Categorised mortality rate for government payment recipients
GS Lakes made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Social Services
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please provide, under the FOI Act, any documents or updates that relate to the number of government payment recipients who have died, categorised by payment type, including but not limited to the following:
- ABSTUDY
- Age Pension
- Blind Pension
- Carer Allowance
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Mobility Allowance
- Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance
- Youth Disability Supplement
Much like previous FOI 2122-068, I request a monthly summation of this mortality data, but for the period January 2003 to present. Including the number of 'mortality exits'/death-related cancellations of payments, total recipients in each payment category at the time, and the percentage of total recipients these 'mortality exits' represent.
I request a further and separate category breakdown of this payment type categorised mortality data by whether said recipient was known to:
- be an NDIS participant (for applicable time ranges), and/or
- known to have a psychosocial disability, diagnosis, or impairment.
(Be that through relevant data matching, from their application for a relevant payment whether successful or not, or via a note on their file to this effect.)
If possible, another further and separate category breakdown of this NDIS-participant-and-or-psychosocial-disability mortality data by whether depression and/or cPTSD/trauma and/or self-harm/suicidality potential was noted or recorded. Or, if possible, by particular type of psychosocial disability/diagnosis/impairment known/noted on file, including but not limited to: anxiety, autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, cPTSD/trauma, depression, dissociative disorder, mood disorder, OCD, paranoia, phobia, psychosis, schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders, and so on.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
GS Lakes
Thank you for your email.
You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).
If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.
Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
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calling 1800 634 035.
With regards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of Information
Legal Services Branch
Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
Good afternoon
Thank you for your below email to the Department of Social Services (the
Department) Freedom of Information (FOI) team on 1 July 2024.
We are writing to advise you that the Department is unable to process the
original FOI request as written for two reasons. Firstly, the Department
doesn’t hold the data sought by the request in full. Secondly, if the
request were processed with reference to the data that the Department did
hold, it would potentially take months to complete. This latter issue
means that the Department is likely to issue a notice of practical refusal
reason in respect of the request – essentially advising that it is too
large a task for us to process within the FOI statutory timeframe.
We have discussed this matter with the relevant line area who have advised
that they can process one of the below requests – please let us know if
you would like to nominate one of the below by COB tomorrow 11 July 2024
or we will likely proceed as set out above:
Option 1
‘The number of death-related cancellations of the following government
payments, by month for 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023:
· ABSTUDY
· Age Pension
· Carer Allowance
· Carer Payment
· Disability Support Pension
· Mobility Allowance
· Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
· Youth Allowance
Option 2
‘The number of death-related cancellations of the following government
payments, by year for 2003 to 2023:
· ABSTUDY
· Age Pension
· Carer Allowance
· Carer Payment
· Disability Support Pension
· Mobility Allowance
· Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
· Youth Allowance
Please note, the Blind Pension and the Youth Disability Supplement are
not payments in their own right. Data relating to individuals who happen
to be blind may be captured in the mortality rate for Age Pension and
Disability Support Pension recipients; while data the Youth Disability
Supplement mortality rates may be captured in the Disability Support
Pension, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance rates.
Kind regards
DSS FOI Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of Information | Information Law
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
E: [1][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: GS Lakes <[2][FOI #11595 email]>
Sent: Monday, July 1, 2024 7:37 PM
To: FOI <[3][Department of Social Services request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Categorised mortality rate for
government payment recipients
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please provide, under the FOI Act, any documents or updates that relate to
the number of government payment recipients who have died, categorised by
payment type, including but not limited to the following:
- ABSTUDY
- Age Pension
- Blind Pension
- Carer Allowance
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Mobility Allowance
- Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance
- Youth Disability Supplement
Much like previous FOI 2122-068, I request a monthly summation of this
mortality data, but for the period January 2003 to present. Including the
number of 'mortality exits'/death-related cancellations of payments, total
recipients in each payment category at the time, and the percentage of
total recipients these 'mortality exits' represent.
I request a further and separate category breakdown of this payment type
categorised mortality data by whether said recipient was known to:
- be an NDIS participant (for applicable time ranges), and/or
- known to have a psychosocial disability, diagnosis, or impairment.
(Be that through relevant data matching, from their application for a
relevant payment whether successful or not, or via a note on their file to
this effect.)
