Medical certificates

Clients must provide a medical certificate to support their application for Jobseeker Support (health condition, injury or disability). Generally, clients provide a Work Capacity Medical Certificate, however MSD can accept other medical certificates if they contain all the information required.

The Work Capacity Medical Certificate provides information to support MSD to:

• determine whether the client qualifies for the Jobseeker Support and
• determine the services and supports a client needs to work and
• apply relevant obligations and exemptions from work obligations

A medical certificate for Jobseeker Support (health condition, injury or disability) must be completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant).

The information required on the medical certificate includes:

• a primary diagnosis plus any relevant secondary diagnoses and
• the impact of the condition on the client's capacity for work (including whether a client can work part-time for at least 15 hours per week) and
• the likely duration of the period of time-off needed and
• any other relevant information

If the information to determine the client's entitlement to Jobseeker Support (health condition, injury or disability), and the client's capacity for work is unclear, seek advice from the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor.

If a Work Capacity Medical Certificate is not complete MSD must:

• discuss with the client the need for MSD to contact their medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) to request the relevant information or
• refer to the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor for advice

The Privacy Statement on the application form allows MSD to contact the health practitioner to verify any answers on the Work Capacity Medical Certificate that are unclear or unanswered.

Note if MSD can determine the client qualifies for Jobseeker Support on the grounds of a health condition, injury or disability from the information in the medical certificate, MSD can continue with processing the application.

This means the client can continue being paid before MSD determines if they should have work obligations.

MSD must obtain the client's consent before contacting the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) to discuss any information additional to the information already provided on the medical certificate. This includes:

• information required to determine whether the client qualifies for the benefit or their capacity to work
• obtaining specialist reports held by the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant)

In some circumstances MSD may need to refer the client to a designated health practitioner for further assessment. This includes when the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant)indicates on the medical certificate that a second opinion is appropriate.

The registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) may also indicate that another person (other than themselves or a designated health practitioner) is best placed to provide the information for the client including a medical specialist or a hospital doctor. When the medical certificate indicates 'other', seek advice from the Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor.

If there is likely to be any delay in deciding the client's application for Jobseeker Support on the ground of a health condition, injury or a disability, MSD may need to consider some other form of financial assistance in the meantime. This could include granting hardship assistance.

The client's registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) may indicate on the medical certificate they would like MSD to contact them to discuss the client's diagnosis and their capacity to work.

In this situation, MSD does not need to obtain the client's consent before contacting their practitioner. In most cases they will want to discuss the information they have provided on the medical certificate.

Note the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) is required to discuss the information disclosed on the medical certificate when they meet with the client.