Farm Household Allowance (FHA) customer going overseas 002-02080020

Item

Description

1

Travelling to visit a cousin in hospital

An FHA customer advises their cousin is in hospital overseas and they want to visit them with their family. The customer wants to confirm if their FHA will be portable.

As this relative is not a family member as defined in the Social Security Act, the FHA payment is not portable and payment will stop from the date of departure.

Complete the portability interview and advise customer of decision. Do not transfer to Centrelink International Services (CIS).

2

Child has been kidnapped overseas

An FHA customer attends a service centre to advise armed guerrillas in South-East Asia have kidnapped their child. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has contacted the customer advising of the situation.

Refer the customer to Centrelink International Services (CIS) to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as FHA.

The Farmer Assistance hotline Service Officer must code the record once CIS have made a decision.

3

Australian Defence Force Reserves training camp

An FHA customer advises they are going overseas to attend a training camp for the Australian Naval Reserve. They bring with them a copy of their letter advising details about the camp. They will be absent overseas for 4 weeks.

Refer the customer to Centrelink International Services (CIS) to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as FHA.

The Farmer Assistance hotline Service Officer must code the record once CIS have made a decision.

4

Adoption of a child from another country

An FHA couple have arranged to adopt a child from Romania. During the portability interview, they say they expect to be away no more than a month. They have brought letters and legal papers with them to prove the adoption proceedings.

Refer the customer to Centrelink International Services (CIS) to make the decision on the customer's eligibility for ongoing payments while overseas. Only CIS has the delegation to approve an absence for restricted portability payments such as FHA.

The Farmer Assistance hotline Service Officer must code the record once CIS have made a decision.

5

Eligible medical treatment - herbal remedy

An FHA customer is going to China for herbal remedy treatment. The customer's doctor has written a letter advising the particular treatment is not available in Australia and recommending the customer try the treatment.

FHA is not portable for the absence because herbal treatment does not fit the guidelines of eligible medical treatment. Herbal treatment is not a recognised medical treatment and, in this case, the recommendation by the doctor is not relevant.

Complete the portability interview and advise the customer of the decision. Do not refer the customer through to Centrelink International Services (CIS).

6

Extending overseas absences - increased portability or a discretionary extension?

When an FHA customer travels outside Australia for an approved reason, the Service Officer must give them the minimum reasonable period to enable them to attend to the reason for the absence.

In some circumstances, a specialist Centrelink International Services (CIS) Service Officer can grant an extension to the portability period (or specific negotiated period) if the customer needs to remain longer, or is unable to return to Australia.