Disability Support Pension (DSP) severely disabled assessments for International Agreements 008-03120010

Agreements may allow customers to be granted DSP when they would not be able to lodge or be entitled autonomously, or continue to be paid if they are no longer entitled when they move from their country of location if they are going to an agreement country that covers DSP.

Arrangements under the Agreements with the Netherlands and New Zealand may require a severely disabled assessment to be made for the purpose of a claim for an invalidity pension from those countries.

Generally, a customer must be severely disabled to be paid DSP under an agreement.

Note:

• there may be other conditions that need to be met before a customer can be granted DSP under an International Social Security Agreement
• customers must also meet the transfer requirements before they can transfer to an agreement to continue to be paid

Once a customer is paid under an agreement, they are subject to the provisions of the agreement including altered portability conditions or rate of payment.

An assessment as to whether a DSP customer is considered severely disabled is generally needed when the customer needs to use an international social security agreement. Severely disabled assessments can only be made by specialist officers in Centrelink International Services (CIS).

A customer may need a severely disabled assessment:

• when their entitlement ceases after leaving their country of location and the customer is going to an agreement country that covers DSP
• when claiming DSP under an international agreement, or
• for foreign pension invalidity claims from the Netherlands or New Zealand

In general, severely disabled assessments may be made on the basis of any current and valid assessment of the customer's work capacity.

If possible, portability cases in Australia are first assessed under the 'no future work capacity' portability provisions. If required, severely disabled decisions may be made using the information obtained in that process.

Agreed forms for DSP new claims outside Australia under agreements are detailed in the relevant country file in International Social Security Agreements.

Medical assessments for Australian DSP claims or portability purposes may be requested from agreement country authorities via Agreement liaisons, NZ CICs and exchange of information.

Agreed forms and processes for medical assessments for foreign pensions are detailed in Foreign pension medical assessments.

DSP claims

Claims under agreements made inside Australia use the normal claim process including referral for a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) and Disability Medical Assessment (DMA)

Claims under agreements made outside Australia have specifically agreed forms and a process for medical assessments and are not required to undergo a JCA or a DMA.

Transfers to agreements

In general, if a severely disabled assessment is required, the customer is to be referred for a JCA unless:

• the customer has been assessed by CIS as severely disabled within the previous 2 years and has had no change in circumstances since, or
• the customer meets the manifest criteria for DSP, or
• there is a current and valid assessment of the customer's work capacity

Under agreed arrangements, medical assessments may be undertaken in some agreement countries. This will usually mean significant delays in making the severely disabled decision.

A DMA is not required where an assessment is being made for a customer currently receiving DSP. DMAs are only required for DSP new claims or review of original decision of a claim.

Foreign pension assessments

Severely disabled decisions required for foreign pensions from the Netherlands and New Zealand generally arise from Australian new claims where sufficient medical evidence is available, including a JCA.

A DMA is not required where an assessment is being made for a customer currently receiving DSP. DMAs are only required for DSP new claims or review of original decision of a claim.

Where recent medical evidence is not available, Centrelink International Services (CIS) is responsible to obtain sufficient information for the assessment to be made. Referral to the Health Professionals Advisory Unit (HPAU) to complete the agreed form may also be required.

From 1 April 2023, a new version of Impairment Tables was introduced. The new Tables are used to assess a customer's medical eligibility for all DSP claims lodged on or after this date. See The Impairment Tables.