Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review

When a client responds to their Mandatory Review and confirms they have no change in circumstances, MSD must generally continue their Accommodation Supplement at the same rate.

However, there are some exceptions when MSD can request further information from the client to determine if they continue to qualify for Accommodation Supplement or that the rate of payment is correct.

Exceptions include when, at the time the client responds to their Mandatory Review, they:

• have been getting Disability Allowance and have had no change in their disability related costs for three consecutive years or
• have been getting Accommodation Supplement and have had no change in their accommodation costs for three consecutive years or
• have had no change to their confirmed income amount for three consecutive years or
• are a non-beneficiary and have confirmed no income

If a client has one or more of these exceptions, MSD must consider if further information is required from the client before deciding the outcome of the Mandatory Review.

The decision to request further information from the client should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Consider additional factors such as:

• the type of costs the client has (e.g. accommodation costs vary with economic conditions and would be unlikely to have no change over an extended period)
• when the client last provided verification of their costs (if it was required e.g. home ownership costs or accommodation costs that are unusually high)
• other resources available to meet their costs (e.g. when the client has no income declared and is only getting assistance for some of their expenses, or when the client's income has not changed over an extended period)

If further information is needed to determine if the client continues to qualify for Accommodation Supplement or that the rate of payment is correct, MSD must give a reasonable timeframe for the client to provide it.

The date the client is given to provide the information by becomes the client's new deadline to respond to the Mandatory Review. If the client does not provide the information that was asked for, MSD must suspend the Accommodation Supplement from the new deadline date.

If the client provides the information that was asked for and MSD determines the client continues to qualify for Accommodation Supplement (including the rate payable), the future Mandatory Review date is set 52 weeks from the date MSD completed the review.

Example

Owen gets Accommodation Supplement to help with his accommodation costs of $375 per week. Owen is getting the maximum rate of Accommodation Supplement for the area he lives in. He recently stopped working and declared no income to MSD on 5 September 2027.

Owen's Mandatory Review is due on 10 December 2027. He responds to his review before the review date and confirms he has had no change in his circumstances.

As Owen is a single non-beneficiary (he is not getting a main benefit) and has confirmed no income at the time the Mandatory Review is returned, MSD must consider whether further information is required before completing the Mandatory Review.

MSD considers Owen's circumstances and notes that he has $210 a week that he needs to pay in his rent, after getting Accommodation Supplement. As he has not declared a change in his income, MSD determines that it is reasonable to request further information about how Owen is meeting those costs as he may qualify for other assistance.

Owen is asked to provide this information by 24 December (his new deadline for the review) or his Accommodation Supplement will stop. Two weeks is a reasonable amount of time because Owen only needs to contact MSD to confirm the details, he does not need to provide evidence. Owen contacts MSD on 15 December 2027 and confirms that he is renting from his uncle who is only charging him $165 a week since he was made redundant from his job. MSD reassess his Accommodation Supplement accordingly. MSD invites Owen to apply for Jobseeker Support if he is actively seeking full-time employment. Owen doesn't want to apply right now but says he will get in contact with MSD if he decides that he does want to apply for Jobseeker Support.

Owen's rate of Accommodation Supplement reduces from $165 to $72 a week, he will use his savings to make up the shortfall in his rent. MSD completes the Mandatory Review and his next review date is set for 52 weeks in the future (13 December 2028).

In some situations, there may be good reason for the client having no change in their costs or income, or no income, and further information may not be needed. For example, the client may have provided recent evidence of their costs or income, they may have recently discussed their circumstances with MSD or a non-beneficiary client with no income may be in the process of applying for a main benefit.

If no further information is needed for MSD to determine the client continues to qualify for Accommodation Supplement (including the rate payable), the future Mandatory Review date is set 52 weeks from the date MSD completed the review.

Example

Marique is getting Accommodation Supplement for help with her accommodation costs of $550 rent per week.

Marique's Mandatory Review for Accommodation Supplement is due 9 November 2026 and she responds on 5 November 2026 to confirm she has had no change in her circumstances. The last change she declared was in July 2023 when she moved into her rental property.

As Marique has been getting Accommodation Supplement and declared no change in her accommodation costs for three consecutive years at the time the Mandatory Review is returned, MSD must consider whether further information is required before completing the Mandatory Review.

MSD considers Marique's circumstances and sees that she recently provided verification of these costs in the form of a letter from her landlord when applying for assistance with rent arrears. This confirms that Marique's current accommodation costs are the same as they were in 2023.

MSD determines that no further information is required to determine Marique continues to qualify for Accommodation Supplement. Her Accommodation Supplement continues at the same rate, and her next review date is set for 52 weeks in the future (4 November 2027).