Restricted Direct Payments (RDP) 103-01050110

A Restricted Direct Payment (RDP) is a payment issued when the standard Income Management payment methods such as BasicsCard, deduction or one-off payment to a Third Party Organisation cannot be used. Usually the only option for the customer is to pay for the expense by cash. Restricted Direct Payments should only be granted in exceptional circumstances and are assessed and approved by the Income Management Helpdesk, or by the National Business Gateway (NBG).

An RDP is available to income managed customers under any measure.

This payment should not be confused with an Unrestricted Cash Payment (UCP), which allows for an approved amount of the person's income managed funds to be available for their discretionary use.

Access to process RDPs is restricted. The Income Management Helpdesk will determine if an RDP is payable, and the National Business Gateway (NBG) will process the payment.

Income Management continues (subject to usual payment portability) when a customer travels anywhere within Australia or overseas.

During the period of travel, particularly when travelling overseas, it may be necessary for a portion of the customer's income managed funds to be paid directly to them by way of an RDP. When determining if this is the most appropriate option, Service Officers must consider:

• the reason for travel
• if the customer's dependents are travelling with them
• if dependents are not travelling with the customer, how are the priority needs of their dependents going to be met whilst the customer is travelling, and
• how the customer's priority needs are being met, including any ongoing payments that need to be made while they are travelling (for example, rent and utilities)