11.7.7 Review & Appeal Processes under the VIM Measure

Introduction

A person who is unhappy with a decision made under the SS(Admin)Act about their income management arrangements under the VIM Measure has access to the full range of review and appeal rights, including AROs and the SSAT.

Review of decisions is provided for in SS(Admin)Act Part 4, where a review of a decision of an officer under the social security law can occur. A decision by the delegate of the Secretary under Part 3B will be a decision by an officer and therefore reviewable under the social security law.

Decisions that a person may seek review of include:

• A decision not to enter into an income management agreement under SS(Admin)Act section 123UM, i.e. a decision that the delegate cannot enter into a VIM agreement with a person, or a decision that it is not feasible to deliver income management services to a person.
• A decision to take an action under Division 6 directed to meeting the priority needs of a person, i.e. a decision to distribute income managed funds in a particular way.
• A decision with respect to income management debt recovery (see, for example, SS(Admin)Act section 123ZJ).
• All decisions affecting social security payments not directly related to income management. For example, decisions about eligibility/rate/participation or failures/suspension/cancellation/debt recovery etc. (Decisions affecting family assistance payments are reviewable in accordance with the family assistance law.) Income managed people in all jurisdictions retain ordinary review/appeal rights in this regard.
• A decision on how residual income managed funds are disbursed under SS(Admin)Act section 123WJ, once a person ceases income management, i.e. either as a lump sum or instalments or by allocating to meet priority needs.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act Part 4 Review if decisions, section 123UM Voluntary income management agreement, section 123ZJ Value of action taken under Division 6 exceeds credit balance of income management account, section 123WJ Payment of credit balances of income management accounts-person ceases to be subject to the income management regime

In this section

This section contains the following topics:

11.7.7.10 Review of Decision that a Person is Unable to Enter Into a VIM Agreement

11.7.7.20 Review of Decision in Relation to Meeting the Priority Needs of a Person under VIM

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Last reviewed: 20 March 2012