BasicsCard changing daily spend, maximum card balance limits and allocation method 103-01230090

A customer/payment nominee can request to vary their BasicsCard allocation method, daily spend limit and/or maximum card balance to suit their spending needs.

Prior to any changes being processed, a customer must provide consent. Under no circumstances should a customer be forced into a change.

Daily Spend Limit: A customer can request to set this limit between $20 and $1500. If the BasicsCard daily spend limit is reached for a 24 hour period (midnight to midnight), the customer will be required to wait until midnight before the daily spend limit resets and additional purchases using their BasicsCard can be made.

Maximum Card Balance: A customer can request to set this limit between $100 and $3000.

A customer may request to lower the daily spend or maximum card balance limits of their BasicsCard, however, if that customer is deemed as 'vulnerable', appropriate referrals should be made.

While there is no longer a requirement for a Service Officer to make contact with a Service Officer from the customer's local office or a senior officer involved in the initial decrease of the limits, Service Officer should ensure a full assessment of the customer's circumstances is undertaken and any appropriate referrals made.

From 13 June 2016 there will be changes to the way customers receive funds to their BasicsCard. All customers will be transitioned onto one of two models – the Residual Payment method or the Partial Payment method.

Customers are able to change their BasicsCard allocation method by contacting the agency.

Customers can also allocate funds to their BasicsCard through online services or by contacting Services Australia. See Coding Income Management Expenses for more information on allocating funds to the BasicsCard.

Many income managed customers are vulnerable and require specialist assistance such as an Interpreter, Indigenous Service Officer or Social Worker. To determine if a customer would be assessed as 'vulnerable' and require further assistance, check the following:

• Display on Access (DOA) DOC
• evidence of recent social work contact
• evidence of recent injury or medical treatment
• customer is very young or very old
• customer has language difficulties
• lots of other people are interested in the customer's finances
• large amounts of unallocated funds
• evidence of lack of understanding about Income Management
• evidence of a lack of financial literacy or consumer issues/rights, particularly when the customer is making a large one-off purchase

These indicators will assist Service Officers to determine when a referral for specialist assistance such as an interpreter, Indigenous Service Officer or social worker is required.