Age Pension (Blind) transfer provisions 065-04010000

These steps are specific to Age Pension (Blind).

If a customer contacts to transfer to Age Pension (Blind) and they are in receipt of:

• Disability Support Pension (Blind), go to Step 2
• Age Pension or any other Income Support payment, go to Step 3

Note: for transfers from other payments the customer must be within 13 weeks or already of Age Pension age.

The 'Blind' status has already been updated in the Pension Disability Information (PDI) screen in the customer's record. No additional information is needed to assess eligibility as a Blind customer.

Follow the procedures outlined in Transfer to Age Pension to transfer the customer to Age Pension. The 'Blind' status will automatically transfer the customer to Age Pension (Blind).

Does the customer have a report from either:

• An Ophthalmologist
• An Optometrist who refers to an Ophthalmologist in their report
• Any other source that gives the details asked for in the Request for Ophthalmologist or Optometrist Report (SA013)?
• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, issue the Request for Ophthalmologist/Optometrist Report (SA013). Procedure ends here

SA013s are automatically allocated to skilled Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Age Processing Smart Centre staff.

If the customer enquires about the progress of an SA013:

• Advise the customer the form will be assessed by a skilled officer and they will be advised of the outcome in writing. Procedure ends here.
• If customer requests urgent processing of the SA013, see Immediate new claim and non-new claim priority processing

For Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Age Processing staff, go to Step 5

Does the customer meet the criteria for permanent blindness and qualify for Age Pension (Blind)?

• Yes, permanent blindness is coded on the Pensions Disability Information (PDI) screen. Go to Step 6
• No, go to Step 9

To code PDI if:

• updating blind details within the Transfer to Age claim, go to Step 7
• customer is already on Age Pension, update blind details in Customer First, go to Step 8

PDI can be selected from the Task Selector on the SWE screen or type PDI in the Super Key.

The PDI screen contains details in relation to the customer’s impairment and exemptions that may apply.

• Event date – the date the customer requested the transfer to Blind or the date of eligibility, whichever is the later. The date can be selected by keying the date into the field or using the Calendar
• Blind Indicator ‘Y’ for Yes
• Blind income and assets exempt
• Severely disabled code

The PDI screen is not pre-populated from the Transfer to Age claim. Verification will be triggered for the customer to supply as part of the claim lodgement process. Check the verification against the claim summary and update within the claim if needed.

• Select Add to insert a new row for coding the provisional details
• If more than 1 date of event needs to be recorded, select Add to create additional rows
• Provisional details can be changed by coding over the information or deleting

Finalise activity and record details on a DOC. Note: the finalisation screen may not indicate that the transfer to Age Pension (Blind) has occurred. However when the activity is finalised the Benefit Status Line will show AGB/CUR.

Go to Step 9

Go to the Pension Disability Information (PDI) screen to update the Blind status. Code the following details:

Continuing inability to work (CITW)/Blind Residence

• Event Date: date when the customer requested the transfer to Blind or the date of eligibility, whichever is later
• 'AUS' permanent blindness occurred while the customer was a resident of Australia
• 'OVE' permanent blindness occurred while the customer was a resident of another country (Australia)

Pension Disability Information

• Event Date: this should be the date the customer requested the transfer to Blind or the date of eligibility whichever is the later
• Blind Ind: 'Y' for yes

Blind - Income & Assets Exempt

• 'Y'es, for income and assets not declared. The pension will be limited to the basic rate plus supplement
• 'N'o, for income and assets declared. If customer wishes to claim additional pension for example, Rent Assistance, or if they have a partner also on a payment who is not blind, then income and assets need to be declared. The customer will receive income and asset reviews just like any other pensioner
• Severely Disabled Code: 'Yes'
• For change of circumstances, add Source: and DOR: (date of receipt). Note: where the customer is currently receiving Age Pension, use the date the customer contacted about Age Pension (Blind) as long as verification of blindness was provided within a reasonable time

Finalise activity and record details on a DOC. Note: the finalisation screen may not indicate that the transfer to Age Pension (Blind) has occurred. However when the activity is finalised the Benefit Status Line will show AGB/CUR.

If the customer does not qualify for Age Pension (Blind), action the following:

• Make 2 attempts to contact the customer, at different times on the same day where possible prior to finalising the rejection. Where applicable, send a pre-call SMS prior to making contact
• Tell the customer of their review and appeal rights
• Issue a Q134 letter to advise the full reasons for the rejection of the Age Pension (Blind) assessment. Include the appeal option in the letter as an unfavourable decision has been made. See Requesting information (CLK)
• Record full details on a DOC

Current Age Pension customers will remain on Age Pension. Consider options for customers on other income support payments.