Hi all,
I just wanted to share a positive experience in applying for early access to my superannuation under compassionate grounds for both FFS and SRS.
Executive summary - I was successful in the approval for both surgeries as well as covering costs for accommodation and flights (for both my wife and I), this also includes business class following SRS.
What I was required to do for FFS approval:
Two early access to superannuation request forms, one signed by a medical practitioner (GP) one signed by a specialist (Psychiatrist, but in my case; my GP is a specialist in General Practice Medicine). This form just basically states that you have a chronic mental health condition, it states that the treatment for the condition is FFS and that the treatment is not available in Australia or under the public health system.
A letter from my psychologist stating that I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria under the DSM and that the treatment of this is positively obtained by facial feminisation surgery.
A letter from the FFS surgeon which talks to the differences between general plastic surgery and FFS.
A detailed quote from the FFS surgeon for the cost of the surgery.
A quote for the flights to and from the surgery location.
A quote for the accommodation at the surgery location.
A letter from my GP stating that my wife will be accompanying me for support and care giving.
What I was required to do for SRS approval:
Two early access to superannuation request forms, one signed by a medical practitioner (GP) one signed by a specialist (Psychiatrist, but in my case; my GP is a specialist in General Practice Medicine). This form just basically states that you have a chronic mental health condition, it states that the treatment for the condition is SRS and that the treatment is not available in Australia or under the public health system. Technically it is available in Australia, however I also wrote a coverletter stating that the techniques utilised within Australia for SRS are outdated and that my surgeon in Thailand has pioneered a leading edge technique which provides for a more effective treatment for gender dysphoria.
A letter from my psychologist stating that I was diagnosed with gender dysphoria under the DSM and that the treatment of this is positively obtained by SRS.
A detailed quote from the SRS Surgeon for the cost of the surgery.
A quote for the flights to and from the surgery location.
A quote for the accommodation at the surgery location.
A letter from my GP stating that my wife will be accompanying me for support and care giving.
The service level agreement of Department of Human Services (whom you make the application to) is 28 days. I hadn't heard anything and on the 29th day I called and they escalated the application to an assessor. The assessor called me back later that day with some little things she needed me to get done and once I made the changes she requested I received a verbal approval from her that day.
So there's a fair bit of running about and asking for people to write things for you. However, at the end of the day I'm able to tap into my very healthy superannuation to help with the immediate needs of getting both of these surgeries done and out of the way this year.
If anyone has any questions regarding this, feel free to ask. I'd be more than happy to help where I can. Just keep in mind that accessing your superannuation has financial implications. You are borrowing from your capacity to support yourself in retirement. There are also tax implications... although the tax is paid using your superannuation, it is counted as an income source so it will be added to your taxable income - which may affect other benefits or tax-return at the end of the financial year.
Thanks Ella, very useful info as i am considering this as an option for paying for my FFS and SRS.
Dana
Ok, this post might have just changed my life.
It was going to be at least 5 years before I could pay for SRS myself. This is hugely valuable info!!
I had heard this was the process for accessing superannuation for FFS and SRS several years ago. Glad to hear that it is still the case as I may need it one day.
Cool bananas. Will do that too. Thanks for sharing this info. It's not an option that comes readily to mind.
Have just started this process.
I received my letter for srs on Monday and the psychiatrist filled out one of the medical specialist forms.
I will get my GP to do the other form
I have however had trouble communicating with the surgeon, unanswered emails, takes a week via messenger to reply with a one sentence.
I did get a reply via messenger a few weeks ago with a run down of the procedure but, didn't know if that would suffice for a detailed quote for application.
Will let you know how I get on with it
Quote from: Benni G on July 21, 2017, 09:20:45 AM
Have just started this process.
I received my letter for srs on Monday and the psychiatrist filled out one of the medical specialist forms.
I will get my GP to do the other form
I have however had trouble communicating with the surgeon, unanswered emails, takes a week via messenger to reply with a one sentence.
I did get a reply via messenger a few weeks ago with a run down of the procedure but, didn't know if that would suffice for a detailed quote for application.
Will let you know how I get on with it
Oh thats exciting news! One thing I found was the difficulty getting the surgeon's to sign the specialist form for super release. What I found was that my GP was also a "Specialist in General Practice" - and DHS was happy for him to endorse both of the forms!
Staying in Australia to have my GCS is not a choice but a necessity. So I wonder if that will make it more difficult to get an early super release because I am not going OS....Even then, I thought the max they would extend was 10K?
Quote from: ElizabethK on July 21, 2017, 08:16:25 PM
Staying in Australia to have my GCS is not a choice but a necessity. So I wonder if that will make it more difficult to get an early super release because I am not going OS....Even then, I thought the max they would extend was 10K?
No as far as I am aware that will have no bearing on the decision nor the amount. Its not covered under the public health scheme, thats the major deal. If anything, staying with an Aussie surgeon may make it easier.
All the best with it, let me know if you have any questions or queries!
Quote from: Benni G on July 21, 2017, 09:20:45 AM
Have just started this process.
I received my letter for srs on Monday and the psychiatrist filled out one of the medical specialist forms.
I will get my GP to do the other form
I have however had trouble communicating with the surgeon, unanswered emails, takes a week via messenger to reply with a one sentence.
I did get a reply via messenger a few weeks ago with a run down of the procedure but, didn't know if that would suffice for a detailed quote for application.
Will let you know how I get on with it
Benni,
Hi and welcome to the site.
Thanks for jumping in and sharing information.
This is some really valuable info for our members. Please keep us up to date on your experience.
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Quote from: Ella_bella on July 22, 2017, 07:03:58 AM
No as far as I am aware that will have no bearing on the decision nor the amount. Its not covered under the public health scheme, thats the major deal. If anything, staying with an Aussie surgeon may make it easier.
