Compensation Recovery Statistics

Julie Middleton made this Freedom of Information request to Services Australia

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Services Australia should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Julie Middleton

Dear Department of Human Services,

Compensation recovery is included in the following legislation:

(a) Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) for statutory refunds to Centrelink
(b) Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995 (Cth) for Medicare
(c) National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) Chapter 5

Centrelink reporting on revenue from statutory refunds is a necessity for determining the success or otherwise of the reforms. The annual revenue figures from 1992; as well as the percentages for paid and unpaid claims would be available; they are just not being made accessible to the public.

Please provide the following:

1. Annual revenue totals from 1992 to 2018 (both inclusive) received as a consequence of the statutory refunds in relation to the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth).

2. To determine statistics for each state and territory, reconcile with the figures in point 1 and provide:

(a) the annual totals of revenue received from law firms for each separate state and territory;
(b) the number of transactions that make up the totals in 2 (a). This will identify if there are fewer claims in specific states. Reporting in relation to the MODC forms would assist.

3. The annual revenue totals from 1996 to 2018 received as a consequence of the statutory refunds in relation to the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995 (Cth).

4. From the figures provided in point 3, the annual totals for the revenue received from law firms in the separate states and territories. These figures will show the recovery rates per state and territory.

5. The annual figures in relation to points 1/2 and 3/4 that have been paid directly from insurers or their claims’ managers.

Yours faithfully,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your FOI Request LEX
48556.

 

Many thanks,

 

Freedom of Information Legal Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch

Legal Services Division I Department of Human Services

 

This email and any attachments may contain information subject to legal
professional privilege or information that is otherwise sensitive or
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are
prohibited from using or disseminating this communication. If you have
received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately
and permanently delete this email.

 

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FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your FOI Request LEX
48556.

 

Kind regards

 

Elsa

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

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Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Thank you for your letter dated 12 November 2019 and I agree to pay the charge.

I shall mail a money order tomorrow for the $20 deposit.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM

On 13 November 2019 I mailed a money order for $60.

Could you please advise if you have received the payment.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

The response to my request has been delayed.

On 13 November 2019 I mailed a money order to the Department for the total estimated cost of $60.

An extension could apply under the FOI Act. Section 15AA Extension of time with agreement.

Could you please provide an update on the progress of my request.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

The department received your money order for a total of $60.00 dollars on
20 November 2019. As a result the department has begun processing your
request.

 

You can expect a decision in relation to your request by 28 November 2019.
We will inform you if the processing time needs to be extended for any
reason.

 

Many thanks,

 

Elsa

Authorised FOI Decision Maker

Freedom of Information Legal Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch

Legal Services Division I Department of Human Services

*: [email address]

 

This email and any attachments may contain information subject to legal
professional privilege or information that is otherwise sensitive or
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are
prohibited from using or disseminating this communication. If you have
received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately
and permanently delete this email.

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[1][FOI #5750 email]

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

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FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your FOI Request LEX
48556.

 

Kind regards

 

Riley

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

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**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************

Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

With reference to your letter of 28 November 2019:

1) I shall make a request for an external review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner; and

2) a $60 payment was requested and paid for this FOI request. At this time the $60 should be held by the Department of Human Services, pending the decision due on 16 December 2019 for my second request, which is for Compensation Recovery Policies and Procedures, your reference: LEX 49179. The fee for the $60 money order was $11 and I do not wish to incur further costs for a second money order if a fee applies for the second FOI request.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

I refer to your correspondence dated 30 November 2019, in which you
requested that we retain the money order you provided in relation to the
preliminary estimate of charges in this request while you awaited a
decision in your separate request dated 15 November 2019 (LEX 49179).

 

I understand that no charges were applicable for that request.

 

As such, the department will refund the $60.00 preliminary charge that you
paid (via money order). Please directly email
[1][email address] and advise of the following details
so that we can return the money to you by direct deposit:

·         account name;

·         BSB; and

·         account number

of your preferred bank account.

 

Alternatively, we can return the money order to you by express post and
you can receive repayment in line with term 7 of the Australia Post
‘ordinary money order service terms and conditions’. Please directly email
[2][email address] and advise of your postal address.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

Email: [3][email address]

 

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Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

A review application is now with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) about this FOI decision by the Department of Human Services.

At this time, I am seeking a credit for the $60 paid because there are other FOI requests in progress.

1. Statistics for recipients of the Disability Support Pension and Newstart Allowance - response due 23 December 2019.

2. Compensation Recovery Program Documentation - response due 17 January 2020.

3. Compensation recovery errors caused by data-matching - response due 20 January 2020.

It is more efficient for the Department to hold the $60 payment in credit.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton