Special Benefit (SpB) reviews 003-08070000
Expand allChecklists
Use these checklists to work through the reviews.
- Special Benefit 13-week review checklist
- Annual Intensive Review checklist
Letters
Services Australia has endorsed the letter or electronic message for use. It is the latest version. Do not use locally produced letters or electronic message.
Letter templates
Customer eligible for another payment
Table 1: these manual letters apply for customers who are eligible for another more appropriate payment in the next 13 weeks. Customers may lodge an early claim. Call the customer to tell them to submit an online claim as soon as possible, and then send the relevant letter. If the customer is considered vulnerable, run Assisted Customer Claim with them.
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NARWP served for other payment Special Benefit may no longer be the best payment for you. Our records show you have now served the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period and may now be eligible for another payment. Special Benefit can only be paid when a person is not eligible for any other payment. What you need to do Please test your eligibility for another payment within 14 days or your Special Benefit will stop. You can check what payments you may be eligible for on Payment Finder. Go to the Services Australia website and search for 'Payment Finder'. |
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Qualifying Residence Period (QRE) served for AGE / DSP Special Benefit may no longer be the best payment for you. Our records show you have now served the Qualifying Residence Period for Age Pension/Disability Support Pension. Special Benefit can only be paid when a person is not eligible for any other payment. What you need to do Please test your eligibility for Age Pension/Disability Support Pension within 14 days or your Special Benefit may stop. You can check what payments you may be eligible for on Payment Finder. Go to the Services Australia website and search for 'Payment Finder'. |
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Australian Citizen Children (ACC) or Australian permanent resident child - custodial parent granted an eligible visa for income support payment Special Benefit may no longer be the best payment for you. Special Benefit can only be paid to an Australian citizen or permanent resident child when their parent/guardian is not eligible for a payment of their own. Our records show your custodial parent/guardian was granted a visa subclass XXX on DD/MM/YYYY. Holders of a subclass XXX visa may qualify for a payment. Your parent/guardian must commence testing their eligibility for a payment within 14 days as your Special Benefit may stop. Your parent/guardian can check what payments they may be eligible for on Payment Finder. Go to the Services Australia website and search for 'Payment Finder'. |
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Under 16 years (USY) turning 16 years within the next 13 weeks Use the following free text when creating a Q888 letter to explain their SpB will stop when they turn 16 and they need to claim YA or ABSTUDY [Delete as appropriate] Your Special Benefit will be paid until (16th birthday minus 1 day). When you turn 16 years of age on DD/MM/YYYY you may be eligible for Youth Allowance/ABSTUDY {Delete inappropriate payment type}, or you may test your eligibility for Disability Support Pension, if applicable. Special Benefit can only be paid when a person is not eligible for any other payment. What you need to do You can apply for Youth Allowance/ABSTUDY 13 weeks before you turn 16 years. You can submit the claim online now, or contact Services Australia for help submitting the claim now, to avoid a delay when you turn 16 years. You can check the appropriate payments you may be eligible for on Payment Finder. Go to the Services Australia website and search for 'Payment Finder'. If you turn 16 and your Special Benefit stops before you are granted another payment, you can contact us for help. |
Customer Studying Full Time
Table 2: use the following free text when creating a Q134 letter to explain the decision to reject SpB payment due to full time study.
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<Description> |
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1 |
You have advised you are studying full time and currently undertaking a (insert degree/course name) with (insert university/institution) and you have (insert the duration, e.g. four years, two semesters etc.) until you complete the course. Special Benefit is not intended as a payment for full time students. Special Benefit recipients can only undertake full time study if the duration of the course is less than 12 months and has been approved by a job provider. Full time tertiary studies such as bachelor degrees can only be approved if the individual only has one semester remaining to complete a tertiary degree. Should your circumstances change you can retest your eligibility for Special Benefit. |
Examples - low and high risk
Table 3: these examples are relevant for 13-week reviews and Annual Intensive Reviews
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Description |
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1 |
Low risk - customer under 16 years The customer has not provided bank statements and has no work history. This customer is low risk as they are unlikely to have more than $5,000 in available funds or any significant assets. Accept the customer’s bank balance declaration, and:
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Low risk - customer is age pension age The customer is 70 years of age. They have not provided all bank account statements. The customer’s and partner’s combined income are SpB and foreign pension only. There is a low risk of this customer’s financial circumstances changing, as they are:
Accept the customer’s bank balance declaration, and:
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High risk - Provisional Partner Visa customer with income The customer works casually, and their partner is self-employed. They provided one bank statement showing a balance of $4,800. They did not provide an additional bank statement or declare an account balance for another account:
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High risk - Temporary Protection Visa customer with undeclared bank account Customer has declared one bank account and provided a bank statement with a balance of $4,000. The statement shows regular transfers titled ‘SAVINGS’ going to another account. If the delegate believes the customer has an additional undeclared account:
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High risk - partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is not getting an income support payment If the customer’s partner is not getting an income support payment, it suggests that the partner maybe receiving income via another means. If the delegate believes the partner has additional undeclared income:
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6 |
Overseas property SpB is a payment of last resort for people who have no others means of support. Any property holdings should be reviewed during SpB reviews. During the review, staff can investigate why the person is holding on to the property, and why they are not receiving rental income, which could alleviate their hardship. Generally, a person would only be granted SpB in this situation if they provided evidence
Family members living in the property is not a consideration for SpB purposes. SpB is not intended to indirectly support family members living overseas. If the customer sold the property and gave some of the proceeds to the family members to help them secure accommodation, the gifting provisions would then affect the customer. SpB is a discretionary payment. Therefore, staff must use discretion in assessing qualification, payability and the rate of SpB. If the overseas property is assessed as an unrealisable asset when granting SpB, consider at the first review if it would be realisable. |