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

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the claim of Mr Sharafdine for a disability support pension, which had been rejected by the Department of Social Services. The core of the dispute concerned whether Mr Sharafdine's impairments were permanent and whether they had been fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised, as required for the pension.

The Tribunal was tasked with determining whether Mr Sharafdine met the eligibility criteria for a disability support pension, specifically in relation to the permanency and stabilisation of his medical conditions. This involved assessing whether his impairments, when considered against the relevant impairment tables, reached the threshold required for pension eligibility.

The Tribunal found that Mr Sharafdine's upper limb condition qualified for 5 points under Table 2, and his spinal condition qualified for 10 points under Table 4 of the relevant impairment tables. However, his lower limb condition was not considered to be fully treated and stabilised. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the Department's decision to reject the claim. Mr Sharafdine was advised that he could submit a new application should his circumstances change.