[Suzy Melki]

Hi
I have been asked the question from my new Auditor as to why I do not process/reconcile the pensioner concession Subsidy claim at the same time/date as Centrelink Verification reporting. currently my council process/reconciles to the reports from the system after due date of 1st Instalment. is there a legislation where it may state what is the cut off date for this process other than the cut off date provided from NSW Office of Local Government lodgement date which is(6th October for 2017/18) what is the best practice as movements do happen from time of verification to reconciliation and lodgement date for this claim.
Thank you in advance.

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Suzy

Yes I believe you can perform a pensioner verification at any time and as often as you may like.

I am not sure what value would be added by running a verification at the time of the PCS because the process is in a state of continual change, seems excessive to me.

I would recommend at least verifying data twice a year, if your council is like every other in NSW you probably get more applications in July/August than any other time. Accordingly I would recommend October prior to sending November quarterly reminders and also April to capture changes prior to the annual levy but also in time for the fourth instalment run. I think you will find two runs a year fits with best practice.

I am not aware of any legislative requirement to verify pensioner information, but there is a requirement for only those who are eligible pensioners to receive a rebate which kind of saying that some sort of verification should be performed.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you need anything further.

Regards,
Andrew

[Cherie Muir]

Hi Suzy

Randwick verifies quarterly in the month proceeding notice issue; June, September, December, March.
Hence we have pensioners coming off and on pretty much all year. When we get Audited the auditor looks at all 4 match reports. Our auditors have never questioned it.

Matching 4 times a year makes it clean and quick … and you’re getting a Deceased report 4 times per year. + you’re taking off rebates in clean/full quarters

I tend to cut off for the annual subsidy claim in early September each year.

Regards
Cherie Muir

[David Grima]

Hi Suzy,
I am getting the same stupid questions and suggestions as you so I am assuming you are being audited by the Audit Office?
After 10 exhaustive days of stupid questions, dumb looks, training and interrogation I still don’t have a certificate from the auditors.
The latest direction from the auditors is that before giving me a certificate for the amount that I am claiming, I must do a report to Council advising that we have written off the rebates detailed in the pension claim.
My director sat me down in his office and made me promise to be nice but f*ck it is proving difficult to bite my tongue.
Baldy

[Suzy Melki]

Thank you all for your replies.
To process this task more than once a year (13,000 Pensioner accounts, and approx. 3,000 rejected each time) will generate a lot of repeated work as Centrelink file does not always match the order of ownership as per land titles and plus other small discrepancy issues.
Yes, David I have been Audited by the Audit office and they want everything to mirror, reports to run at same time, same day, so if you are out by $1.00 or one number they want to fully investigate and have it justified , and when you do, they will still report it. It is a no win situation.
They ask for the possibility to do but not necessary can be done.
thanks again.

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