Reviews and appeals: if you disagree with a decision
A refusal, cancellation, or rate decision is not the end of the road. DSP decisions can be reviewed, and many are changed when new evidence answers the original reasons. The system has clear stages, and each stage has a time limit, so act promptly and in the right order.
Step 1: Ask for an explanation
Start by asking Services Australia to explain the decision in writing, including which test you did not meet and what evidence was considered. For a medical refusal, the explanation should say whether the problem was diagnosis, treatment and stabilisation, the 20-point score, work capacity, or the Program of Support requirement. That detail tells you exactly what new evidence you need, instead of guessing.
Step 2: Authorised Review Officer
You can ask for an internal review by an Authorised Review Officer, a Services Australia officer who was not involved in the original decision. For most social security decisions, you should request this review within 13 weeks of receiving the original decision. You can provide additional medical evidence at this stage, and you should address each reason in the original decision directly. If you lodge after 13 weeks, you can still request a review, but if it succeeds, your payment may only start from the date you requested the review, rather than being backdated to the original decision.
Step 3: Administrative Review Tribunal, first review
If you disagree with the Authorised Review Officer's decision, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a first review. For most payments, the time limit is 13 weeks from receiving the Authorised Review Officer's decision. The Tribunal looks at the decision afresh and can consider new evidence, but for DSP it generally looks at your medical conditions as they were around the date of the original claim, if the claim was rejected, or around the date of cancellation, if payment was cancelled. Evidence that describes your function at that time, such as treating doctor reports and specialist assessments from that period, is therefore the most helpful.
Step 4: Second review and Federal Court
If you disagree with the Tribunal's first review decision, you can seek a second review by the Tribunal within 28 days of the first review decision. A further appeal to the Federal Court is possible only on a question of law, not because you disagree with the Tribunal's view of the facts, and you should get legal advice before taking that step, because costs can apply.
Help with reviews
Disability advocacy services and community legal centres can help you prepare a review, gather the right evidence, and present your case. Bring your decision letters, your medical evidence, your reporting history, and a clear timeline of your condition and treatment. If you are receiving another payment while you appeal, such as JobSeeker Payment, tell Services Australia about the appeal so your records stay consistent. Keep copies of every review request and its date, because the time limits run from when you received each decision, not from when you felt ready to act.