Abdul-Wahed and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)

This matter concerned an appeal by Mr Abdul-Wahed against a decision of the Social Services Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) regarding his claim for Disability Support Pension (DSP). The core of the dispute revolved around whether Mr Abdul-Wahed's medical conditions met the criteria for receiving a DSP, specifically concerning the allocation of impairment points under the relevant Impairment Tables.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether Mr Abdul-Wahed's conditions were fully diagnosed, stabilised, and treated, and whether the assigned impairment points reached the threshold necessary for a DSP claim under section 94(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth). A key issue was the lack of follow-up treatment for a particular condition, which impacted the assessment of its diagnosis and stability.

The Tribunal reasoned that because Mr Abdul-Wahed had not pursued treatment for a specific condition, it could not be considered fully diagnosed, stabilised, and treated. Consequently, no impairment points were assigned for that condition. As the total impairment points allocated did not reach the required 20 points or more under the Impairment Tables, Mr Abdul-Wahed's DSP claim failed. The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review.