Outcomes of a Mandatory Review

Caregivers must respond to their Mandatory Review before their Mandatory Review date, or their payments will suspend.

When a caregiver responds to the review, there are a number of outcomes that can occur. Once MSD has determined if the caregiver qualifies, MSD will either:

• continue paying the benefit at the existing rate
• adjust the rate of benefit so the caregiver is getting the correct rate
• suspend if there is no benefit payable for a period
• cancel the benefit if the caregiver no longer qualifies

The Mandatory Review is complete when MSD makes a decision about the caregiver's eligibility for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit and the rate of benefit payable (if applicable).

MSD may also carry out a separate review of Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit at any time, where there is good reason.

When a caregiver responds to their Mandatory Review and confirms they have had no change in circumstances, MSD must continue their Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit at the same rate.

The caregiver's next review date will be set for 52 weeks from the date MSD completed the review.

When a caregiver responds to the Mandatory Review with a change in circumstances, MSD must use the information provided to determine if the caregiver continues to qualify for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit and the rate payable.

If a caregiver is also getting Disability Allowance for the child who Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is being paid for, MSD will use that information to determine if they continue to qualify for Disability Allowance and the rate payable at the same time.

MSD may request further information from the caregiver if it is unclear if the caregiver continues to qualify for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, or the child's Disability Allowance (if applicable).

Date of change

When a caregiver declares a change in circumstances, MSD will need to assess if the caregiver still qualifies for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit and the rate payable and from what date, depending on when the change in circumstances happened or will happen.

Caregiver is also getting other assistance

When the caregiver has provided information as part of the Mandatory Review that could affect their entitlement to or the rate payable of any other assistance, MSD may use this information to review that assistance.

When the other assistance is affected by the outcome of the Mandatory Review, MSD must change the rate, suspend or cancel that assistance where appropriate.

For example, a caregiver gets Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit for multiple children and the outcome of the Mandatory Review is that the caregiver is entitled to a different rate as one of the children has left their care, any other assistance paid for the child must be reviewed, and the rate may change or stop if they no longer qualify.

When a caregiver has responded to the review and further information is needed to determine if the caregiver continues to qualify for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, or that the rate of payment is correct, MSD must give a reasonable timeframe for the caregiver to provide it.

The date the caregiver is given to provide the information by becomes the caregiver's new deadline to respond to the Mandatory Review. If the caregiver doesn't provide the information that was asked for before the deadline, MSD must suspend the Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit on the new deadline date.

If the caregiver provides the information that was asked for and MSD determines the caregiver continues to qualify for Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit (including the rate payable), a future Mandatory Review date is set 52-weeks from the date MSD completed the review.