Adjusting and adding debt repayments 107-05140010

Example

Description

Adjusting debt repayments using the Debt Transfer Details

(OPRTD) screen.

Example

An Authorised Review Officer (ARO) advises Debt Staff to implement a decision to waive a finalised debt and refund receipted repayments. The waiver cannot be actioned unless the debt is Determined:

• Debt Staff will use the Process page of Refunding debt repayments
• Debt Staff will start the refund to reduce a repayment down by $0.01 using the OPRTD screen
• This will return the debt to Determined and allow the waiver to be actioned
• After the waiver is actioned, the Debt Staff will continue the refund using the OPRTD screen for the remaining over recovered amount of $144.99
• The OPRH screen will now display two negative transactions, one for -$0.01c and one for -$144.99
• The Debt Staff will complete the refund to pay the full amount of $145 using the PYAJ screen

Adjusting debt repayments using the Adjust Repayment History (OPAH) screen.

Example 1

An Authorised Review Officer (ARO) advises Debt Staff to implement a decision to waive a finalised debt and transfer or refund receipted repayments. The waiver cannot be actioned unless the debt is Determined:

• Debt Staff will adjust a repayment on the finalised debt down by $0.01 using the OPAH screen. ($145.00 repayment to $144.99)
• This will return the debt to Determined and allow the waiver to be actioned
• After the waiver is actioned, Debt Staff will reverse the $0.01 adjustment using the OPAH screen
• Debt Staff will now be able to transfer or refund the correct amount

Adjusting debt repayments using the Adjust Repayment History (OPAH) screen.

Example 2

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) arrears incorrectly generates. This pays $2,500 to the customer’s bank account and allocates $2,500 to the customer’s debt.

ICT process a Stop Payment to block the $2,500 from paying to the bank account. This does not stop the $2,500 from allocating to the debt.

Debt Staff will adjust the incorrect FTB arrears repayment to $0.00 using the OPAH screen.

Adding debt repayments using the Add Repayment (OPAR) screen.

Example 1

Services Australia has an agreement with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). DVA may withhold from the customer’s DVA payment to repay a Centrelink debt.

This repayment will credit automatically. Alternatively, Debt Staff will manually credit the repayment via the Add Repayment (OPAR) screen. The Payments and Integrity Operations Strategy team will allocate this Work Item, along with additional instruction.

Adding debt repayments using the Add Repayment (OPAR) screen. Example 2

Debt Staff incorrectly refunds an over recovered amount and intends to reissue the refund correctly. ICT will stop the refund and adjust the PS screen.

An Approved Delegate with the required access will add the over recovered repayment(s) to the same debt via the Add Repayment (OPAR) screen. This action will return the debt balance back to over recovered. Debt Staff will then repeat the refund process, coding Debt Transfer Details (OPRTD) screen and Payment adjust (PYAJ) screen again.

Consultation and Referrals

Instructions

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Garnishee

Consult with ATO Garnishee Liaison Officers if an ATO Garnishee causes concern and the issue cannot be resolved locally.

The ATO may confirm with the Liaison Officer that an incorrect tax garnishee has occurred. In these cases, a garnishee repayment needs to be returned to the ATO. Special instructions exist for the return of the funds and will be actioned by the Liaison Officer. See Tax garnishees to recover debts.

Bankruptcy

Refer Work Items to a Bankruptcy Officer if the repayment is a:

• dividend
• repayment on a debt written off under:
• Bankruptcy Pending (BRP),
• Bankruptcy Awaiting Estate (BRT),
• Bankruptcy Discharged, No Further Estate/No Fraud (BRD), or
• Debt Agreement Current (DAC)

To refer Work Items add the ISIS Activity Keyword to the Activity on AL.

Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) withholdings

Consult with DVA Liaison Officers if withholdings from a DVA payment causes concern and the issue cannot be resolved locally.

Family Assistance Offsetting

Seek FAO Offsetting level 2 support by emailing Families and Child Care Level 2 Policy Helpdesk. See Level 2 Policy Helpdesk.

See debt offsetting during family assistance reassessment, reconciliation and claim processing for more information.

Work Items administered by specialist teams

Refer Work Items to Specialist Recovery Teams by:

• re-categorising Work Items in Work Optimiser
• emailing Payments and Integrity Operations Strategy team
• re-allocating Work Items for case managed debts for intensive collections

Unusual repayments

A repayment may be unusual and cause concern. Attempt to resolve the issue locally. If unable to resolve, consult with the Debt Finance Team.