Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program 011-21032510

The Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (ATSSP) is an Australian Government program aimed at providing financial support to Australian thalidomide survivors. The Department of Health and Aged Care has overall program and policy responsibility for the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program, while Services Australia (the agency) is responsible for the administration of the Extraordinary Assistance Fund and the Health Care Assistance Fund.

Under the Extraordinary Assistance Fund (EAF) and the Health Care Assistance Fund (HCAF), Services Australia will help with out of pocket health care costs, daily living costs and home and vehicle modifications.

The out of pocket costs are costs the thalidomide survivors have after they have already claimed from the following:

• Medicare benefits
• Other state or territory government funded programs
• Private health insurance fund
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

All recognised Australian thalidomide survivors will be eligible to access the EAF and HCAF and must have the following:

• be a recognised Australian thalidomide survivor and be registered with the Program
• have current Medicare entitlement
• provide evidence from a registered health care practitioner that the goods and/or services are required as a consequence of their thalidomide related injuries, and
• have already claimed from National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and/or other relevant Australian, state and territory government schemes, or private insurance, where appropriate

Where a claimant does not meet the eligibility criteria or has not been identified by Department of Health and Aged Care as a recognised Australian thalidomide survivor the claimant will need to contact the Department of Health and Aged Care. The Resources page has a link to Department of Health and Aged Care website.

The Extraordinary Assistance Fund (EAF) helps cover the costs of goods and/or services to assist with activities of daily living, impacted as a direct result of their thalidomide-related injuries.

The Resources page has a link to more information on the Department of Health and Aged Care program guidelines, and a link to the EAF claim form.

The Health Care Assistance Fund (HCAF) helps cover out of pocket health care costs that are directly associated with thalidomide-related injuries.

The Resources page has a link to more information on the Department of Health and Aged Care program guidelines, and a link to the HCAF claim form.

Note: the EAF and HCAF forms will be available for claiming from the 29 March 2021. However, the survivors can backdate claims from 1 July 2020.

Recognised thalidomide survivors are required to provide written evidence from a registered health care practitioner with their claim or quote.

This evidence should document information such as:

• the registered health care practitioner’s details, including name, address and provider number
• the date the recognised thalidomide survivor was assessed by the registered health care practitioner
• the type of goods and/or services required, including, if applicable, the frequency and duration of the service, and
• the goods and/or services recommended are required as a direct result of thalidomide-related injuries

Recognised thalidomide survivors will need to complete the relevant EAF and/or HCAF claim form and provide copy of receipts, accounts, invoices and/or itemised quotes to support the claim. This includes:

• itemised receipts or tax invoices for the items claimed
• itemised quotes outlining the provider/supplier details - the business name, address, ABN and the details of the goods and/or services, the price and the breakdown of costs
• statements or letters to show they have already claimed from the following, Medicare, private health fund, state or territory government programs and/or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), as appropriate
• evidence from a registered health care practitioner outlining that the goods and/or services being claimed as required as a direct result of thalidomide-related injuries

More information about claiming through the EAF and HCAF, including fund guidelines and copies of the claim forms are available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Recognised thalidomide survivors can submit their claim by:

• Medicare online account via myGov or Express Plus Medicare mobile app
• Scan and email the completed claim form and supporting documents to the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program
• Post

Approval of claims is dependent on the type and the value of the claim. In some circumstances, pre-approval of claims is required. Where the recognised thalidomide survivors are seeking pre-approval of a quote for required goods and/or services that have not yet been received or paid for, they can be referred to the EAF and HCAF program guidelines or instances of when pre-approval of a quote is mandatory and how many quotes they will need to provide.

Refer the recognised thalidomide survivors to the program guidelines for the claiming process requirements on the Department of Health and Aged Care website. The Resources page has a link to the Department of Health and Aged Care.

All reimbursements are made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the survivor's nominated bank account. The nominated bank account details recorded with Medicare will be used for approved claims under the EAF and the HCAF. Survivors will need to ensure that their bank account information is up to date with Medicare. Bank details can be updated online using myGov or contacting Medicare.

All recognised Australian thalidomide survivors will be eligible to access the program. The Department of Health and Aged Care will send an invitation pack, with an application form to register for the program.

Only living, recognised Australian thalidomide survivors can receive support from the program. See the Resources page for more information on How to apply for the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program via the Department of Health and Aged Care website.