What to do with an absence Manual Follow-up (MFU) 009-06010080

Carer Payment (CP) and Carer Allowance (CA) carers have up to 63 days per calendar year where they can be temporarily absent from the caring situation but still qualify for payment. This is called a 'respite' absence.

Carers caring for an adult 16 years and older, are also allowed 63 days when the care receiver is receiving care in hospital and the carer is participating in that care. This is called a 'hospitalisation' absence.

When an absence has been recorded by the Australian Government agency Services Australia for a period that brings the cumulative total of absence days of the relevant type to more than 63, a Manual Follow-up (MFU) activity is created. This procedure helps Service Officers action the MFU.

The MFU is created on the carer's record 14 days before the 63 days are due to expire. The MFU is a reminder for the Service Officer to contact the carer to advise that their payment will be affected by the temporary absence within a fortnight.

When the details of an absence are recorded that is nearing or would exceed a threshold, messages will be displayed to prompt the Service Officer to discuss options with the carer. Messages will not appear if the balance of respite days is equivalent to the number of days left in the calendar year ending 31 December. When an MFU is created, and details of a discussion are already recorded, further action may not be required.

The consequence to a carer when their absences exceed 63 days in a calendar year depend on the circumstances. Generally, payment would be cancelled, as the carer no longer meets the qualification provisions.

The Australian Government agency Services Australia has the discretion to extend the period of respite in special circumstances. If a special reason exists, a carer can cease to provide the care receiver with constant care for more than 63 days in a calendar year, and still retain qualification.

A special reason is determined by an APS 5/6 level officer. A special reason would not exist if the carer simply chose to extend a holiday beyond 63 days. The APS5 does not have to occupy any particular position to have the delegation for this decision, but will usually be the supervisor of the Processing Service Officer actioning the review.

Generally, a decision to continue payment would only be made if the reason for ceasing care was outside the control of the carer and consistent with the need for, and provision of, personal care and attention. It should be clear in these situations that a return to care at the required level can be expected after a definite period and that the carer will resume providing the care.

Hospitalisation cannot be extended beyond 63 days. However, if the absence continues after the expiry of the hospitalisation days the carer's remaining temporary cessation of care (respite) days, if any, can be used to allow continuation of payment.

Regular absence rules do not apply to CP (XWP) - Carer Payment (CP) that is paid under grandfathering provisions for ceased Wife Pension carers. However regular absence rules continue to apply to CA as normal. This means CP (XWP) carers who are not providing additional care and attention each day as the care receiver is absent, can continue to be paid CA by using their TCC (respite and hospitalisation) days for CA. Absence codes that relate only to CP should not be recorded for any TCC days for a carer receiving CP(XWP). Absence MFUs for CP (XWP) carers only apply to their CA.

When a CP (XWP) carer's only or last payment level CA is suspended or cancelled for any reason or changed to CA HCC only, CP (XWP) will be automatically cancelled. A carer loses their qualification for CP (XWP) permanently if payment level CA is not reinstated with out a gap in entitlement.

For more information about these rules for CA see, Transfer from Wife Pension (WP) to Carer Payment (CP).