CDF APPROVAL FOR HIGHER LEVEL EMPLOYER SUPPORT PAYMENTS - JANUARY 2013 GUIDE

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1 CDF APPROVAL FOR HIGHER LEVEL EMPLOYER SUPPORT PAYMENTS - JANUARY 2013 GUIDE This guide relates to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Approval for higher level Employer Support Payment Scheme (ESPS) payments for Defence service by specified doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health officers, effective from 1 January Claim forms For an employer of a Reservist health professional, use AD CDF Approval for Medical, Dental, Nursing or Allied Health Officers - Employer's Claim Form For a self-employed Reservist health professional, use AD CDF Approval for Medical, Dental, Nursing or Allied Health Officers - Claim Form for Self Employed Reservists Where to send Claim forms for service by Reservist health professionals should be submitted to the ESPS Directorate: ESPS Directorate Department of Defence BDP BP PO Box 7925 CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 When to claim Claims must be submitted within six months from the first day of Defence service being claimed. Late claims for service between 6 12 months earlier can only be approved if a late waiver is approved by a decision-maker, who must be satisfied the claim was submitted late for reasons beyond the claimant s control (such as illness or injury). Claims submitted more than 12 months late must be rejected.

2 OVERVIEW The CDF Approval authorises higher level ESPS payments for Defence service by Reserve health professionals. Genuine Employment - To qualify, a claimant must have a genuine employment situation (including self-employment). Eligible Specialisations - The Reserve member s health professional must be within one of the medical, dental, nursing or allied health specialisations listed in the CDF Approval (or the member s health specialisation must be agreed by a Service Chief/delegate and either CJHLTH or SGADFR). Eligible Service - The Defence service undertaken by the Reservist must be one of the types of service listed in the CDF Approval. WHO CAN CLAIM You can claim under the CDF Approval if you are: the employer of a medical, dental, nursing or allied health officer in the ADF Reserves who is within a class of health specialisation listed in the CDF Approval; or a self-employed medical, dental, nursing or allied health officer in the ADF Reserves within one of the listed specialisations. If the officer s health specialisation is not listed, a higher level ESPS payment may be authorised if the class of health specialisation is determined to be eligible by a Service Chief (or delegate) and either CJHLTH or SGADFR. Multiple Employment Arrangements If the Reservist is in a multiple employment arrangement (e.g. employed in a public hospital and also with a private practice), both the Reservist and the hospital can claim. HOW MUCH WILL BE PAID Payment rates for Financial Year (FY) 2012/13 are specified in the CDF Approval. Payment rates will increase on 1 Jul each year. Future annual indexation of payment rates will use the same average weekly earnings (AWOTE) increase as applies to the standard ESPS payment rate. Details of payment rates for future FY will be available on the Defence Reserves Support website at Payments for part-time employment are made on a pro-rata basis. If the Reservist is in a multiple employment arrangement, the payment entitlement of each claimant is treated as a separate payment (the entitlement is not apportioned between the claimants).

3 WHAT SERVICE IS ELIGIBLE. To be eligible, the duration of the service must be five consecutive days or longer, including the time spent travelling to and from the place of duty. Public holidays that precede or adjoin the period of service may be counted towards the five day requirement. For Aero-medical Evacuation tasks or pre-deployment training, payments may be approved for periods of three consecutive days or longer. The following service is automatically eligible service under the CDF Approval: Service on an ADF operation; Service undertaking pre-deployment training for an ADF operation; Service on a: (a) training exercise, (b) training course (either as a student, instructor or officer conducting the course), or (c) other training opportunity (including attendance at a medical fellowship) that has been approved by CJHLTH or SGDHR, whether the exercise, course or training opportunity is an ADF event or a foreign or combined event with ADF participation; Service on a naval ship deployment (whether an RAN or foreign ship). Service on: (a) Post Operation Psychological Screening (POPS), (b) Return to Australia Psychological Screening (RtAPS), (c) Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP); or (d) service as a Health Officer with Navy, Army or Air Force Cadet camps or training The following service will become eligible service under the CDF Approval if it is authorised by CJHLTH or SGDHR: Service providing: (a) civil aid, (b) humanitarian assistance, (c) disaster relief, (d) assistance in a medical or civil emergency, or (e) provision of other medical support or other duty.

4 ELIGIBILITY RULES QUALIFYING PERIOD The normal two week qualifying period must be completed. However, payments are then backdated to the 1st day of eligible service. In some circumstances, payments can be made even though the two week qualifying period was not completed (e.g. if caused by reasons beyond the member s control). RELEASE FOR DEFENCE SERVICE The Reservist must be released to undertake the Defence service. If the Reservist is on annual leave, long service leave or any form of accrued leave entitlement, no ESPS entitlement exists. Employment in Business If the Reservist undertakes work in the business on a day of Defence service (except emergency work or work authorised in writing by the Reservist s commanding officer or branch head), no ESPS payment is payable in respect of those days. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS Documentation requirements vary depending on the type and individual circumstances of the claimant. Some documentation must be submitted with every claim. Other documentation is only required once per FY or at other intervals. A summary of the documentation requirements is provided in the following Table. Claimant Employer Claim form Documents related to Defence service (1) Reservist s employment (2) normal working hours (3) Evidence Business trading & operating Principal Source of income (PSI) (4) Every claim X X 1 st claim of each FY X X X X Self Employed Reservist (with Medical Practice or contracting to Medical Practice) Every claim X X SGADFR will certify with 1 st claim of each FY Other Self Employed Reservist Every claim X X 1 st claim of each FY Initial claim and as required (5) X X X X X X X X

5 Notes: 1. When possible, copies of documentation relating to the Defence service should be provided (e.g. training notice, course instruction or signal concerning service). 2. the Reservist s employment (e.g. payment summary, payroll slip, group certificate, employment contract or other similar evidence). 3. normal work hours (e.g. payroll slip, employment contract or similar evidence). If part-time employment, evidence should cover two months prior to claimed Defence service (e.g. rosters, payroll slips or other similar evidence). 4. Or evidence of Principal Source of Employment. Must cover 12 month assessment period and be updated annually. CIVIL PRACTICE SUPPORT ALLOWANCE If you are a medical officer with a bona fide functioning civil medical practice and deployed on an operation for a period of 2 weeks or more, you should claim Civil Practice Support Allowance (CPSA). If you are entitled to CPSA, your higher level ESPS payment will be reduced by the amount of the CPSA entitlement. SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL HARDSHIP Claimants who can show they have suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the absence of a Reservist on Defence service may seek higher payments. WHAT IF A RESERVIST IS INJURED OR BECOMES ILL Claimants may seek ESPS payments under the CDF Approval if a Reservist has suffered injury or illness on Defence service and cannot return to work or undertake full duties at work. FURTHER ADVICE For further advice: contact ESPS staff on , or esp@defence.gov.au. or access the website at