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

When an absence expiry manual follow-up (MFU) appears on the Activity List (AL) screen, check the Document List (DL) screen to see if a discussion has already taken place with the carer regarding the end of respite or hospitalisation allowances.

If there is no DOC, contact the carer regarding the expiry of respite or hospitalisation care.

Discuss the following with the carer:

• Do they know the end date of the absence?
• Is the end date of the absence after the date on which the allowable absences expire? If so, discuss the circumstances for the absence with the carer, specifically the reason the absence will exceed the allowable absences of that type for the calendar year, with a view to determining if the absence should be extended
• If the total period of temporary respite from care is more than 63 days over the calendar year, payment can continue if there is a special reason. An APS 5 Service Officer determines a special circumstance. 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. For example, a special circumstance would not exist where the carer simply chose to extend a holiday beyond 63 days
• Hospitalisation is limited to 63 days except for care receivers who qualify their carer for Carer Payment (CP) (child) or Carer Allowance (CA) (child), in which case there is no limit to hospitalisation days. However, the 63 day respite limit still applies, and all absences must still be coded

Note: if the absence is due to the CA care receiver undertaking Education, Training or Treatment, the payment may continue at a reduced rate for a child care receiver. See Carer Allowance (CA) child care receiver undertakes education, training or treatment.

Is the allowable absence to be extended beyond the 63 days?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, tell the carer their payment will cancel when the allowable absences have expired. Go to Step 3

Tell the carer:

• to notify Centrelink as soon as the care receiver returns to the carer's care, or when the regular absence has ended
• they will need to re-claim payment at that time. See Cancellation of Carer Allowance (CA)/Carer Payment (CP) where previously re-granted after a cancellation due to exceeding respite bank

Go to Step 5

Go to the AL screen and 'S'elect the MFU.

Code the absence on the Absences Details (ABSN) screen by keying a 'Y' in the Absence Extended field. This ensures that CP and/or CA will not cancel once the absence extends beyond the 63 allowable days per year. If the absence extension indicator is not coded, the payment will cancel at the expiry of the 63 nights of respite, whether the MFU is actioned or not.

For help with the coding see:

• Coding a one-off absence for Carer Allowance (CA)/Carer payment (CP) when the care receiver is absent
• Coding a regular absence for Carer Allowance (CA)/Carer Payment (CP) when the care receiver is absent

Record all details on a DOC in the carer's record, then go to the Assessment Results (AR) screen and complete the activity.