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Financial Assistance

Why is it important to fully complete the medical certificate?

It's important to fully complete the medical certificate so:

• we can quickly establish if a benefit is appropriate and eligibility to the correct benefit
• the person will get their financial support in a timely manner, reducing stress that may occur with a delay
• we can also establish the person’s ability to participate in social and employment related activities 
• it will save you time as we won’t have to follow up and ask you for missing information.

How to complete the Sickness Benefit and Invalid’s Benefit medical certificate

Answer all questions

Please try to answer all the questions and tell us if you know of interventions or treatment that could assist the person to improve their capacity for work.

Second opinion

If you for whatever reason think you’re not the most appropriate person or you want a second opinion please tick this box.

READ codes

Question 7 - The READ code will give Work and Income specific information to better understand a person’s ability to work. Please try to use a READ code from the Work and Income list of preferred READ codes.

Impact on ability to work

Questions 12 and 13 - this information is essential and will give Work and Income staff detail of when a person is likely to be ready to plan for work, or what kind of work related activities the person can do now or maybe later.

Duration, Severity and Blindness

Questions 14 to 19 - these questions are about a person's current capacity to seek, undertake or to be available for part-time or full-time employment.

Unable to work from

Question 18 - this is the date from which the person was unable to work, due to their medical condition.  Or, it is the date of expiry of the last Work and Income Medical Certificate.

Question 19 - is about the expected duration of the severity of the current condition. A condition is considered to be permanent when it is expected to last at least 2 years or a person's life expectancy is less than 2 years. A severe condition will prevent a person from regularly being in employment for 15 hours or more per week. For example a cardiovascular disease is a permanent condition and an acute MI is a severe condition. However most people will recover and return to work. The expected review in this case would be three months.

Reassessment

The first medical certificate for someone eligible for Sickness Benefit provides a maximum of 4 weeks coverage. Subsequent medical certificates can provide up to a maximum of 13 weeks coverage.  For people with permanent and severe conditions who may be eligible for Invalids Benefit, any reassessment period can be determined after a minimum duration of two years.

Comments

Question 20 - you can indicate here if you would like Work and Income to contact you.

Question 21 provides an opportunity for you to make comments regarding appropriate support for the person.

Health Practitioner Identity

Legibly complete your name or personal stamp and sign. Add your Health Practitioner Index Number (HPI) which is available from your Annual Practicing Certificate (APC).

Consent

Always tick the appropriate box to confirm that the person who has consulted you has given permission for you to share this information with Work and Income. If the person does not give consent Work and Income can not consider the Medical Certificate for the benefit application.

Resources to help you

For additional help please refer to the Health Practitioner Handbook or contact your Health and Disability Co-ordinator. They can advise you on processes including:

• completing the medical certificate
• services
• any general enquiries relating to Work and Income.