Restoration of Mobility Allowance (MOB) 008-05070020

Restoration of Mobility Allowance (MOB) may be possible when a customer’s ongoing eligibility for payment has been re-established after the payment has been suspended or cancelled.

Continuing eligibility must be established. Any changes in the customers circumstances must be recorded before restoring the payment to avoid incorrect arrears being generated.

Note: where a customer is in receipt of MOB HCC only and the HCC has been cancelled, it cannot be restored. The customer can re-claim MOB if their NDIS package of support ceases. See Claiming Mobility Allowance (MOB).

Restoration of MOB without a claim may be appropriate when a customer’s payment is suspended or cancelled.

Payment can be restored if the date of suspension is within 13 weeks and no other circumstances have changed, and MOB was suspended for the reason:

• Fail to reply to correspondence (FRC)
• Extension Period Overseas Ended (EPE)
• Customer Gone Overseas Without Notifying (GWN)
• Rent Assistance Portability Review (GWR), or
• Customer Overseas for 6 weeks (06W)

If MOB has been suspended, the payment can be restored once the reason for the suspension has been resolved (for example, the forms have been lodged or new address details given).

When a suspension action is followed by a cancellation:

• the customer is cancelled from the date of suspension, and
• any restoration action will occur from the date of cancellation

Note: a customer can continue to receive MOB at the higher rate if all the following apply:

• their Disability Support Pension (DSP), Parenting Payment (PP), JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Youth Allowance (YA) (job seeker) was cancelled (or suspended if DSP) due to employment income or an increase in hours worked
• they continue to work 15 hours or more per week
• they continue to satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for MOB, and
• they do not receive any other income support payment

If a customer no longer satisfies the eligibility requirements for MOB, payment of MOB may continue for a POG after the disqualifying event.

The length of the POG depends on the customers circumstances and can apply for:

• 2 weeks, or
• 12 weeks

When the customer is in a POG, MOB can be restored if:

• the customer has recommenced or changed their qualifying activity within the POG period, and
• evidence has been supplied and/or job plan has been updated with MOB qualifying activities

Evidence can be:

• a letter from the employer with the relevant details
• Mobility Allowance: Verification of work (including voluntary work), and
• looking for work activities (MA005E), or
• Mobility Allowance Verification of training (MA005T)
• an updated job plan with relevant MOB qualifying activity details

When a current qualifying activity cannot be verified, MOB will be cancelled and the customer will need to reclaim.

For more information about the POG, see Cancellation and Period of Grace for Mobility Allowance (MOB).

In most cases, a payment cannot be restored if it is more than 13 weeks after the customer was notified of the decisions to cancel or suspend. The customer must test their eligibility and reclaim the payment.

A new claim is needed if MOB is cancelled for the specific portability reason codes:

• Extension Period Overseas Ended (EPE)
• Customer Gone Overseas Without Notifying (GWN)
• Rent Assistance Portability Review (GWR), or
• Customer Overseas for 6 weeks (06W)

If MOB has been suspended or cancelled whereabouts unknown (WUK):

• Payment can be restored with arrears payable if the customer has remained eligible for MOB for the time they were suspended/cancelled
• The date of effect of the restoration resulting from review of the decision to suspend/cancel is the date of the original decision (date of suspension/cancellation).The References page contains links to the relevant legislation
• Each customer’s circumstances must be reviewed to decide if:
• their circumstances would have meant they received advice of the decision to suspend/cancel
• they stayed eligible during the period, and
• they are eligible to receive arrears when restored
• Payment can be restored even when the customer contacts more than 13 weeks after the decision to suspend or cancel:
• Customers are considered not to have received advice of the decision to suspend/cancel, as they were not at their known address and/or advice of the decision was returned to Services Australia