Social Security Appeals Tribunal

Structure and Operations On this page: Structure Operations Administrative Area Structure The membership of the SSAT comprises the Principal Member, Senior Members and full and part-time members. All members are appointed by the Governor-General. The Principal Member of the SSAT is supported by sta

Accessibility The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. On this page: Document Format Office Facilities Translating and

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

After the Hearing On this page: The Decision Changing a Decision Adjournments Additional Information Implementation of the Decision The Decision The SSAT makes decisions quickly. Usually, you will receive a written decision by post within two weeks of the hearing. The SSAT’s decision is always exp

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

Further Appeal Rights On this page: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Further Appeals Administrative Appeals Tribunal You can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if you do not agree with a SSAT decision regarding your Centrelink appeal. SSAT staff cannot provide advice on whether you

Further Appeal Rights Applicants and other parties who are not satisfied with an SSAT decision regarding their child support appeal can appeal to a court but only on a question of law. There are time limits for instituting appeals. The court which most frequently deals with such appeals is the Fede

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When to lodge an appeal International applicants Costs Withdrawing an appeal Appeal Forms Help with my appeal How to Appeal Appeals against Centrelink decisions can be lodged with the SSAT over the telephone, in writing (using an SSAT appeal form or by send

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When can appeals be lodged? International Cases Costs Forms Help How to Appeal Child support appeals can be lodged over the telephone, in writing (using an appeal form) or in person at any SSAT office. Child support appeals can also be lodged in writing at

Introduction To The SSAT The SSAT is the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink and the Child Support Agency (CSA) about social security, family assistance, education or training and child support payments. Its statutory objective is to provide a mechanism of review that is

Decisions that can be appealed On this page: Centrelink Decisions Why appeal? What the SSAT cannot do Centrelink Decisions The SSAT reviews decisions made under social security law, family assistance law and some other laws. The SSAT reviews all available evidence and applies the applicable law and

Decisions that can be appealed On this page: Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Decisions that CANNOT be appealed to the SSAT Court Appeals Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Most child support decisions of the CSA can be appealed to the SSAT. Child support reviews by the SSAT typic

The Appeal Process On this page: After an appeal is lodged Added Parties Case Managers SSAT access to Centrelink information The Hearing Panel Hearing Options Prosecution After an appeal (application for review) is lodged After an application for review (appeal) of a Centrelink decision is received

The Appeal Process On this page: After an appeal is lodged Case Managers Security Concerns Pre-hearing Conferences Withdrawing an application The Hearing Panel Hearing Options After an appeal is lodged After an application for a review of a CSA decision is received by the SSAT, a Case Manager is as

Structure and Operations On this page: Structure Operations Administrative Area Structure The membership of the SSAT comprises the Principal Member, Senior Members and full and part-time members. All members are appointed by the Governor-General. The Principal Member of the SSAT is supported by sta

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

Disability-Related Needs The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. Individual Assistance Please contact your local SSAT

Welcome to the website of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal is the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink about social security, family assistance, education or training payments. As of 1 January 2007, the Tribunal is also the first level of external review

Structure and Operations On this page: Structure Operations Administrative Area Structure The membership of the SSAT comprises the Principal Member, Senior Members and full and part-time members. All members are appointed by the Governor-General. The Principal Member of the SSAT is supported by sta

Accessibility The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. On this page: Document Format Office Facilities Translating and

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When to lodge an appeal International applicants Costs Withdrawing an appeal Appeal Forms Help with my appeal How to Appeal Appeals against Centrelink decisions can be lodged with the SSAT over the telephone, in writing (using an SSAT appeal form or by send

Decisions that can be appealed On this page: Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Decisions that CANNOT be appealed to the SSAT Court Appeals Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Most child support decisions of the CSA can be appealed to the SSAT. Child support reviews by the SSAT typic

