Transfer and recovery of Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) payment debt 005-06100000

A debt to Services Australia occurs if the customer has received an amount of SRSS payment that they were not entitled to, for example:

• a change in circumstances occurs for a period already paid to the customer and the SRSS payment is reassessed
• loss of entitlement to SRSS payment, such as:
• change of visa status
• relationship status
• care of dependent children
• accommodation
• rent
• left the country
• in prison
• liquid assets over the allowable limit
• income received, such as:
• income from employment
• self-employment
• compensation
• investments
• Administrative or system error

A Department of Home Affairs debt occurs when an SRSS customer is required to repay amounts provided to them by a Department of Home Affairs contracted service provider.

These may include:

• financial loans
• damages to a property
• unpaid utilities bill
• other services

From 9 January 2023, Services Australia no longer undertakes any recovery action in the management of SRSS debts. Services Australia will investigate and where applicable raise SRSS debts and then transfer these debts to the Department of Home Affairs for recovery action.

In situations where an SRSS customer has a current withholding arrangement with Services Australia, this arrangement will cease. The outstanding balance is transferred to Home Affairs to undertake any future recovery action. Services Australia will make contact with the customer to advise them:

• their withholding arrangement has ceased, and
• the outstanding debt has been transferred to Home Affairs for recovery

Money owing to the Department of Home Affairs, will be deducted from the SRSS customer’s payment. Department of Home Affairs will advise Services Australia:

• the debt amount via the data link, and
• the deduction will be automatically applied to the customer's payment

Five per cent (5%) of a customer's total SRSS payment (after the income test is applied) will be deducted each fortnight until:

• the Department of Home Affairs' debt is fully repaid, or
• the customer's SRSS payment is cancelled

Services Australia advises the Department of Home Affairs when the total sum of money has been recovered. This advice will be provided automatically to the Department of Home Affairs via the data link.

The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for managing the details of the debt including:

• notifying the customer they have to repay money, and
• advising the customer when the debt has been paid in full

Refer all enquiries regarding debts to the customer's Department of Home Affairs Service Provider.