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Customers overseas on 20 September 2000 061-01030000

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This page contains information on identifying if a customer is paid under 20 September 2000 portability rules and action to be taken when an affected customer returns to Australia.

Saving provisions under pre-20 September 2000

Customer under the saving provisions returns to Australia

This table describes the information on identifying when a customer is saved under the pre-20 September 2000 portability rules and what happens when a customer is saved under these provisions returns to Australia.

Item

Description

1

How to identify when a customer is 'saved' under the pre-20 September 2000 portability rules + Read more ...

An identifying code is recorded on the Pensions Savings Provisions and Entitlements (PSV) screen. This indicator will automatically be deleted if the customer record is updated to show that the customer has returned to Australia for more than 26 weeks.

While the code is present, the customer must have all the existing pre 20 September 2000 portability rules applied.

2

What happens when a customer 'saved' under the pre-20 September 2000 portability rules returns to Australia + Read more ...

Issue Letter

Any customer returning to Australia must have a 'Client has returned/is returning from o/s. Call in to office' (XOB005) letter issued. This letter has an option available which will ensure that Centrelink correctly advises of any disadvantage caused by the customer remaining in Australia for more than 26 weeks.

Customers who return to Australia can only be paid Pharmaceutical Allowance (PhA), Rent Assistance (RA) if qualified, Telephone Allowance (TAL) if qualified, Remote Area Allowance (RAA) if qualified and be issued concession cards if the customer is a resident of Australia. This includes temporarily absent residents who return to Australia for brief periods.

For example, a customer who is temporarily absent from Australia for the past 12 months returns for one week over Christmas is entitled to the additional payments and concession cards. However, a person who has been absent from Australia since 1998, for example, would not be considered temporarily absent in most cases and therefore would not be entitled to these add-ons if they were to return to Australia for a temporary visit.

The Country of Residence (CRES) screen should not be changed to Australia just because the customer has temporarily returned to Australia. If a customer who has been absent from Australia for years has temporarily returned to Australia and the CRES screen shows that they are still an Australian resident, the record should be updated to reflect the correct overseas country of residence.

If a proportional rate is being paid, the record must be updated as soon as possible as the rate is no longer proportional from the date of return to Australia, unless the payment is made under an International Agreement.

If the customer again leaves Australia within 26 weeks of their arrival and is therefore still 'saved' under the pre 20 September portability rules they will not receive any add-ons (PhA, RA, RAA or TAL) even if that subsequent departure is temporary.