Mobility Allowance (MOB) Employment/Training Reviews 008-10030020
This document outlines information about MOB employment/training reviews (ETR). This procedure explains how to help customers complete the Review of Mobility Allowance (MA0003M) review form and assess continuing eligibility for MOB when the form is returned.
On this page:
Processing Employment/Training review
Mobility Allowance reviews
Table 1
Action | |
Mobility Allowance Employment/Training ReviewIf the customer and/or nominee contacts to:
If a Mobility Allowance trained service officer is allocated a:
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Questions in the MA003MTo remain eligible for MOB, the customer must continue to meet the eligibility for MOB criteria. See Eligibility for Mobility Allowance (MOB). Qualifying Activities Where the customer and/or nominee are enquiring about information required to verify a qualifying activity, see Verification of Mobility Allowance (MOB) activities. Employment Customers receiving the higher rate of MOB based on hours worked must also report their income to verify wages are at or above the relevant minimum wage. While MOB is not income tested, if the hours worked are less than:
If the customer's income support payment is precluded due to income/hours worked, the customer may still be eligible for the higher rate of MOB. Job Search In Process Direct:
Customers participating in Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) satisfy the eligibility requirement for MOB standard rate:
Customers who have an exemption from their JobSeeker Payment (JSP), Youth Allowance (YA) or Parenting Payment (PP) mutual obligation requirements may lose qualification for MOB. See Cancellation and Period of Grace for Mobility Allowance (MOB). Vocational training, voluntary work or an Independent Living/Life Skills course When undertaking vocational training, voluntary work or independent living/ life skills training, customers must also adhere to the 32 hours every 4 weeks on a continuing basis. The hours spent on recreational activities as part of Independent Living/Life Skills training do not count towards the hours for MOB purposes. Customer declaration Customers need to check they have completed the form and read the declaration before signing the review form (electronic signature also acceptable). Note: discuss any concerns about the authenticity of the customer's signature (including electronic signature) with a supervisor and complete a Suspected Fraud referral if appropriate. Do not document specific details of the allegation(s) on the customer's record. Escalate to Level 2 Policy Helpdesk if further assistance is required. | |
Review of Mobility Allowance (MA003M) formReview the MA003M to determine if all required questions have been answered. Verification of qualifying activity When completing the MA003M, the customer and/or nominee may be prompted to provide verification of the customers qualifying activity. Where the MA003M requests verification, see Verification of Mobility Allowance (MOB) activities. Date of Event for Employment/Training reviews When actioning Employment/Training reviews, the Date of Event is the date:
If the Date of Event cannot be determined by the MA003M/MA003RM form or details available on the customer's record, make a genuine attempt to contact the customer and/or nominee to confirm when the change occurred. If the customer cannot confirm the Date of Event and no clear avenue exists to check or verify the details from other sources, use the day the decision is made. MOB Progress of ETR DOC When a customer is selected for an Employment/Training review, staff assessing MOB eligibility must record a DOC to include relevant details related to the assessment and determination of the review. Using the Fast Note workflow, in the Extra Details field enter MOB Progress of ETR. Record the Date of Event determination details on a DOC. Has the customer and/or nominee provided a complete MA003M including verification of qualifying activity where required?
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Further information requiredWhen a customer returns a MA003M form, but the form is incomplete the system will not automatically suspend SNR. Staff must request any missing information from the customer. If an incomplete MA003M form has been provided, make genuine attempts to contact the customer/nominee to request the required information verbally. If contact was successful and the required information has:
If contact was unsuccessful and the work item is:
Customer has not responded to the request for information within the timeframe Check to confirm that the request the customer has not responded to includes:
If the customer has been advised and failed to respond with the required information:
Note: if the customer fails to provide the requested information within 13 weeks of suspension, MOB will cancel automatically. | |
Check MOB statusIf the customer's MOB status is:
Note: automatic suspension or cancellation will occur when a customer fails to return the MA003M. When a customer provides an incomplete MA003M, automatic suspension or cancellation will not occur. |
Processing Employment/Training review
Table 2: for Mobility Allowance Processing Team only.
