Request an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) 001-02330010

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Question and answers

1

Question: What medical evidence is required to support an ESAt that includes the assessment of medical conditions?

Answer: Where a request for an ESAt is required to assess a job seeker's medical conditions, the request should not be made until all current and relevant medical evidence has been provided, and recorded in the electronic Medical Information File Envelope (eMIFE). If there is insufficient medical evidence to conduct an assessment the job seeker should be asked to provide this as soon as possible. A Verification of medical condition(s) (SU684) form completed by the job seeker's health professional will provide sufficient evidence for an ESAt.

Current and relevant medical information already on the job seeker's record may be considered. This would generally be medical evidence from a medical practitioner provided within the past 2 years, including details about the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the medical conditions, which are significantly affecting the job seeker's ability to work or look for work.

Examples of medical evidence needed for an ESAt are:

• Verification of medical condition(s) (SU684) form, and/or
• Letters from the job seeker's treating health professional, specialist reports or hospital reports
• Other written medical evidence that provides information about the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment details of a medical condition

If no new evidence is provided by the customer, the Service Officer must check the job seeker's record to see if there is enough existing evidence to support the request for an ESAt. Examples of when medical evidence exists on the job seeker's record:

• Medical evidence that is submitted electronically (SU683)
• Medical reports and medical certificates recently provided and scanned on the job seeker's record

2

Question: When is a back scan of the historical Medical Information File Envelope (eMIFE) required?

Answer: If current and relevant medical evidence was provided before 1 July 2010, and the job seeker has not had an ESAt or Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) since then, request a back scan of the historical paper MIFE. A back scan is not required if the historical medical evidence clearly does not relate to the current medical condition(s).

Use the Records Management service request web form to request a historical eMIFE back scan.

Screens to check if historical information may be relevant:

• Medical Conditions Summary (MCSS) screen - will show:
• if any previous ESAts or JCAs were conducted
• any conditions which were assessed as temporary (likely to persist for less than 2 years), permanent (likely to persist for more than 2 years) Diagnosed, Reasonably Treated and Stabilised (DTS) or not DTS
• historical information on the customer's lodgement of medical certificates
• Pension Status History (PNSH) screen - will show if the job seeker has previously tested their eligibility for Disability Support Pension (DSP). It gives brief information about whether the claim was granted or rejected, the date, and the reason if rejected

See Scanning Centrelink medical/sensitive documents using an MFD.

3

Question: What information must be given to the job seeker regarding their ESAt appointment?

Answer: the following essential information must be discussed with the job seeker when a request for an ESAt is made:

• The purpose of the request for an ESAt
• All ESAt requests are reviewed and they do not always result in an appointment being made
• If an ESAt appointment is booked by Assessment Services:
• the consequences of non-attendance (for example, suspension of payments for jobseekers)
• to contact Assessment Services on the number provided on their appointment letter to reschedule or cancel their appointment
• Disclosing all barriers to employment including disability or mental health issues will help to make sure they receive the most appropriate assistance
• They can have a nominee, including a family member, advocate, social worker or counsellor attend the interview
• They are strongly encouraged to research Employment Services Providers at workforceaustralia.gov.au or jobaccess.gov.au before their ESAt appointment. They may be asked to choose either a Workforce Australia or Disability Employment Services (DES) provider