The Tribunal can review a decision where Centrelink has:

• rejected your application for a Disability Support Pension, or
• cancelled your Disability Support Pension. 

The Tribunal must decide whether Centrelink’s decision is right or wrong.  

It will do this by looking at the evidence you provide and reviewing that evidence against the rules in the Social Security Law.

The Tribunal needs to decide:

• whether you have a health condition that is permanent. Permanent means the condition is:
  • fully diagnosed
  • fully treated and  
  • fully stabilised
• whether you have a health condition that gives you 20 points under the Impairment Tables. The Impairment Tables are used to assess the impact of your conditions and the effects the condition has on your ability to work. The Tables then assign an impairment rating. More information is given under ‘How will I be rated under the Impairment Tables?’ below
• how much the health condition affects your ability to work or take part in training
• whether you meet other rules, including rules about:
  • whether you need to participate in a program of support
  • where you live, and/or where you lived when you applied
  • other income and assets. 

The Impairment Tables describe day-to-day activities that may be affected by impairments. There are 15 Impairment Tables. They deal with different kinds of functions, including physical, mental and intellectual functions.

The medical evidence you provide is used to rate your impairment level under the Impairment Tables. You can find more information on the Services Australia website.

To qualify for a Disability Support Pension, you must have 20 points. The 20 points can go under one table, or spread across more than one table.

The Tribunal will look at the evidence you give and decide whether your medical conditions give you 20 points under one or more of the Impairment Tables. 

Yes. But the Tribunal can only look at medical conditions as they were around:

• the date you claimed the Disability Support Pension (if your application was rejected), or  
• the date your Disability Support Pension was cancelled.  

The most helpful medical evidence you can provide is:

• if you have a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or evidence from a clinical psychologist.
• evidence from your doctor describing how your medical condition affects your ability to function
• evidence about the day-to-day activities and functions you can and cannot do because of your health condition.  

You might have received a new diagnosis or extra treatment since Centrelink made its decision. Or your conditions may have worsened. In these cases, you may want to contact Centrelink and make a new claim for a Disability Support Pension.  

This will not prevent the Tribunal reviewing Centrelink’s earlier decision. 

To be eligible for the Disability Support Pension, for at least the next two years:

• you must be unable to work for 15 or more hours per week, and
• you must be unable to take part in training for 15 or more hours per week.

Evidence you give about your ability to work or attend training should include all types of work available to you. This should not be limited by your location or previous experience. 

A Program of Support helps people with disability to prepare for, find and keep a job.  

If you are given an ‘impairment rating’ of 20 points or more under a single Impairment Table:

• you do not need to have participated in a Program of Support

If you do not have at least 20 points under a single Impairment Table:

• you will need to give evidence that you have participated in a Program of Support before you qualify for a Disability Support Pension. 

You can read our information about the review process for Centrelink payment cases on this website or contact us if you have any questions.