment CLR, and record any additional notes if applicable
• Select [Continue]
• Review the AR screen and finalise the activity

Cancellation/Suspension DOC will only display once the activity has been approved in the Quality Online Tool (QOL) tool. Any activities selected for QOL should be released unless another error is identified.

If the workflow is unavailable or not working, go to Step 10.

The code CLR -withdrawn/voluntary surrender - is only to be used where the carer has requested cancellation of CP and/or CA and does not want to provide any other details or the reason why.

To cancel CP or CA at the carer level take the following action in the carer's record using Customer First.

• Go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen and code the following fields:
• Service Reason, key 'CAR' (for CP) or 'CDA' (for CA)
• Action: select 'CAN - Cancel' from the dropdown list
• Reason: select 'CLR - Withdrawal/Voluntary Surrender' from the dropdown list
• Effect Date: This is usually the date the carer requests the cancellation (see Resources for example)
• Code Source and Receipt Date fields
• Select [Submit Change]
• Go to the AR screen and finalise the activity
• DOC the cancellation on the carer's record, include the reason for making the decision to cancel payment CLR, and record any additional notes if applicable

To cancel CA at the carer level take the following action in the carer's record using Customer First:

• Go to the Care Receiver Summary (CRS) screen
• Select the relevant care receiver
• Go to the Care Receiver Benefit Action (CJBA) screen and code the fields
• Select [Continue]
• go to the AR screen and finalise the activity
• DOC the cancellation on the carer's record, include the reason for making the decision to cancel payment CLR, and record any additional notes if applicable

In the carer's record create a DOC and record details.

If the care receiver is a child and the carer is receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB), check whether FTB is still payable. See Child leaves customer's care/custody.

If the carer and care receiver are partners, they may be entitled to be assessed as being separated from their partner due to ill health. See Assessment of circumstances for a couple separated due to illness.

Go to Step 12.

In the carers record check their payment status.

Has Carer Allowance and/or Carer Payment cancelled?

• Yes, procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 13

To make sure the updates correctly apply and payment/s will cancel take the following action.

• Run the Daily Driver (DDR) by keying 'DDR' in the Next field and select [Enter]
• For Carer Payment
• Go to the carer's record
• Update the system - PEN
• Go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen
• Svc Rsn: 'CAR'
• Action: 'REA' (Reassess)
• Reason: leave blank
• Effect Date: DOV of cancellation
• Complete Source and Receipt Date fields
• Key 'AR' in the Next field and select [Continue]
• Finalise the activity
• Annotate the DOC on the carer's record to note the action taken to cancel the payment
• For Carer Allowance update
• Go to the carer's record
• Update the system: ISS
• Go to the Care Receiver Summary (CRS) screen
• 'S'elect the relevant care receiver
• Go to the Care Receiver Benefit Action (CJBA) screen and update the relevant fields
• Select [Continue]
• Key 'AR' in the Next field and finalise the activity
• Annotate the DOC on the carer's record to note the action taken to cancel the payment

If the carer has not completed the 'Update your caring details' online task within 14 days a work item is allocated to Service Officer's via Process Direct.

Is the carer's CA current?

• Yes:
• Manually cancel CA 'failed to reply to correspondence' (FRC) in Process Direct
• Select the work item Caring Detail Review for Carer Allowance. The Customer and Claim information details screen will display
• Select then select Update DOR to display the Update Date of Receipt screen
• change the Receipt Date to:
  Day 15, if it is within the current entitlement period
  Date paid to + 1, if carer has been paid since day 15
• select Update > Process
• from the Task Selector screen, select CJBA - Carers Benefit Action and select Next to display the Care Receiver Benefit Action screen
• select Add to display Create Care Receiver Benefit Action popup and update the relevant fields
• select Save
• a provisional cancellation activity will appear on the Care Receiver Benefit Action (CJBA) screen. Select Next
• select Assess
• the carer's entitlement to CA is displayed on the ELD screen
• check the expected outcome has occurred. Select Finish
• a pop up window will display with prepopulated text, including the Social Security Act reference. Add additional comments regarding the decision in Notes. The comments will appear in Notes tab
• select Finish. The work item Carer Allowance Questionnaire Review status will change to completed
• Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 2

If the carer's CA has already been cancelled and the work item no longer needs to be updated, staff will need to cancel the task.

