Table of contents
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Table of contents
- 1 – Introduction
- 2 – Types of matters that may be assisted
- 3 – Criminal law guidelines
- 4 – Commonwealth family law and child support guidelines
- 5 – Commonwealth civil law guidelines
- 6 – State family guidelines
- 7 – State civil law guidelines
- 8 – Standard grants assessment process
- 9 – Simplified grants assessment process
- 10 – Referral and practitioner panels
- 11 – Means test
- 12 – Commonwealth merits test
- 13 – State reasonableness test and interests of justice test
- 14 – Special circumstances
- 15 – Applying for a grant of legal assistance
- 16 – Decision to grant or refuse assistance
- 17 – Reconsideration and review of decisions
- 18 – Standard terms and conditions
- 19 – Contributions and overdue payments
- 20 – Abandoning legal assistance
- 21 – Finalising grants of legal assistance
- 22 – Allocation of work to lawyers and law firms
- 23 – Payments to lawyers and service providers
- 24 – Compliance reviews
- 25 – Privacy protection
- 26 – Complaints and feedback
- Topic index
- Invoices, worksheets and forms
- Contact us
Table V – Social security reviews and appeals
A lump sum preparation fee is payable for Authorised Review Officer (ARO) review, Social Security Appeals tribunal (SSAT) appeals and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) appeals.
Separate appearance fees are provided for SSAT appeal and AAT appeal. A discrete grant of assistance is required for each stage.
These fees are effective from 1 October 2011. For fees payable in matters prior to this date, see Costs payable in civil law matters in the VLA Handbook (September 2011).
These fees may be claimed using the Social security reviews and appeals – Table V tax invoice.
ARO review
The lump sum preparation fee of $1206 includes:
- taking instructions
- making freedom-of-information (FOI) requests
- reading all material
- obtaining any necessary medical or other report
- drafting submission
- reading decision and advising client.
SSAT appeal
The lump sum preparation fees in the table below include:
- taking instructions
- making FOI requests
- reading all material
- obtaining any necessary medical or other report
- taking instructions from witnesses
- drafting submission
- reading decision and advising client.
| Service/proceeding | Fee payable |
|---|---|
| Preparation fee if ARO review aided | $686 |
| Preparation fee if ARO review not aided | $1372 |
| Preparation fee: appearance before SSAT | $880 |
AAT appeal
The lump sum preparation fees in the table below include:
- taking instructions
- making FOI requests
- reading all material
- obtaining any necessary medical or other report
- taking instructions from witnesses
- drafting submission
- reading decision and advising client.
| Service/proceeding | Fee payable |
|---|---|
| If SSAT appeal aided | $858 |
| If SSAT appeal not aided | $1544 |
| Appearance before AAT: conference | $185 |
| Appearance before AAT: daily fee) | $1426 |