JobSeeker Payment (JSP) customer going overseas 001-19051503

Item

Description

1

Travelling to visit a cousin in hospital

JSP customer advises that a cousin is in hospital overseas and wants to confirm if JSP will be portable if they decide to go overseas to visit.

As this relative is not a family member for the purposes of the Social Security Act, the JSP is not portable and payment will stop from the date of departure.

Complete the portability interview and advise customer of decision. Do not transfer to Centrelink International Services (CIS).

2

Child has been kidnapped overseas

JSP customer attends a service centre to advise their child has been kidnapped by armed guerrillas in South-East Asia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFaT) has contacted the customer advising of the situation. The Service Officer has:

• heard about this situation on the news, or
• calls DFAT to confirm

Run the Portability Script - Departures and Returns, which will advise the referral of the customer to Centrelink International Services (CIS) to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as JSP.

3

Naval Reserve training camp

JSP customer advises they are going overseas to attend a training camp for the Australian Naval Reserve. They bring a copy of their letter advising details about the camp with them. They will be absent overseas for 4 weeks.

Run the Portability Script - Departures and Returns, which will advise the referral of the customer to CIS to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as JSP.

4

Adoption of a child from another country

PPP and JSP customers have arranged to adopt a child from Romania. At the interview, they say they expect to be away no more than a month. They have brought letters and legal papers with them to prove the adoption proceedings.

Run the Portability Script - Departures and Returns, which will advise the referral of the customer to CIS to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as JSP.

5

Eligible medical treatment - herbal remedy

JSP customer is going to China to be treated by herbal remedies. The customer's doctor has written a letter advising the particular treatment is not available in Australia and that they are recommending the customer try the treatment.

JSP is not portable for the absence because herbal treatment does not fit the guidelines of eligible medical treatment. Herbal treatment is not considered to be recognised medical treatment and, in this case, the recommendation by the doctor is not relevant.

Complete the portability interview and refer the customer through to Centrelink International Services (CIS).

6

Extending overseas absences - increased portability or a discretionary extension

When a JSP customer travels outside Australia for an approved reason, the Service Officer must give them the minimum reasonable period to enable them to attend to the reason for the absence.

If the customer needs to remain longer, or is unable to return to Australia, only Centrelink International Services (CIS) can extend the portability period (or specific negotiated period) granted to the customer in some circumstances.