If possible, another further and separate category breakdown of this
NDIS-participant-and-or-psychosocial-disability mortality data by whether
depression and/or cPTSD/trauma and/or self-harm/suicidality potential was
noted or recorded. Or, if possible, by particular type of psychosocial
disability/diagnosis/impairment known/noted on file, including but not
limited to: anxiety, autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline
personality disorder, cPTSD/trauma, depression, dissociative disorder,
mood disorder, OCD, paranoia, phobia, psychosis,
schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders, and so on.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
GS Lakes
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FOI #11595 email]
Is [5][Department of Social Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Social Services? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
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:
[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[FOI #11595 email]
3. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #11595 email]
5. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Good afternoon
Please find attached further correspondence in relation to FOI request LEX
51010.
Kind regards
DSS FOI Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of Information | Information Law
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
E: [1][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: FOI <[Department of Social Services request email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2024 2:04 PM
To: '[FOI #11595 email]'
<[FOI #11595 email]>
Cc: FOI <[Department of Social Services request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Categorised mortality rate
for government payment recipients [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good afternoon
Thank you for your below email to the Department of Social Services (the
Department) Freedom of Information (FOI) team on 1 July 2024.
We are writing to advise you that the Department is unable to process the
original FOI request as written for two reasons. Firstly, the Department
doesn’t hold the data sought by the request in full. Secondly, if the
request were processed with reference to the data that the Department did
hold, it would potentially take months to complete. This latter issue
means that the Department is likely to issue a notice of practical refusal
reason in respect of the request – essentially advising that it is too
large a task for us to process within the FOI statutory timeframe.
We have discussed this matter with the relevant line area who have advised
that they can process one of the below requests – please let us know if
you would like to nominate one of the below by COB tomorrow 11 July 2024
or we will likely proceed as set out above:
Option 1
‘The number of death-related cancellations of the following government
payments, by month for 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023:
· ABSTUDY
· Age Pension
· Carer Allowance
· Carer Payment
· Disability Support Pension
· Mobility Allowance
· Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
· Youth Allowance
Option 2
‘The number of death-related cancellations of the following government
payments, by year for 2003 to 2023:
· ABSTUDY
· Age Pension
· Carer Allowance
· Carer Payment
· Disability Support Pension
· Mobility Allowance
· Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
· Youth Allowance
Please note, the Blind Pension and the Youth Disability Supplement are
not payments in their own right. Data relating to individuals who happen
to be blind may be captured in the mortality rate for Age Pension and
Disability Support Pension recipients; while data the Youth Disability
Supplement mortality rates may be captured in the Disability Support
Pension, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance rates.
Kind regards
DSS FOI Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of Information | Information Law
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
E: [2][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: GS Lakes <[3][FOI #11595 email]>
Sent: Monday, July 1, 2024 7:37 PM
To: FOI <[4][Department of Social Services request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Categorised mortality rate for
government payment recipients
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please provide, under the FOI Act, any documents or updates that relate to
the number of government payment recipients who have died, categorised by
payment type, including but not limited to the following:
- ABSTUDY
- Age Pension
- Blind Pension
- Carer Allowance
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Mobility Allowance
- Newstart Allowance/JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance
- Youth Disability Supplement
Much like previous FOI 2122-068, I request a monthly summation of this
mortality data, but for the period January 2003 to present. Including the
number of 'mortality exits'/death-related cancellations of payments, total
recipients in each payment category at the time, and the percentage of
total recipients these 'mortality exits' represent.
I request a further and separate category breakdown of this payment type
categorised mortality data by whether said recipient was known to:
- be an NDIS participant (for applicable time ranges), and/or
- known to have a psychosocial disability, diagnosis, or impairment.
(Be that through relevant data matching, from their application for a
relevant payment whether successful or not, or via a note on their file to
this effect.)
If possible, another further and separate category breakdown of this
NDIS-participant-and-or-psychosocial-disability mortality data by whether
depression and/or cPTSD/trauma and/or self-harm/suicidality potential was
noted or recorded. Or, if possible, by particular type of psychosocial
disability/diagnosis/impairment known/noted on file, including but not
limited to: anxiety, autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline
personality disorder, cPTSD/trauma, depression, dissociative disorder,
mood disorder, OCD, paranoia, phobia, psychosis,
schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders, and so on.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
GS Lakes
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #11595 email]
Is [6][Department of Social Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Social Services? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
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:
[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #11595 email]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #11595 email]
6. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...