FOI 17 18 071 Documents in the form for release.pdf

FOI 17/18-071
Document 2

Introduction
This document provides information about the Department of Social Services’ role to
identify participants who may be at risk from the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) and the
process of exempting them from the trial.
The exemption process begins with DSS receiving information pertaining to the
wellbeing of a trial participant from the local partners, Indue, Centrelink, calls to the
hotline or any other avenue.
Reasons for Exemption
DSS can exempt an individual from the Debit Card Trial if participating in the trial
would lead to a serious risk to the individual’s mental, physical or emotional
wellbeing.
Process of Exemption
Once the Cashless Debit Card Operations Section has identified that a  participant’s
wellbeing may be at risk due to participation in the CDC program, they will instigate
the following process:
1.  Create entry in the Exemption Log, which is saved within the Personal
Information Management System (PiMS) at CDC > Operations > Hotline >
CDC Operational Logs. The log notes the trial participant’s details including
their name, CRN, payment type, address and date of birth. The entry also
needs to note down (with as much relevant detail) the risk to the trial
participant’s physical, mental or emotional wellbeing.

2.  Once the Exemption Log has been updated, pass on the details recorded in
the entry in Exemption Log to an s47E(d)

s47E(d)

3.  The s47E(d)
provided information and either:
(a) s47E(d)
s47E(d)
(b) recommends exemption (Go to Step 5); or
(c) does not recommend exemption (Go to Step 10).
4.  s47E(d)
(a): recommend exemption (Go to Step 5); or
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(b): do not recommend exemption (Go to Step 5)
5.  Fill in the Exemption Recommendation Minute at Attachment A, and the letter
at Attachment B, save it and provide it to the s47E(d)

(a): decide to exempt (Go to Step 7); or
(b): decide not to exempt (Go to Step 10).
6.  Scan the signed minute and the signed letter and save in Arc under
EF16/318398 General Wellbeing Exemption and Trial Exits. Inform DHS that
the trial participant is to be exempted from the trial by using the Debit Card
Project to email s47E(d)
with the
subject line “New Wellbeing Exemption for (participant’s name)” along with the
trial participant’s details.

7.  Receive confirmation from DHS that the trial participant has been exempted.

8.  Call trial participant to tell them that they are exempt from the trial. Send the
signed letter which was attached to the Exemption Recommendation Minute to
the trial participant notifying them that they are exempt from the trial.

No further steps required, if step 9 is completed.

9.  Inform trial participant that they are not exempt from the trial by using the
template at Attachment C unless it was an appeal, then use the template at
Attachment D.

10. If trial participant provides new information or/ requests an appeal, note that
the participant has appealed in the Exemption Log and go to Step 3.

Relevant Supporting Documents:
Social Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding
Region) Determination 2015
Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area - Ceduna and Surrounding Region)
Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2016

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ATTACHMENT A
Minute

s47E(d)
To:
Trial Logistics
From:
s47E(d)
Trial Logistics

Date:
3/05/2016
Subject:
Wellbeing Exemption for the Debit Card Trial
Background

1.  The Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Act 2015 (the Act)
provides the legislative basis for the Debit Card Trial. Section 124PD(2) of the Act
allows the Minister to specify a trial area by legislative instrument. Section
124PG(1) of the Act allows the Minister to specify who is a trial participant by
legislative instrument.
2.  The Social Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area – Ceduna and
Surrounding Region) Determination 2015 and the Social Security (Administration)
(Trial Area - Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Amendment Determination (No. 1)
2016 (the Ceduna Determinations) have been made for the purposes of sections
124PD(2) and s124PG(1) of the Act. The Ceduna Determinations establish
Ceduna as a trial region and set out who will become trial participants in the
Ceduna trial region. [USE FOR CEDUNA]
OR
The Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area – East Kimberley) Determination
2016 has been made for the purposes of sections 124PD(2) and s124PG(1) of
the Act. The Determination establishes the East Kimberley as a trial region and
sets out who will become trial participants in the East Kimberley trial region. [USE
FOR THE EAST KIMBERLEY]
3.  Section 7(1) of the Ceduna Determinations OR East Kimberley Determination
allows the Secretary discretion to exempt persons from becoming trial
participants if the Secretary is satisfied that being a trial participant “would
seriously risk that person's mental, physical or emotional wellbeing”.
4.  The Department has delegations in place to allow you to grant exemptions.

