If you don’t get 20 points on one table, you may have to do a Program of Support before you qualify for the DSP.

You will meet this requirement if any of the following apply to you:

• You have been doing a Program of Support for at least 18 months before you apply for the DSP

• You have finished a Program of Support that is less than 18 months long

• You cannot finish a Program of Support because of your medical conditions

• You have tried to do a Program of Support, but it will not help you return to work because of your medical conditions.

Programs of Support and the DSP can be complex. If you do not know whether you have met this requirement you may wish to speak to someone about your situation.

Centrelink will assess your application and decide if you are eligible.

Centrelink may require you to undergo an assessment.  This could be a Job Capacity Assessment or a Disability Medical Assessment, or both.

Centrelink may ask you for more information.

Centrelink may speak to your doctors about your conditions.

Job Capacity Assessments

A Job Capacity Assessment helps Centrelink understand how much work you are able to do.  A Job Capacity Assessment may also judge whether you are medically eligible for the DSP.

If you need support to help you get back to work, a Job Capacity Assessment will also look at this.

A Job Capacity Assessment is normally done by an Allied Health worker, for example, a psychologist or occupational therapist.  It does not matter if the assessor’s background is not related to your medical conditions.  (For example, a psychologist can still do a Job Capacity Assessment even if you don’t have any mental health conditions).

You should bring your medical evidence with you to your Job Capacity Assessment.

Disability Medical Assessment

A Disability Medical Assessment helps Centrelink understand if you qualify for the DSP.

A Disability Medical Assessment is done by a doctor.

You should bring your medical evidence with you to your Disability Medical Assessment.

You can read more about Disability Medical Assessments here:

Disability Medical Assessment for Disability Support Pension - Disability Support Pension - Services Australia

If Centrelink rejects your application, you will not be paid the DSP. You may be eligible for other payments from Centrelink.

You may ask Centrelink to review their decision.  You can do this by asking for an Authorised Review Officer to review your rejection.

There are time limits for requesting a review.  It is important to request a review within 13 weeks of Centrelink’s decision.

If you disagree with the Authorised Review Officer’s decision, you may ask the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to review it.

There are time limits for appealing to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.  It is important to request a review within 13 weeks of receiving the Authorised Review Officer’s decision.

Centrelink decisions are legal issues.  You can seek legal advice about your situation.

You may apply for the DSP again at any time.  You may need to apply for the DSP again if:

• Your medical conditions have changed or worsened
• You have new medical evidence you want Centrelink to consider

You may choose to apply for the DSP again and have Centrelink or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal review your rejection.  You do not have to choose only one option.