Downloads Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the PDF version of forms. It is available as a free download from the Adobe web site. Viewing options and tools to assist with visually impaired access to PDF files are available at the Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre. Rich Text Format (RTF) do

Frequently Asked Questions Lodgement of Appeals 1. Why can my ex-partner appeal the decision? Under changes made to the Child Support legislation, the SSAT was given the powers to review an objection decision that was made on or after 1 January 2007. An objection decision is a decision taken as a r

Further Appeal Rights Applicants and other parties who are not satisfied with an SSAT decision regarding their child support appeal can appeal to a court but only on a question of law. There are time limits for instituting appeals. The court which most frequently deals with such appeals is the Fede

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When can appeals be lodged? International Cases Costs Forms Help How to Appeal Child support appeals can be lodged over the telephone, in writing (using an appeal form) or in person at any SSAT office. Child support appeals can also be lodged in writing at

Role of the SSAT in Child Support matters On this page: The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal Powers Jurisdiction The Inquisitorial Model Adverse Decisions The SSAT is different to a government department The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal The SSAT is an independent administrative merits review trib

The Appeal Process On this page: After an appeal is lodged Case Managers Security Concerns Pre-hearing Conferences Withdrawing an application The Hearing Panel Hearing Options After an appeal is lodged After an application for a review of a CSA decision is received by the SSAT, a Case Manager is as

The Hearing Process On this page: SSAT Hearings Who can attend a hearing? Representatives Support persons Witnesses Interpreters Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Information Exchange Financial Information Statement of Financial Circumstances Formal Directions/Notices Privacy The Decisio

Statement of Intent The Statement of Intent identifies the commitment made by the SSAT to the Minister and other stakeholders in respect to Corporate Governance. Statement of Expectations The Statement of Expectations to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal by the Minister for Families, Housing, Co

Complaints The SSAT's charter is to provide a mechanism of review which is fair, just, economical, informal and quick. On occasions there are tensions between these competing principles. Sometimes the more complex matters take longer to finalise. If a person does not want to appeal an SSAT decision

Complaints The SSAT's charter is to provide a mechanism of review which is fair, just, economical, informal and quick. On occasions there are tensions between these competing principles. Sometimes the more complex matters take longer to finalise. If a person has a complaint about SSAT process they

Contact Details On this page: National Office State Offices The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. See also Disabili

Feedback You can direct any comments and enquiries to the nearest SSAT office or via this website. We treat complaints about the SSAT seriously and may use the information you provide to improve our service to all SSAT users by changing the way we work. To make a complaint, please contact us either

Contract Listing On this page: Senate Order Listing Funding Agreements Cost of Compliance Enquiries Senate Order On Government Agency Contracts Senate Order 192 of 20 June 2001 (amended 27 September 2001, June 2003 and 4 December 2003) requires government agencies to publish at regular intervals a

Copyright and Privacy Copyright Notice Disclaimer Privacy Statement Site Visit Data Collection of Personal Information Copyright Notice The material contained here constitutes Commonwealth copyright and is intended for your general use and information. You may download, display, print and reproduce

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When to lodge an appeal International applicants Costs Withdrawing an appeal Appeal Forms Help with my appeal How to Appeal Appeals against Centrelink decisions can be lodged with the SSAT over the telephone, in writing (using an SSAT appeal form or by send

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When can appeals be lodged? International Cases Costs Forms Help How to Appeal Child support appeals can be lodged over the telephone, in writing (using an appeal form) or in person at any SSAT office. Child support appeals can also be lodged in writing at

Copyright and Privacy Copyright Notice Disclaimer Privacy Statement Site Visit Data Collection of Personal Information Copyright Notice The material contained here constitutes Commonwealth copyright and is intended for your general use and information. You may download, display, print and reproduce

After the Hearing On this page: The Decision Changing a Decision Adjournments Additional Information Implementation of the Decision The Decision The SSAT makes decisions quickly. Usually, you will receive a written decision by post within two weeks of the hearing. The SSAT’s decision is always exp

