Understanding Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) reports 008-06070030

The information contained in the JCA report is used to make an informed decision regarding:

• Eligibility for Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• Assessments for Special Disability Trust and the Supported Wage System
• Eligibility for employment assistance
• Participation or mutual obligation requirements, including:
• whether the customer has a Partial Capacity to Work or a Temporary Reduced Work Capacity
• the impact of vulnerabilities and barriers on capacity to comply with Participation or mutual obligation requirements as part of potential participation failure decision making

The report includes recommendations about:

• whether the customer is manifestly eligible for DSP, if applicable
• the details and nature of a customer's medical conditions, including whether the condition is verified by evidence, likely to persist for less than 2 years or likely to persist for more than 2 years, and diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised (DTS)
• impairment ratings for medical conditions likely to persist for more than 2 years, if required
• whether the customer has actively participated in a Program of Support (POS), if required
• work capacity in bandwidth hours
• a referral to suitable employment services
• whether a customer is unable to use public transport without substantial assistance (to identify possible eligibility for Mobility Allowance)
• a customer's vulnerabilities or barriers in relation to employment
• determining whether a Vulnerability Indicator should be recorded on a customer's record
• suitable interventions to assist them to overcome those barriers

Where a JCA indicates potential eligibility for DSP, a referral to a Disability Medical Assessment (DMA) with a Government-contracted Doctor (GCD) is required to verify medical eligibility unless the person is assessed as manifestly eligible.

Assessors use Impairment Tables when completing assessments for Disability Support Pension (DSP).

From 1 April 2023, a new version of Impairment Tables was introduced, which include changes to terminology. 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. The date of a DSP claim determines which version of the Impairment Tables, and associated terminology is used in the JCA report.

The status of the JCA report is displayed on the customer's record to enable tracking of report progress. The types of status displayed are:

• New
• In Progress
• On Hold
• Submitted
• Reopened
• Returned
• Unable To Complete
• Finalised

The JCA report is completed by the Assessor and is electronically submitted for acceptance.

When the report is submitted by the Assessor, it needs to be checked and actioned to determine if it is to be accepted or returned.

For more information about manual checking of JCA reports, see Checking and actioning a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) report.