Processing a Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) business application 101-25022138

Before applying for CCeS, businesses must understand and agree to the terms and obligations of the contract. Businesses can to go to the Services Australia website and read the:

• CCeS Policy and Terms
• CCeS Procedural Guide

Businesses need to apply and be approved by Services Australia to access and use CCeS. The business must submit an application with the following forms and documentation by email/fax to National Business Gateway Business Applications:

• Centrelink Confirmation eServices Business Application (SA391) form
• Business Online Services - User details form (SA445) for each individual employee requiring CCeS access, and
• supporting documentation. For example, a copy of their consent record or licence registration

An authorised officer of the business must sign the forms. An authorised officer is a person with the legal authority to act on behalf of the business and enter into a contract with the agency. Note: the SA391 must be signed in writing (digital or electronic signatures are not accepted).

The agency will assess the application under the requirements in the CCeS Policy and Terms to determine if it can be approved to use CCeS. A business may be approved with additional conditions.

See Centrelink Confirmation eServices

In accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, it is mandatory for a business to obtain informed consent from the customer before enquiring into their details and concession entitlement in CCeS. Implied consent cannot be used for CCeS.

Customer consent for CCeS is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time by the customer. Businesses can obtain customer consent in writing, verbally or electronically.

When obtaining consent, businesses must use the standard consent wording available in the CCeS procedural guide and demonstrate they can meet all the consent requirements. A copy of the consent record must be provided by the business when it lodges a business application for the agency's review. If a business wishes to collect consent electronically using an online workflow or portal, screenshots of the proposed consent process must be provided for review before being approved to use CCeS.

See Customer consent for Centrelink Confirmation eService (CCeS).

For each business application assessed, a CCeS BAAW must be completed by the assessor and scanned to the business record.

Before the agency can enter into a contract with a business, it should be confirmed that the business is a legal entity. A legal entity has legal capacity to enter into agreements or contracts, assume obligations, incur and pay debts, sue and be sued in its own right and to be held responsible for its actions.

There are various types of business entities. A business can be:

• a company
• a sole trader
• an incorporated association
• a local, state/territory or Australian Commonwealth government organisation
• a public school and hospital

Some businesses require follow up to ensure the agency is entering into a valid contract, see Legal entities information.

To be eligible for CCeS, a business must be a legal entity with an ABN or ACN providing a concession, rebate or service in relation to goods and services in one of the CCeS business categories listed in the CCeS Policy and Terms.

Businesses must:

• agree to comply with:
• the CCeS Policy and Terms
• all applicable Australian requirements about its activities, and
• any additional conditions imposed on their approval. Additional conditions may be applied to a business on approval of the business application, or at a later date, at the request of a business or the agency. Any additional conditions will be outlined in the approval letter issued to the business and are recorded on the business record in a DOC and in the Contract Management Workflow
• have all the registrations, licenses and accreditations required by any Commonwealth, state, territory or local government
• agree to comply with agency directions regarding the collection, use or disclosure of customer information and have processes in place to ensure compliance with its obligations under relevant secrecy provisions and the Privacy Act 1988
• provide goods and services from a place of business in Australia and have a contact person in Australia

A business will not be approved if:

• it has acted unlawfully or unethically in the past
• it is unlikely to comply with the CCeS Terms, or
• approval would negatively impact on the reputation of the agency

See the CCeS Policy and Terms for details about the eligibility requirements.

A business approved for one CCeS service (for example, Customer Confirmation) may apply for an additional CCeS service (such as Income Confirmation). A new business application must be lodged to request the additional service.

However, if a business requests an additional access method for an existing service that requires a testing exercise, a testing application can be lodged instead of a business application. For example, if a business is approved for Customer Confirmation single enquiry but wants to access Customer Confirmation using batch enquiries or web services.

Note: businesses approved for Customer Confirmation (Centrelink and/or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)) are unable to access the Superannuation Confirmation service.

All businesses with a new Australian Business Number (ABN) and/or Australian Company Number (ACN) must complete and submit a new business application. This is because a change in ABN/ACN can mean there is a change of the legal entity and to the contract with the agency.

Where the only change is the ABN/ACN and all other details (such as the owner, the address and contact details) of the business remain the same, the decision may be made to retain the same Customer Reference Number (CRN):

• assessments to retain the same CRN are completed by a Senior Program Officer in the Third Party Programs (TPP) team. See Updating or adding business details for Deduction and Confirmation programmes and CRN change scenarios to confirm the required actions
• TPP will ensure the consent wording is updated to reflect the correct entity and the current list of Authorised Officers and users are correct

The Resources page contains links to the CCeS Business Application Assessment Worksheet (BAAW), Services Australia website, intranet and other useful external websites.