Decisions that can be appealed On this page: Centrelink Decisions Why appeal? What the SSAT cannot do Centrelink Decisions The SSAT reviews decisions made under social security law, family assistance law and some other laws. The SSAT reviews all available evidence and applies the applicable law and

Decisions that can be appealed On this page: Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Decisions that CANNOT be appealed to the SSAT Court Appeals Decisions that CAN be appealed to the SSAT Most child support decisions of the CSA can be appealed to the SSAT. Child support reviews by the SSAT typic

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

Hearing Arrangements On this page: SSAT Hearings Face-to-Face Hearings Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Regional Hearings SSAT Hearings Hearings can be held in a number of convenient ways. The method of conducting the hearing (whether face-to-face, by telephone or video-conference) does

Preparing for a Hearing To prepare for an appeal about a Centrelink decision you can: a) Read the Centrelink Authorised Review Officer letter You can familiarise yourself with what the Authorised Review Officer (ARO) has said about your case, and be prepared to point out to the SSAT which parts of

Role of the SSAT in Centrelink matters On this page: The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal What can the SSAT do? The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal The SSAT is an independent administrative merits review tribunal. It is completely separate from Centrelink. The role of the SSAT is to review decisions

Role of the SSAT in Child Support matters On this page: The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal Powers Jurisdiction The Inquisitorial Model Adverse Decisions The SSAT is different to a government department The SSAT is an Independent Tribunal The SSAT is an independent administrative merits review trib

The Hearing Process On this page: SSAT Hearings Who can attend a hearing? Representatives Support persons Witnesses Interpreters Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Information Exchange Financial Information Statement of Financial Circumstances Formal Directions/Notices Privacy The Decisio

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

General Directions These Directions are made pursuant to subsection 103ZA(1) of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 (the Act) which provides that the Principal Member may give General Directions as to the procedure to be followed by the SSAT in connection with the review of dec

Disability-Related Needs The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. Individual Assistance Please contact your local SSAT

Copyright and Privacy Copyright Notice Disclaimer Privacy Statement Site Visit Data Collection of Personal Information Copyright Notice The material contained here constitutes Commonwealth copyright and is intended for your general use and information. You may download, display, print and reproduce

Definitions The list below, shown alphabetically, contains terms that are commonly used throughout the appeal process. Added party Where the interests of a person who is not a party to a review are affected by a decision (ie. someone other than the person who has lodged the appeal), that person can

Getting There Adelaide Office 12th Floor, 45 Grenfell Street, Adelaide view map § The SSAT office is on Grenfell Street, between King William and Pulteney Streets. § Limited street parking is available and the nearest parking garages are located at Harris Scarfe in Grenfell Street, and in Wyatt Str

Frequently Asked Questions Who can appeal to the SSAT? Anyone affected by a decision of Centrelink, who disagrees with the decision, can appeal to the SSAT. Appeals relate to decisions that affect people’s pensions, benefits, allowances, student assistance etc. Before the SSAT can review a decisio

Frequently Asked Questions Lodgement of Appeals 1. Why can my ex-partner appeal the decision? Under changes made to the Child Support legislation, the SSAT was given the powers to review an objection decision that was made on or after 1 January 2007. An objection decision is a decision taken as a r

Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to use Freedom of Information (FOI) for all government documents? No. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) does not prevent access to documents being provided in other ways, as long as the law allows it. Every day, government and other public bodies res

Contact Details On this page: National Office State Offices The SSAT aims to make information on its website accessible to all users. If you are having difficulty accessing or reading information, please contact us and we will arrange to get the information to you in another form. See also Disabili

Feedback You can direct any comments and enquiries to the nearest SSAT office or via this website. We treat complaints about the SSAT seriously and may use the information you provide to improve our service to all SSAT users by changing the way we work. To make a complaint, please contact us either

