Compensation Recovery Program Documentation
Dear Department of Human Services,
I am seeking copies of the following:
1. User Guides (or similar instruction manual) for the Department's Compensation Management System that explains the process for recording, monitoring, reviewing and reporting compensation recovery information. The Compensation Recovery Team (CRT) uses the Compensation Management System and Service Officers in the service centres record information for compensation via the New Compensation and Damages Notification (Mod C) workflow, accessed through the Compensation Management System.
2. User Guides (or similar instruction manual) for the Department's Accounts Receivable computer software that records revenue received under the compensation recovery provisions of the Social Security Act 1991.
3. A process flow, instruction manual or similar document that explains the steps:
a) to ensure all compensation recovery payments are recorded in the correct General Ledger Account and with an applicable Cost Centre or Code Number.
b) to be used in the reconciliation process of matching the detailed amounts of revenue received from compensation recovery to the injured clients income support payments.
c) to be used for the reporting process where total revenue figures can be used for Centrelink's annual reports, auditing or any financial management purpose.
The Department of Human Services has only released limited data in its Annual report to the public. The current data is available from the link:
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/organis...
Archived reports from 1998-1999 up to 2010-2011 are available from the link:
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/organis...
Centrelink Annual Report 1998-99 - Page 110 includes:
In addition, Centrelink recovered a further $117.2 million under the compensation recovery provisions of the Social Security Act 1991. Of this amount, $107.2 million was additional to the $555.6 million reported above.
Centrelink Annual Report 1999-2000 - Page 150 includes:
Centrelink recovered a total of $119.78 million under the compensation recovery provisions of the Social Security Act 1991 (included in the $640.99 million figure above).
Yours faithfully,
Julie Middleton
Dear Ms Middleton
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request for
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Due to the department's reduced activity period over December and January,
we are seeking your permission to extend the processing time by an extra
15 days to allow us to process your request under section 15AA of the FOI
Act. This means you can expect to receive a decision by 3 February 2020.
We would be grateful if you could please advise by email to
[1][email address] by close of business Monday 23
December 2019 whether you agree to proposed extension of time.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division
Department of Human Services
Email: [2][email address]
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,
In response to your letter of 20 December 2019, I am agreeable to the extended processing time of an extra 15 days with the new due date being 3 February 2020.
Please note that I do not agree to the Department providing my requested documents under administrative access arrangements and request that the Department proceed to process my request under the FOI Act.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Middleton
Dear Ms Middleton,
Please find attached the decision letter for your recent FOI Request LEX
50063.
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
*: [1][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
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI.LEGAL.TEAM,
I have made two Freedom of Information (FOI) applications to the Department of Human Services in relation to the Compensation Recovery Program that are now at the external review stage with the OAIC. Both applications were made via the Right to Know website.
1. Compensation Recovery Statistics - FOI application was made on 21 October 2019.
The Department's reference is LEX 48556; the Decision provided 28 November 2019:
"I have decided to refuse access to your request under section 24A(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act on the basis that all reasonable steps have been taken to find the documents that you have requested and I am satisfied that they do not exist."
On 12 November 2019 the Department wrote to advice of its preliminary assessment of a charge of $60.00. The following day I mailed a money order for $60.
2. Compensation Recovery Information - FOI application was made on 23 December 2019.
The Department's reference is LEX 50190; the Decision provided 6 February 2020:
"I have decided to refuse your request for access under section 24A of the FOI Act on the basis that all reasonable steps have been taken to locate the documents you have requested and I am satisfied that they do not exist."
This was a follow-up FOI application to the Department of Human Services in relation to the Compensation Recovery Program.
On 13 February 2020 the Communication Charges Notification advice was a fee of $183.35.
I am not proceeding with this application because the Department has not previously demonstrated good or sincere intention, I could pay the fee requested and then be refused the documents with the excuse: "they do not exist".
Issues relating to the Compensation Recovery Program need immediate attention - not further frustration.
There is certainly reluctance from the Department of Human Services to provide statistics for the compensation recovery program.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Middleton