Using a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) report to determine payment type 008-06070050

A JCA report is received at the new claim stage or when a review is conducted to determine continuing eligibility for a payment.

Consider the JCA report with all other available information. For example DOCs and the electronic Medical/Sensitive Information File Envelope (eMIFE).

Check the report to make sure it is complete and accurate and the information can be used to make a decision.

The Assessor will note in the Medical Conditions section whether the customer’s medical condition prevents them from using public transport without substantial assistance.

Does the customer require substantial assistance?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, go to Step 4

Check if the customer is receiving MOB.

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, this question is only a trigger to consider possible eligibility for MOB. This may form part of any DSP Service Offer Interview discussion

The JCA report indicates if the functional impact of a condition (illness, injury or disability) is likely to persist for more than 2 years or is likely to persist for less than 2 years.

The JCA provides an assessment of the customer's current capacity to work and their capacity to work within or after 24 months.

Is the functional impact of the condition likely to persist for less than 2 years or likely to persist for more than 2 years?

• Persist for less than 2 years, go to Step 6
• Persist for more than 2 years, see Step 1 in Table 2

The customer may be eligible for JobSeeker Payment (JSP) (Incapacitated) if they are 22 or over, or Youth Allowance (YA) if they are 21 or under.

Assess mutual obligation requirements based on the report.

Customers unable to work for 8 or more hours per week and unable to undertake another appropriate activity may be exempt from their mutual obligation requirements.

Customers presenting with a temporary medical condition likely to improve within 2 years are to be classified as job seekers if the report indicates:

• the customer is able to work for 8 or more hours per week, or
• the illness, injury or disability is expected to improve or resolve within 2 years

A customer can satisfy their mutual obligation requirements by looking for 8 or more hours of suitable work per week. An unemployed customer who has a capacity to work for 8 or more hours per week should be encouraged to remain in the labour market through modified mutual obligation requirements and referrals to appropriate programs of assistance.

Relevant follow up action should be undertaken if the customer wishes to test their eligibility for one of these payments.

Check the bandwidth noted in the JCA report for baseline work capacity and work capacity with intervention.

If the customer can or is expected to be able to work:

• more than 15 hours but less than 30 hours per week in the next 2 years, go to Step 2
• more than 30 hours per week in the next 2 years, go to Step 3
• less than 15 hours per week in the next 2 years, go to Step 4

The customer has been identified as having a partial capacity to work. Unless they are manifestly medically eligible, they are not eligible for Disability Support Pension (DSP) as they have capacity to work more than 15 hours per week within the next 2 years.

They can claim JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Youth Allowance (YA) if no other payment is suitable. Mutual obligation requirements are based on the work capacity bandwidth hours.

See Job seekers with a partial capacity to work or a temporary reduced work capacity.

Procedure ends here.

The customer does not have a partial capacity to work as they have a work capacity of 30 hours within the next 2 years.

They can claim JobSeeker Payment (JSP)/Youth Allowance (YA) if no other payment is suitable. Their mutual obligation requirements may be reduced for a temporary period.

See Assessing a job seeker’s mutual obligation requirements based on Employment Services Assessment (ESAt)/Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) reports.

Procedure ends here.

Customer may be eligible for Disability Support Pension (DSP) as the work capacity bandwidths indicate they have a Continuing Ability To Work (CITW).

For DSP eligibility, medical conditions that are likely to persist for more than 2 years, must be verified by medical evidence and assessed as diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised (DTS).

The Assessor assigns an impairment rating to these medical conditions from the Impairment tables.

Consider DSP if an impairment rating is 20 points or higher and the customer meets the continuing inability to work assessment.

If the customer is 21 years or under, they may also be eligible for the Youth Disability Supplement (YDS).

Does the customer have a current DSP new claim or medial review to process?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 6

If there is a current DSP new claim or medical review to process, does the JCA report indicate the customer meets manifest medical criteria?

• Yes, process the DSP new claim or review
• No, organise a Disability Medical Assessment (DMA) referral

Procedure ends here.

It is not appropriate to invite a claim for DSP just because the customer has a medical condition that are likely to persist for more than 2 years. Customers should only be invited to claim DSP if there is clear evidence they are likely to meet all medical eligibility criteria.

Valid sources of evidence include:

• a recommendation in a JCA, Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) or Disability Medical Assessment (DMA)
• health and allied health professional advice from Assessment Services or the Health Professional Advisory Unit (HPAU) specifies medical eligibility, or
• evidence that the customer is manifestly eligible such as where they are terminally ill or have a list 1 condition

To invite a claim for DSP and for follow-up action, see Claiming DSP.