The Hearing Process On this page: SSAT Hearings Who can attend a hearing? Representatives Support persons Witnesses Interpreters Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Information Exchange Financial Information Statement of Financial Circumstances Formal Directions/Notices Privacy The Decisio

Downloads Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the PDF version of forms. It is available as a free download from the Adobe web site. Viewing options and tools to assist with visually impaired access to PDF files are available at the Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre. Rich Text Format (RTF) do

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When to lodge an appeal International applicants Costs Withdrawing an appeal Appeal Forms Help with my appeal How to Appeal Appeals against Centrelink decisions can be lodged with the SSAT over the telephone, in writing (using an SSAT appeal form or by send

How to Appeal On this page: How to Appeal When can appeals be lodged? International Cases Costs Forms Help How to Appeal Child support appeals can be lodged over the telephone, in writing (using an appeal form) or in person at any SSAT office. Child support appeals can also be lodged in writing at

Freedom of Information: Section 9 Statement Some documents held by the SSAT are available free of charge upon request. Others are publicly available for inspection and/or purchase. Applications for access to documents may be submitted to any office of the SSAT. Please refer to the following documen

Freedom of Information The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) came into effect on 1 December 1982. The FOI Act was specifically created to facilitate access to information in documentary form in the possession of agencies. It extends the right of every person to access information in the pos

Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to use Freedom of Information (FOI) for all government documents? No. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) does not prevent access to documents being provided in other ways, as long as the law allows it. Every day, government and other public bodies res

Contract Listing On this page: Senate Order Listing Funding Agreements Cost of Compliance Enquiries Senate Order On Government Agency Contracts Senate Order 192 of 20 June 2001 (amended 27 September 2001, June 2003 and 4 December 2003) requires government agencies to publish at regular intervals a

Further Appeal Rights On this page: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Further Appeals Administrative Appeals Tribunal You can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if you do not agree with a SSAT decision regarding your Centrelink appeal. SSAT staff cannot provide advice on whether you

Further Appeal Rights Applicants and other parties who are not satisfied with an SSAT decision regarding their child support appeal can appeal to a court but only on a question of law. There are time limits for instituting appeals. The court which most frequently deals with such appeals is the Fede

Introduction To The SSAT The SSAT is the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink and the Child Support Agency (CSA) about social security, family assistance, education or training and child support payments. Its statutory objective is to provide a mechanism of review that is

Structure and Operations On this page: Structure Operations Administrative Area Structure The membership of the SSAT comprises the Principal Member, Senior Members and full and part-time members. All members are appointed by the Governor-General. The Principal Member of the SSAT is supported by sta

Statement of Intent The Statement of Intent identifies the commitment made by the SSAT to the Minister and other stakeholders in respect to Corporate Governance. Statement of Expectations The Statement of Expectations to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal by the Minister for Families, Housing, Co

At the Hearing On this page: Informal Hearings Representatives Confidentiality Interpreters If you can't attend the hearing At the start of a hearing the SSAT members will explain the hearing process and will then usually ask questions about the matter. You can tell the members why you think the Ce

Hearing Arrangements On this page: SSAT Hearings Face-to-Face Hearings Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Regional Hearings SSAT Hearings Hearings can be held in a number of convenient ways. The method of conducting the hearing (whether face-to-face, by telephone or video-conference) does

Preparing for a Hearing To prepare for an appeal about a Centrelink decision you can: a) Read the Centrelink Authorised Review Officer letter You can familiarise yourself with what the Authorised Review Officer (ARO) has said about your case, and be prepared to point out to the SSAT which parts of

The Hearing Process On this page: SSAT Hearings Who can attend a hearing? Representatives Support persons Witnesses Interpreters Telephone Hearings Video-conference Hearings Information Exchange Financial Information Statement of Financial Circumstances Formal Directions/Notices Privacy The Decisio

A-Z Search List Click on the bold blue text to be directed to the relevant web page. Keywords and a brief description are given under each term.