Action | |
Commence review activityIf there is a MOB/ETR activity in Customer First on the Activity List (AL) screen, select the activity and compete all relevant coding within the existing activity. In Customer First:
Where there is no MOB/ETR activity on the AL screen in Customer First, code the updates in a new activity. Eligibility for MOB When assessing a MOB ETR, the customer must continue to qualify for MOB. See Eligibility for Mobility Allowance (MOB). If the customer:
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Vehicle assistanceWhen a customer has been given a car by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, they are no longer eligible for MOB. On the MOCD screen, insert a new line in the following fields:
See Table 3 > Step 1 | |
Fails MOB travel testWhen the customer is participating in an approved activity but the activity does not meet the Mobility Allowance travel test requirements, they are no longer eligible for MOB. On the MOCD screen, insert a new line in the following fields:
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Job search activitiesCheck the customer's Job Plan for Job Search activities. In Process Direct:
Is the customer looking for work?
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Check employment and income screensIn Customer First, check the Employment/Training Summary (ETS) and Employment Income Summary (EANS) screens for details of the customer's employment income and hours. Compare the activity/activities on the ETS screen with the customer's responses on the Review of Mobility Allowance (MA003M). Note: the customer may be entitled to the higher rate of MOB if they advise they have started working and are receiving:
If their employment income and hours are not already recorded as part of the reporting requirements for their income support payment, see Recording and correcting employment income details for more details. Has the customer indicated a change to the previously approved and verified activity/activities?
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Compare customer record with review form responsesCompare the activity/activities on the Employment/Training Summary (ETS) screen with the customer's review form responses. Determine if the customer's activity hours have changed, or if they have started or stopped:
Customers on a higher rate of MOB who are no longer eligible for an income support payment solely due to their employment hours or income, will remain on the higher rate if they continue to satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for MOB. Has the customer started or stopped any of the above?
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Qualifying activity for MOBCheck the Customer satisfies 32 hours rule field to confirm if the customer:
If the customer:
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Customer has changed the hours spent doing an approved activityOn the Employment/Training Summary (ETS) screen:
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Ceased an approved activityWhen the customer has ceased a qualifying activity including, a previously recorded employer, training organisation, voluntary work organisation or qualifying payment, they are no longer eligible for MOB. On the Employment/Training Summary (ETS) screen
Has the customer commenced a new qualifying activity?
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Recording a new qualifying activity on Employment/Training Details (ETD) screenWhen the customer advised they have commenced a new qualifying activity (not shown or previously recorded on the ETD or Employment/Training Summary (ETS) screen On the ETS screen:
Do any current activities on the ETS screen show N or I in the ‘Details Verified?’ field?
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Verification form is outstandingDo not complete the MOB activity if one of the following forms has been automatically issued to the customer overnight:
The customer has:
Resubmit the activity for a suitable date in the future. MOB will automatically suspend/cancel if the customer does not return the review form. Note: if there is pending outstanding verification action, and the activity is completed by mistake, payments under a POG will start. This must not occur as there is no legislative basis to pay a POG because of unverified hours. See Cancellation and Period of Grace for Mobility Allowance (MOB). Procedure ends here until verification has been provided. |
Finalising MOB ETR reviews
Table 3: for Mobility Allowance National Team (AMW).
Action | |
Review outcomeTake the MOB review activity to the Assessment Results (AR) screen:
If the outcome of the decision is:
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Making a favourable decisionIs the outcome of the review a favourable decision?
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Making an unfavourable decisionCustomer is no longer eligible for MOB. Make at least 2 genuine attempts to contact the customer to advise if an unfavourable decision is to be made. Record all details on a DOC and finalise the activity through the AR screen. This will automatically mature and finalise the Service Profiling activity on Service Strategy (PQSS) screen. If the customer's payment is placed into a POG, an automatic advice is issued advising they no longer qualify. At the end of the POG, a customer's MOB may reduce to the standard rate or cancel. Customers need to advise if they commence or recommence a qualifying activity during their POG as their payment can be restored. For the relevant POG, see Cancellation and Period of Grace for Mobility Allowance (MOB). See Restoration of Mobility Allowance (MOB), if MOB status is SUS or CAN and restoration action is required to restore MOB:
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