Prins and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)

This matter concerned an appeal by Mr Prins against a decision of the Secretary of the Department of Social Services concerning his eligibility for a Disability Support Pension (DSP). The appeal was heard by Deputy President K Bean of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The primary legal issues before the Tribunal were whether Mr Prins's conditions were fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised during the relevant assessment period, and whether he possessed an impairment rating of 20 or more points as determined by the Impairment Tables.

Deputy President Bean noted that Mr Prins had subsequently qualified for the DSP. The Tribunal inferred that this subsequent qualification likely arose because, at the time of the original claim, his psychiatric conditions were considered fully treated and stabilised, thereby enabling an impairment rating to be allocated. Consequently, the decision under review was affirmed.