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5.  xx has requested exemption from the cashless debit card trial (the Trial) under
section 7(1) of the Social Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area –
Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Determination 2015 as amended by the Social
Security (Administration) (Trial Area - Ceduna and Surrounding Region)
Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2016 OR Social Security (Administration)
(Trial Area – East Kimberley) Determination 2016:

6.  Enter Details of the risk to the participant's wellbeing - can spill over into multiple
paragraphs
Recommendations
7.  That you agree to exempt insert participant's name, CRN: insert participant's CRN
Number from being a trial participant on the grounds that being a trial participant
“would seriously risk insert participant's name mental, physical or emotional
wellbeing”.

AGREED / DISCUSS
8.  That you sign the attached letter notifying insert participant's name that they are
exempt from the trial.

SIGNED/ NOT SIGNED

__________________
s47E(d)
Date:

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ATTACHMENT B
Insert Name

Insert Email

Dear x x

I write to inform you that you have been exempted from the cashless debit card trial under
section 7(1) of the Social Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area – Ceduna and
Surrounding Region) Determination 2015 as amended by the Social Security (Administration)
(Trial Area - Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2016. [USE
FOR CEDUNA]

OR

I write to inform you that you have been exempted from the cashless debit card trial under
section 7(1) of the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area – East Kimberley)
Determination 2016. [USE FOR THE EAST KIMBERLEY]

This means you will not receive a cashless debit card and will not be on the cashless debit card
trial.

If you wish to appeal this decision, please write to:

Branch Manager
Financial and Specialist Support
Department of Social Services
GPO Box 9820
Canberra ACT 2601

Please attach the following details:
•
your name;
•
your Centrelink Reference Number;
•
your permanent address; and
•
the reasons you believe the decision is incorrect.

If you have any questions, please phone the Department of Social Services’ cashless debit card
hotline on 1800 252 604 or email xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx.

Yours sincerely

ATTACHMENT C

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x x

x

Dear x x

I write to inform you that the Department of Social Services has completed an internal review of
the decision not to exempt you from the cashless debit card trial under section 7(1) of the Social
Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding Region)
Determination 2015 as amended by the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area - Ceduna
and Surrounding Region) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2016. [USE FOR CEDUNA]

OR

I write to inform you that the Department of Social Services has completed an internal review of
the decision not to exempt you from the cashless debit card trial under section 7(1) of the Social
Security (Administration) (Trial Area – East Kimberley) Determination 2016. [USE FOR THE
EAST KIMBERLEY]

The Department has decided to uphold its decision not to exempt you under this provision. This
means you will continue to be a trial participant.

If you wish to appeal this decision, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. You
can find out more about this process by going to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal website at
http://www.aat.gov.au/applying-for-a-review/how-to-apply or by calling them on 1800 228 333.

If you have any questions about this decision, please phone the Department of Social Services’
cashless debit card hotline on 1800 252 604 or email xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx.

Yours sincerely

ATTACHMENT D

x x

x

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Dear x x

I write to inform you that the Department of Social Services has completed an internal review of
the decision not to exempt you from the cashless debit card trial under section 7(1) of the Social
Security (Administration) (Specified Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding Region)
Determination 2015 as amended by the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area - Ceduna
and Surrounding Region) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2016. [USE FOR CEDUNA]

OR

I write to inform you that the Department of Social Services has completed an internal review of
the decision not to exempt you from the cashless debit card trial under section 7(1) of the Social
Security (Administration) (Trial Area – East Kimberley) Determination 2016. [USE FOR THE
EAST KIMBERLEY]

The Department of Social Services has decided not to exempt you under this section as the
evidence you have provided does not satisfy…. …

This means you will continue to be a trial participant. evidence you have provided…

If you wish to appeal this decision, please write to the:

Branch Manager
Financial and Specialist Support
Department of Social Services
GPO Box 9820
Canberra ACT 2601

Please attach the following details:
•
your name;
•
your Centrelink Reference Number;
•
your permanent address; and
•
the reasons you believe the decision is incorrect.

If you have any questions, please phone the Department of Social Services’ cashless debit card
hotline on 1800 252 604 or email xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx.

Yours sincerely

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