3.6.1.90 Notification & Recipient Obligations for DSP

Notifiable events for DSP

In addition to the common notifiable events, DSP recipients must notify Centrelink within the 14 day notification period, if any of the following events occur, or are likely to occur:

• the recipient or their partner plans to travel overseas, OR
• the recipient's income reduces.

The notification may occur within 28 days for recipients who are residing overseas, or for recipients reporting bereavement.

Where necessary, these events are explained in more detail in the rest of this topic.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 63 Requirement to give information about change of circumstances etc

Common provisions

Some notification and recipient obligations are common to MOST payments, and are explained in Chapter 1 of Part 3.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.3 Notification & Recipient Obligations

Overseas travel

If the recipient or their partner plan to travel outside Australia, including travel to Norfolk Island, they must notify Centrelink at least 14 days before they travel. Failure to notify Centrelink before they travel may result in cancellation of DSP.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.1.50 Payability of DSP, 7.1 Conditions for Payment Outside Australia, 7.2 Arrangements for Payment Outside Australia

Recipient's income reduces

It is in the recipient's interest to notify Centrelink if their income reduces, as this MAY mean a higher rate of DSP is payable.

Reporting methods

A DSP recipient can be required to give information to Centrelink in one or both of 2 different ways. The first way is that all recipients are required to report if a specified event or circumstance change occurs or is likely to occur, notification reporters (1.1.N.126). The second way is that some recipients are also required to give a statement about a specified matter, and sometimes to give a separate statement for each of several specified periods, statement reporters (1.1.S.345).

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 68 Requirement for recipients to give information …

Employer reporting for business services for DSP recipients

DSP recipients working in a business service may be able to use the employer reporting method to fulfil their reporting obligations to Centrelink. With the recipient's consent, the business service employer reports wage details directly to Centrelink. The amount reported by the employer is taken to be the income of the person in the fortnight i.e. it is the amount received not earned for business services recipients.

Statement reporters - late reporting

DSP will be cancelled if the recipient has not reported one fortnight, or 14 days after the due date. However, if special circumstances exist the payment MAY be restored. When a recipient is very late reporting, the following information should be considered to determine if special circumstances apply:

• The reasons for the late reporting. The longer the delay, the greater the need to provide detailed reasons to account for the delay for the full period.
• Whether Centrelink contributed in any way to the delay (see example 1).
• Other mitigating or extenuating factors which may call for a more generous approach (see example 2).
• The plausibility of the reasons for the delay.
• Whether the recipient belongs to a disadvantaged group (see example 3).

Example 1: By not giving specific information when requested to do so or by giving incorrect information.

Example 2: The recipient has been incapacitated, or has a condition such as an intellectual disability, psychological condition, acquired brain injury, or cognitive impairment that impacts on their ability to report. Unexpected telecommunication problems e.g. phone service is down due to storms etc.

Example 3: They are a migrant with low level of English comprehension or an Indigenous Australian.

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Last reviewed: 2 January 2008