Downtown Community Ministry

Bulletin

18 April 2007

Benefit Spot Checks At Downtown Ministry

Every client will be offered a benefit spot check next week at Downtown Community Ministry.

The checking exercise, called an "impact", is an opportunity to assess whether DCM clients who are beneficiaries are receiving their full and correct benefit entitlement.

"We're aware that an MSD audit found that 60% of beneficiaries were not receiving their full and correct entitlement" says DCM staff member Di Landy.

As a consequence, Work and Income are conducting a phone outreach to offer clients the opportunity to apply for supplements to their benefits.

"But they will only be contacting those beneficiaries who don't have agents, a sealed file or trespass notices against them. This means our clients won't be called and we are concerned to ensure they get the opportunity to have their benefits checked also. DCM regularly acts as benefit agent for between 300 and 400 clients. That's a lot of people who could miss out" says Di.

During the week, DCM's core services will continue but five frontline staff will focus on assessing every person who comes through the door.

They expect to find that a number of clients are receiving less than they are entitled to for a range of benefits including the Disability Allowance, Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support.

This situation can come about through a lack of information and knowledge about the benefit system so that, for example, when people sign up for a Sickness Benefit they do not realise they could be claiming a Disability Allowance for some of their health related costs such as travel to the doctor or to attend support services.

The National Beneficiary Advocates Group coordinates local "impacts" in collaboration with local Work and Income service centres. DCM plans to make their impact week an annual focus.

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