In Process Direct, select Inbox:

• Main Category: Online Intervention
• CRN: Customers CRN
• select Go
• from the Work item list, select the open Carer Allowance Questionnaire Review
• select Status > > Cancelled > Reason, select appropriate code > Save

Cancel the payment in Customer First if the customer:

• has failed to reply to correspondence, and
• their payment is still current

The date of effect of the determination is generally the day following the expiration of the time allowed to respond.

Where the customer has already been paid for this date, the date of effect for the cancellation will be Date Paid To (DPT) plus 1.

Check the carer and care receiver's record to make sure the requested information has not been returned and the customer has not already attempted or made contact.

To cancel CP and/or CA:

• select the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow
• to cancel CA at the care receiver level (See the Background page for a definition of 'at care receiver level'):
• Reason: select FRC: Failed to Reply to Correspondence from the dropdown menu
• Action: this will auto populate with cancel
• Date of Effect:
• to cancel CA at the carer level:
• Reason: select FRC: Failed to Correspondence from the dropdown box
• Action: select from the dropdown menu
• Date of Effect:
• to cancel CP at the carer level:
• Reason: select FRC: Failed to Reply to Correspondence from the dropdown menu,
• Action: select from the dropdown menu
• Date of Effect:
• Code Source and Receipt Date
• Select [Continue]
• The carer cancellation and suspension workflow automatically creates a DOC using the Notepad function. The DOC will include:
• suspension/cancellation reason
• Date of Effect (DOE)
• Act Reference
• Check the DOC and record any additional notes, if needed
• Select [Continue]
• Review the AR screen and finalise the activity

Cancellation/Suspension DOC will only display once the activity has been approved in the Quality Online Tool (QOL) tool. Any activities selected for QOL should be released unless another error is identified.

Staff can cancel both CP and CA in the same activity, if applicable.

If the workflow is unavailable or not working, go to Step 2.

Note: if a customer received a Crisis Payment in the period the change is applied, a manual reassessment of Crisis Payment may be required. For more information, see Reviewing and reassessing Crisis Payment (CrP).

To cancel/suspend CP or CA at the carer level take the following action in the carer's record using Customer First.

• Go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen and code the following fields:
• Service Reason, key 'CAR' (for CP) or 'CDA' (for CA)
• Action: select 'CAN - Cancel' or 'SUS - Suspend' from the dropdown menu
• Reason: select 'FRC - Failed to Reply to Correspondence' from the dropdown menu
• Effect Date:
• Code Source and Receipt Date fields
• Select [Submit Change]
• Go to the Assessment Results (AR) screen and finalise the activity
• DOC the cancellation on the carer's record

To cancel CA at the care receiver level take the following action in the carer's record

• Select the relevant care receiver from the CRS screen
• Go to the Care Receiver Benefit Action (CJBA) screen and code the relevant fields
• Select [Continue]
• Go to the AR screen and finalise the activity
• DOC the cancellation on the carer's record

Note: If a customer received a Crisis Payment in the period the change is applied, a manual reassessment of Crisis Payment may be required. For more information, see Reviewing and reassessing Crisis Payment (CrP).

Cancel/Suspend CP and/or CA in Customer First using the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow.

Note: staff can cancel both CP and CA in the same activity, if applicable:

To suspend/cancel CP and/or CA:

• Select the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow
• To cancel CA at the carer level:
• Reason: select IMP: Imprisonment from the dropdown box
• Date of Effect: This is the date after the carer is confined.
  Note: while CP can be cancelled from a future date, CA cannot
• To cancel CP at the carer level:
• Reason: select IMP: Imprisonment from the dropdown box
• Date of Effect: This is the date after the carer is confined
• Code Source and Receipt Date
• Select [Continue]
• The carer cancellation and suspension workflow will automatically create a DOC using the Notepad function. The DOC will include:
• suspension or cancellation reason
• Date of Effect (DOE)
• Act Reference
• Check the DOC and record any additional notes, if needed
• Select [Continue]
• Review the AR screen and finalise the activity

Cancellation/Suspension DOC will only display once the activity has been approved in the Quality Online Tool (QOL) tool. Any activities selected for QOL should be released unless another error is identified.

If the workflow is unavailable or not working, go to Step 2.

To cancel CP or CA at the carer level take the following action in the carer's record using Customer First.

• Go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen and code the following fields:
• Service Reason: 'CAR' (for CP) or 'CDA' (for CA)
• Action: 'SUS - Suspend' or 'CAN - Cancel'
• Reason: 'IMP - Imprisonment'
• Effect Date: This is the date after the carer is confined
• Code Source and Receipt Date fields
• Select Submit Change
• Go to the AR screen and finalise the activity
• DOC the cancellation on the carer's record

CP customers who have their payment reduced to nil due to income (including their own income from employment or self-employment), may be eligible to have their payment suspended instead of cancelled.

Has the customer’s CP already been cancelled?

• Yes, and the cancellation reason is:
• 12F - Earnings preclude for 12 consecutive f/n, go to Step 3
• INC - Excess income, go to Step 4
• No, go to Step 2

If a started activity is showing a cancellation on the Assessment Results (AR) screen or Entitlements (ELD) screen, check that income has been recorded correctly. If it has not been recorded correct make any necessary changes.

If the AR or ELD screens are showing a result of:

• CAR/CAN-12F, go to Step 3
• CAR/CAN-INC, go to Step 4

Carers who have employment income which precludes them from payment are eligible to enter an employment income nil rate period for up to 12 fortnights (24 weeks).

If the carer’s income still precludes them from payment at the end of the employment income nil rate period, they may be eligible to have their Carer Payment suspended. The suspension period is for a maximum of 26 weeks, starting from the day CP was reduced to nil.

To assess if the carer is eligible for an extended suspension, go to Step 5

Does the carer have any self-employment income coded on the Real Estate Business (REBS) screen for themself (not their partner)?

Note: self-employment income will show with type codes NPT, FPT, NST, FST or ROC.

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, the carer is not eligible to enter a suspension. Cancellation for reason ‘INC - Excess income’ is correct. If the activity resulting in cancellation has not been finalised, make sure that all necessary updates have been coded and finalise the activity. Procedure ends here

Service Officers can only suspend CP if the carer resides in Australia and meets all other eligibility criteria.

Note: carers can be considered to meet the eligibility criteria for income if they entered an employment income nil rate period. To determine if the customer resides in Australia, see Assessing if a customer is an Australian resident.

Is the customer residing in Australia?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, the carer is not eligible to enter a suspension. If the activity resulting in cancellation has not been finalised, make sure that all necessary updates have been coded and finalise the activity. Procedure ends here

Make updates in the carer's record. If CP has already been cancelled, run the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow.

If the workflow does not work or the cancellation result is in a started activity, code the suspension manually. For manual coding instructions, go to Step 7.

In the Carer cancellation and suspension workflow, under Carer Payment select:

• Reason: IPE: Emp/Self Emp Inc Preclude Entitlement
• Action: Suspend
• Date of Effect: the same Date of Event the cancellation of 12F or INC was applied
• select Continue

Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen

Tell the carer:

• the outcome
• about their review and appeal rights, and
• how they can request a restoration. If the carer also receives CA and they are no longer exempt from the CA income test, the carer will be notified to complete the review

The workflow should automatically create a suspension DOC on the Document List (DL) screen. If this does not occur, record details on a DOC in the carer's record using the Fast Note Auto text Generic > SUS/CAN/RES > Suspend Cancel reason. Update the Act Ref to s95CA. The decision to suspend CP is made under Section 95CA of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Note: if a customer has received Crisis Payment and a change has occurred, a manual reassessment of Crisis Payment may be required. See Reviewing and reassessing Crisis Payment (CrP).

Procedure ends here.

Code the suspension manually on the Benefit Action (BA) screen. In the following fields, key:

• Service Reason: 'CAR'
• Action: 'SUS'
• Reason: 'IPE'
• Effect Date: The same Date of event (DOV) the cancellation of 12F or INC was applied

Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen

Tell the carer:

• the outcome
• their review and appeal rights and
• about any other payments they may qualify to receive. If the carer also receives CA and they are no longer exempt from the CA income test, a CA income review is required and will automatically create. If so, the carer will be notified to complete the review

Record details on a DOC in the carer's record using the Fast Note Auto text Generic > SUS/CAN/RES > Suspend Cancel reason. Update the Act Ref to s95CA. The decision to suspend CP is made under Section 95CA of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Note: if a customer has received Crisis Payment and a change has occurred, a manual reassessment of Crisis Payment may be required. For more details, see Reviewing and reassessing Crisis Payment (CrP).