Disbursement interview for Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipients (VWPR) Income Management 103-01180070

Customers can request to attend a Disbursement interview to discuss how they will manage ongoing expenses and how residual funds will be paid when Income Management ends.

If a customer does not attend a Disbursement interview or make contact with the agency when Income Management ends, the Auto Disbursement rules are used.

VWPR Income Management will end when the customer:

• Is no longer receiving a category H welfare payment
• Has an excluded payment nominee for Income Management purposes
• Has been automatically identified for VWPR Income Management and they have:
• Been granted an exclusion from Income Management, or
• Requested to exit Income Management as they no longer have the automatic eligibility trigger (for example, no longer receive the Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) rate of payment, transferred from Youth Allowance (YA) to JobSeeker Payment (JSP))
• Has been assessed for VWPR by a social worker and:
• The Vulnerable Notice expires, or
• A social worker has reviewed the customer's situation and determined the customer is no longer vulnerable, so the Notice is ended

This procedure does not cover the action required if a customer has passed away.

The following will be discussed with customers who request to attend a Disbursement interview:

• If appropriate, how any residual income managed funds will be disbursed, including confirmation of bank details
• Using Centrepay or the Rent Deduction Scheme to meet ongoing expenses
• Eligibility for another measure of Income Management
• Continued use of their BasicsCard for up to 60 days after Income Management ends
• The option to have a payment nominee
• Where to find more information to help manage their finances. A customer can visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/managingmoney for useful information and resources, and
• Offer a referral to Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activities

To prepare for a Disbursement interview, Service Officers should:

• Check whether the customer requires an interpreter. If required refer to Booking an interpreter for an appointment
• Investigate the record to determine whether the customer is eligible for another Income Management measure, or likely to become eligible in the near future
• Check the customer's available Income Management funds
• Check whether the customer has an active BasicsCard and the current balance
• Check the record for any vulnerability indicators as the customer may benefit from a referral to a social worker, and
• Have the relevant communication products on hand (for example, Centrepay information, Nominee forms)