Cindy Haakman and Secretary, Department of Social Services

[2014] AATA 624

[2014] AATA 624  

Division	GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
File Number	2014/1236
Re	Cindy Haakman
APPLICANT
And	Secretary, Department of Social Services
RESPONDENT

DECISION

Tribunal	Dr P McDermott RFD, Senior Member
Date	2 September 2014
Place	Brisbane

The Tribunal affirms the decision under review.

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Dr P McDermott RFD, Senior Member

CATCHWORDS

SOCIAL SECURITY – Pensions, benefits and allowances – Disability support pension – Whether 20 impairment points – Whether continuing inability to work – Applicant did not participate in Program of Support – Decision under review affirmed

LEGISLATION

Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 26, 94

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth) ss 13, 14, 42, Sch 2 cls 3

CASES

Tey and Secretary, Department of Social Services [2013] AATA 753

SECONDARY MATERIALS

Social Security (Tables for the Assessment of Work-related Impairment for Disability Support Pension) Determination 2011

Social Security (Requirements and Guidelines – Active Participation for Disability Support Pension) Determination 2011

REASONS FOR DECISION

Dr P McDermott RFD, Senior Member

2 September 2014

INTRODUCTION

1. I have to determine whether Ms Haakman (“the applicant”) is entitled to disability support pension (“DSP”).

   PRIOR DECISIONS

2. On 9 April 2013 the applicant lodged a claim for DSP. On 6 May 2013 this claim was rejected. On 13 September 2013 an authorised review officer affirmed that decision. On 11 February 2014 the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (“SSAT”) affirmed the decision to reject the claim. On 11 March 2014 the applicant made an application to this Tribunal for review of the decision to reject the claim for DSP. I should note that on

   
   

   11 June 2013 the applicant made a further claim for DSP; however, that claim was not reviewed by the SSAT and cannot be reviewed on this application.

   RELEVANT LEGISLATION

3. The legislation that I have to administer is the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) (“the Act”) and the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth) (“the Administration Act”).

4. Section 94 of the Act provides that in order to be qualified to receive DSP the applicant must have:

   ·a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment (s 94(1)(a) of the Act);

   ·an impairment rating of at least 20 points (s 94(1)(b) of the Act); and

   ·a continuing inability to work (s 94(1)(c) of the Act).

5. The Administration Act provides that the start day for a claimant who qualifies to receive DSP is the date on which they contact the Department regarding the payment, the deemed date of claim (ss 13, 41, 42, Sch 2 cl 3 of the Administration Act). The applicant will be entitled to receive DSP if she was qualified to receive that benefit as at the deemed date of the claim. If she was not qualified to receive DSP on that date she will nevertheless be entitled to receive DSP if she becomes qualified within thirteen weeks of lodging a claim. In that event, the start-day is the day that she becomes qualified to receive the social security benefit (Sch 2 cl 4(1) of the Administration Act).

6. There are a number of Ministerial Determinations which…