Statistics for Newstart Recipients with a Partial Capacity to Work

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.

The request was refused by Services Australia.

Julie Middleton

Dear Department of Human Services,

If possible, please treat this as an informal or administrative request. Otherwise, please treat this as a formal request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

Statistics for recipients of the Newstart Allowance who are determined to be current (i.e. entitled to be paid) on the Centrelink payment system, and not in receipt of CDEP participation supplement or zero rate of payment, with an assessed work capacity of under 30 hours per week for 2019 totalled 289,489.

I am seeking copies of documents with the following information:

1. The annual number of Newstart recipients from 2007 with an assessed work capacity of under 30 hours per week, who have been sent for an independent medical assessment. That is, a Disability Medical Assessment, with Sonic HealthPlus or other service provider.

2. Statistics for the annual number of Newstart recipients from 2007, who have been assessed under the Centrelink Impairment Tables as having a:

a) mild impact (5 points)
b) moderate impact (10 points)
c) severe impact (20 points); or
d) extreme (30 points) impact

The figures of the above, will reconcile with the annual totals in point 1.

3. The annual number of Newstart recipients from 2007, who have been assessed as having 20 or more points from the Impairment Table, who:

a) have been actively participating in a Program of Support (POS); and
b) have a Mutual Obligation Requirement to attend compulsory appointments with Centrelink every 12 weeks. This would be an exemption from being in the POS.

If you considered the terms of the subject matter of my request is more closely related to the functions of the Department of Social Services (DSS), please transfer to DSS pursuant to section 16 of the FOI Act.

Yours faithfully,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Please note that the Department of Human Services' Freedom of Information
Legal Team is unavailable from 24 December 2019 to 1 January 2020
(inclusive).

 

This mailbox will not be monitored during this period.

 

 

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FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 dated
1 January 2020.

 

Please find attached correspondence acknowledging your request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

Email: [email address]

 

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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
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FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

I refer to your request for documents made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) dated 1 January 2020 (LEX 50220), and to
our email dated 7 January 2020.

 

In this correspondence, the Department of Human Services sought your
agreement to a 15 day extension of time in which to process your request,
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. We have not heard back from you
regarding this matter.

 

We are requesting your agreement to this extension of time due to the
department’s reduced activity period over December and January, during
which many business areas of the department have reduced staffing levels.

 

I would be grateful if you could please advise whether you agree to an
extension of time of 15 days by reply email to
[email address].

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

Email: [email address]

 

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IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
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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
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Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

i am agreeable to the extension requested.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

Please find attached correspondence about further assistance (outside of
the Freedom of Information Act 1982) the department can provide regarding
your enquiries.

 

Processing of your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
remains ongoing and you can expect further correspondence regarding this
in due course.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division

Department of Human Services

Email: [email address]

 

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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
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Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

Thank you for your letter dated 17 January 2020.

I have an adequate understanding of the Program of Support.

My FOI request is for statistics so I'm only interested in figures for data analysis.

Generally, I am not contactable by phone so please email if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Middleton

FOI.LEGAL.TEAM, Services Australia

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Middleton,

 

Please find attached the decision letter for your recent FOI Request LEX
50220.

 

Many thanks,

 

Elsa

Authorised FOI Decision Maker

Freedom of Information Legal Team

Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch

Legal Services Division I Services Australia

*: [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.

 

**********************************************************************
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
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Julie Middleton

Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,

I shall make another review request to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully,

Julie Middleton