Deciding if your client is severely disabled
There is no standard medical assessment for deciding if someone is severely disabled for the purposes of this income exemption. You should use all the information you have available to decide if your client is severely disabled.
How do I decide if someone is severely disabled?
Work, for a client with a severe disability is more complicated and requires additional effort than for a client with mild to moderate disability or a non-disabled person.
Your client will be considered severely disabled if the effects of their disability extremely limit their ability to:
- participate in employment
- take care of themselves and
- participate in the community
Indications of severe disablement
Where the effects of your client's disability are extremely limiting, generally they will require assistance from another person to carry out at least some of the daily routines of life. Consider whether your client:
- requires another person to assist them with the daily personal support such as washing, dressing, cooking or eating
- is unable to travel without assistance from another person
- requires the presence of another person or persons to ensure their safety
If one or more of these situations apply your client is likely to be considered severely disabled. You should consider all information available to you to make this decision.
Use all information available to you
Some of the sources of information that may help you decide if someone is severely disabled are:
- recent medical or disability assessments from your client's application or review of Supported Living Payment, Jobseeker Support or Child Disability Allowance
- a recent Ongoing Resourcing Scheme assessment (ORS) for a school leaver
- your clients NASC assessment
For more information see:
People likely to be severely disabled
Not all clients with a disability would be considered severely disabled. However there are some groups where it may be easier to identify that extra personal effort is required for them to participate in their community (including employment).
For more information see:
May not apply to all Supported Living Payment clients
The income exemption for severe disablement is not restricted to clients receiving Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury or disability or total blindness) nor does it automatically apply to all Supported Living Payment clients.
For example, a client receiving Supported Living Payment may have a condition that severely restricts their ability to regularly work for 15 hours per week but they are able to:
- undertake their daily routines
- live by themselves or with limited support
- participate in their community (for example, by undertaking volunteer work or other activities) and
- continue to transport themselves to work and community activities
Generally this person would not be considered as being severely disabled for the purposes of deciding the income exemption for severe disablement.
Process for decisions
All decisions require comment from your Regional Disability Advisor or Regional Health Advisor.
For more information see:
