Specialist Showcasing

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Welfare Rights Centre (NSW)

www. welfarerights.org.au

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Welfare Rights Centre

The Welfare Rights Centre is a Community Legal Centre specialising in Social Security law, administration and policy.

1. Casework

2. Policy

3. CLE

4. Publications

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Casework service

• The Welfare Rights Centre provides a casework service to people with income support problems that come under Social Security and Family Assistance law and to agencies assisting people with such problems in NSW.

• Welfare Rights advocates are also based in Illawarra, and some clients in NSW are referred to ACT Welfare Rights and Legal Centre and Brisbane Welfare Rights Centre.

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Welfare Rights Centre NSW

• Telephone advice service• Toll free number: 1800 226 028• Advice times

– Mon 9-1– Tues 1-5– Wed 9-1– Thur 9-1– Fri 9-1

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Range of advice and casework

• Debts and debt waiver

• Cancellation/ rejection of payment claims

• Compensation preclusion periods

• “member of a couple” cases

• Residential qualification

• Effect of income and assets

• General appeals process

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Ongoing assistance

• Assistance to look through Centrelink documents

• Assistance through Social Security appeals process:– Authorised Review Officer– Social Security Appeals Tribunal– Adminisitrative Appeals Tribunal

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Casework Guidelines- limitations on advice

• Advice not given in matters involving disputes between parties in respect of a child.

• Advice limited in matters relating to one-off “bonuses” and mathematical calculation of rates

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Casework Guidelines- limitations on ongoing assistance

• Limited in the following matters:– DSP qualification matters where the issue is medical

impairment rating and the client receives another Soc Sec payment/other income

– Debts under $10,000– Family Tax Benefit debts- estimates of income– Claims for arrears– Queries in anticipation of entitlements/debts– Urgent or advance payments– Negotiation of activity test requirements

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Exceptions

• The Centre will take into account circumstances where the person is especially disadvantaged or the case has another feature taking it out of the usual run of matters.– Test cases– Homelessness– Youth

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Working with RRR CLCs

• Telephone advice to RRR CLC workers

• Co-operative assistance where WRC representing client in RRR area

• CLE provided to RRR CLCs

• SSAT- fewer “excursions” to RRR areas and increased reliance on telephone and videoconference for hearings

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Policy

• Most of the Centre’s policy advocacy is done in conjunction with, and often on behalf of, the National Welfare Rights Network.

• Key areas of policy work:– Payment (in)adequacy

– Debt prevention

– Participation requirements

– Homelessness

– Social Security prosecutions

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Community Legal Education

• The Centre is committed to providing high quality, accessible and targeted CLE

• Training to CLC workers on Social Security law and policy

• Training to community workers prioritised eg financial counsellors, social workers, prisons, aged care workers

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Publications

• “rights review” quarterly newsletter

• Independent Social Security Handbook- online

• Social Security Reporter- case summary digest

• Factsheets and “self help” kits- website

• “Wallet card” for job seekers

This presentation was prepared by the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney

Contact details

• Welfare Rights Centre (NSW)

– 9211 5389/1800 226 028

– welfarerights@welfarerights.org.au

• Illawarra Legal Centre– 4276 1939