Historical Debts Potentially Affected by Income Apportionment
Dear Department of Social Services,
I would like all estimates held or created by the Department of either:
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts (both fully recovered or outstanding) potentially affected by unlawful income apportionment decisions OR
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts (both fully recovered or outstanding) related to earnings from employment.
I am only seeking documents created since the release of the Commonwealth Ombudsman's report on 4 December 2023 recommending Services Australian and DSS "develop an overarching strategy to manage remedies for customers affected or potentially affected by unlawful income apportionment decisions."
Yours faithfully,
M.K.
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:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address]. Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.
With regards
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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.
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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 M.K
Thank you for the below request which seeks:
all estimates held or created by the Department of either:
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts
(both fully recovered or outstanding) potentially affected by unlawful
income apportionment decisions OR
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts
(both fully recovered or outstanding) related to earnings from employment.
I am only seeking documents created since the release of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman's report on 4 December 2023 recommending Services Australian and
DSS "develop an overarching strategy to manage remedies for customers
affected or potentially affected by unlawful income apportionment
decisions."
We have reviewed the request and wanted to clarify some aspects of the
scope. Would the following capture what you are interested in?
A document that provides the Department’s latest estimate of the total
number and dollar value of historical social security debts (both fully
recovered or outstanding) potentially affected by unlawful income
apportionment decisions
Response to this email by 12pm Friday 8 November 2024 would be
appreciated.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear FOI,
I am not sure why what I have requested isn't possible - why can you only release the 'latest' estimate?
I assume you have tried to estimate/calculate the number of debts and $$$ potentially impacted by income apportionment as part of responding to the Ombudsman's report from December 2023. I am requesting any and all of those estimates/calcualtions done since the report was released.
Or have there been so many estimates/calculations that the scope of my request is too big?
Yours sincerely,
M.K.
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:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address]. Alternatively you can contact the Department by
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 morning M.K.
Thank you for your reply, please find the formal acknowledgement of your
request below.
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (Department) on 28 October 2024, in which you requested access
under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to:
I would like all estimates held or created by the Department of either:
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts
(both fully recovered or outstanding) potentially affected by unlawful
income apportionment decisions OR
- the total number and dollar value of historical social security debts
(both fully recovered or outstanding) related to earnings from employment.
I am only seeking documents created since the release of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman's report on 4 December 2023 recommending Services Australian and
DSS "develop an overarching strategy to manage remedies for customers
affected or potentially affected by unlawful income apportionment
decisions."
The decision for this request is currently due on 27 November 2024. This
timeframe may be extended, for example, where the Department decides to
consult with third parties. We will inform you if this occurs.
Removal of certain information from the scope of your request
The Department is seeking your agreement to remove the following
information from the scope of your request where it is not available from
public sources:
o group email addresses used for internal departmental purposes;
o all personal information of members of the public;
o all personal information of non-Senior Executive Service (SES)
government staff; and
o all personal information of SES level government staff with the
exception of the names of the Department’s SES staff.
If you agree to the above amendment the names of the Department’s SES
staff will be released where they are present in the documents and do not
attract an exemption.
Could you please respond to this email by Wednesday 13 November to confirm
your agreement to this change.
Should you have any queries about this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI team via email at [1][Department of Social Services request email].
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear FOI,
Yes I am happy removing names and group emails from the request.
Yours sincerely,
M.K.
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:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address]. Alternatively you can contact the Department by
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]