8.1.7.20 Social worker involvement - specific payments

Summary

This topic describes the social work role in social security policy related payments and assessments.

Note: Social work involvement may be required or included in social security policy related payments and assessments outside those outlined below.

Where a payment or assessment involves a person who falls within the social work priority group or is identified as experiencing vulnerability, a social work assessment and/or support should be offered.

Social work involvement for YA, SpB and DSP independent status based on the unreasonable to live at home provisions

For information on the social work delegation for an unreasonable to live at home assessment refer to 3.2.5.30.

Social work involvement for CSS exemption categories

For information on the social work delegation for CSS exemption categories refer to FA Guide 3.1.5.100 Role of the ISO & social worker.

Social work involvement for CP and/or CA

A social worker can contribute information to assist a delegate in making a decision about qualification for CP. Information that a social worker may be asked to provide includes:

• details of the care receiver's (1.1.C.20) personal care or supervision needs
• the level of care or supervision actually being provided by the carer
• whether any other person assists with the care of the care receiver and if so, whether the CP claimant/recipient is providing constant care
• whether the care receiver has any care needs that are not being met by the carer
• if the carer and care receiver do not live in the same home, whether the care requirements for qualification are met
• if the carer is aged under 18 years or aged 80 years or over, whether they have the physical and/or emotional capacity to manage the care receiver's care needs.

For further information, refer to 3.6.4.110.

Borderline claims in respect of care load for CP (child) will be referred to a carer specialised assessment team social worker for investigation of additional evidence of the claimant's qualification for CP. A specific group of social workers with appropriate skills undertake this function.

For a CP (child), a care receiver with a terminal condition requires a review 24 months from the date the payment was granted, and every 12 months thereafter. Social workers will review each case sensitively and provide information to assist a delegate in making a decision about continuing qualification for CP, including whether the CP recipient is continuing to provide care and whether the care receiver's condition has changed.

Social work involvement for CP extreme circumstances family & domestic violence

For information on social work involvement for CP extreme circumstances family and domestic violence refer to 3.7.4.20 and 3.7.4.25.

Social work involvement for SpB

A social work assessment is often essential in determining whether or not a person meets the qualification criteria for SpB and if other assistance is required.

A social worker can prepare background reports and make recommendations to assist a delegate in making decisions about qualification for payment of SpB including:

• information to assist in establishing whether a young person can be classed as homeless under the SSAct
• assistance in dealing with assessments relating to personal disaster or crisis
• detail about the level of support being provided or able to be provided to assist with qualification and determination of the rate of SpB, and
• information about possible state support for children 'at risk' or under the age of 15.