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

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the appeal of Mr. Rouse against a decision by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services to refuse his application for a Disability Support Pension (DSP). The core of the dispute concerned whether Mr. Rouse met the eligibility criteria for the DSP, specifically whether his medical condition was fully diagnosed, fully treated, and fully stabilised, and whether he attained at least 20 points under the relevant Impairment Tables during the qualification period.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether Mr. Rouse's claimed impairments, as assessed against the Impairment Tables, reached the threshold of 20 points. This involved a detailed examination of the medical evidence to ascertain if his conditions were indeed fully diagnosed, fully treated, and fully stabilised as at the relevant date. The Tribunal had to apply the legislative requirements for the DSP, including the specific criteria outlined in the Social Security Act 1991 and the associated Impairment Tables.

Senior Member Pola reasoned that the medical evidence presented did not establish that Mr. Rouse's conditions were fully diagnosed, fully treated, and fully stabilised. Furthermore, the assessment of his impairments against the Impairment Tables did not yield the required 20 points. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding that Mr. Rouse did not satisfy the legislative requirements for the grant of a Disability Support Pension.