All the best with it, let me know if you have any questions or queries!
Thankyou for your help
Thanks for posting. I think this is now my preferred destination for surgery.
For those that are unemployed and wish to draw on Super, it may be better to make a claim under Financial Hardship. Reason being that it was very easy (in my past experience in 2014) to make a claim as you only need to prove a) financial status via a bank statement and b) proof of unemployment via a letter from Centrelink. A minimum of six months registered with Centrelink is required.
I don't know if other claim categories will grant you more money, but via Financial Hardship I was able to access a maximum of 10K with 2K deducted in tax. Hope this helps.
I did too and got the 2 k back at tax time LOL
Thanks Ella. I didn't realise this was a while ago.
I did get my payment 14 k , 10 days ago. I filled out the two DHS forms, one by my GP and the other by my psych.
Submitted to DHS on 7 Sep, approved on 4 Oct. Submitted a certified copy (by a JP) to Super fund with certified id documents on 21 Oct and then payment. DHS didn't send out a copy, so I just did a print screen on the computer and made two copies. JP willingly signed it. I also got a email quote and I submitted that to DHS. Got my 4 k tax statement from super fund, I guess I find out in July about that.
After all that, funding, letter, approval letters from cardiologist, endocrinologist, GP ect got denied surgery from somewhere in Thailand for PE event from 3 years ago. Denied a second time too; but, that is another story unfortunately.
Can one of the moderators/admins please make this an 'important topic' for this board? I think all Australians on Susans need to see this!
Just wanted to update here for anyone who is going to go through with this process to fund their surgeries.
I submitted letters from my doctors and was told they were insufficient, and instead told to have my doctors fill in the form found at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017 (https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017).
I hope this saves someone some time because each time you submit the application you have to wait a minimum of 14 days. Best to go straight to using this form rather than have your doctors write their own letters.
P.S. I still think we should have this thread pinned/marked as important!
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on February 21, 2018, 11:32:13 PM
Just wanted to update here for anyone who is going to go through with this process to fund their surgeries.
I submitted letters from my doctors and was told they were insufficient, and instead told to have my doctors fill in the form found at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017 (https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017).
I hope this saves someone some time because each time you submit the application you have to wait a minimum of 14 days. Best to go straight to using this form rather than have your doctors write their own letters.
P.S. I still think we should have this thread pinned/marked as important!
done
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on February 21, 2018, 11:32:13 PM
I submitted letters from my doctors and was told they were insufficient, and instead told to have my doctors fill in the form found at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017 (https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/mo017).
I did originally say that you had to have your GP and Specialist fill out the:
"Two early access to superannuation request forms, one signed by a medical practitioner (GP) one signed by a specialist (Psychiatrist, but in my case; my GP is a specialist in General Practice Medicine). This form just basically states that you have a chronic mental health condition, it states that the treatment for the condition is FFS and that the treatment is not available in Australia or under the public health system."
Yes the form number is mo017.
I have decided to use my super rather than my cash to pay for this if they will allow it which I am sure won't be an issue. I also want to include the Anaesthetics, accommodation and airfares for both of us as my wife is coming to take care of me.
It says I just need to supply quotes and from what I have read here, I also need a letter saying my wife will be accompanying me to look after me.
First stop.....Waiting on the Psych to get back to me about filling out the report form. I will update this as I go through the process.
Have an appointment with my Psych to fill out the report and another with my HRT Dr tomorrow which I may get her to also help with filling out the second report.
Important
When you change your name with the Australian tax office all your super will disappear from your My Gov account until you have officially completed the name change with you Superannuation company/s. I only noticed this after going to check the balances as recorded by my latest super against what the Govt record was. It was then I realised I have not completed the change of name with my Superannuation provider. I have started this process now and hope to have it done in the next few days. They have assured me that once this is complete then the Govt records will be correct.
If you have multiple super accounts it is far easier to change your name once they have been combined into one(if this is your preference) but once you change your name with the ATO anything still in your old name will disappear from view.
So I have now completed all name changes with my superannuation so it is all showing now.
I have the quote from Surgeon and from Anesthetics.
I have both my completed forms by my specialists x 2 letters NB one of them could have been done by my GP but it just worked out as easy to get my HRT Dr to fill in the second report.
So now I need to book and pay for my accomodation and get a couple of airline tickets. Wether they release funds for airfares and accomodation or not it has to be paid for so I may as well just go ahead and do it. I will do that Tomorrow and hopefully submit the final application for superannuation release no later than Tuesday. I am sure this is when the fun will start if I am missing anything.
Will let you all know how that goes. I am not sure what paperpwrok they will want to confirm the need for the accomodation but I have the stanmdard inmformation gioven to me by the Dr along with an email from his office confirming I need to stay in Melbourne for two weeks minimum befoer I can go home. Hopefully this will be enough for them.
Liz
Quote from: ElizabethK on April 21, 2018, 09:14:30 PM
So I have now completed all name changes with my superannuation so it is all showing now.
I have the quote from Surgeon and from Anesthetics.
I have both my completed forms by my specialists x 2 letters NB one of them could have been done by my GP but it just worked out as easy to get my HRT Dr to fill in the second report.
So now I need to book and pay for my accomodation and get a couple of airline tickets. Wether they release funds for airfares and accomodation or not it has to be paid for so I may as well just go ahead and do it. I will do that Tomorrow and hopefully submit the final application for superannuation release no later than Tuesday. I am sure this is when the fun will start if I am missing anything.
Will let you all know how that goes. I am not sure what paperpwrok they will want to confirm the need for the accomodation but I have the stanmdard inmformation gioven to me by the Dr along with an email from his office confirming I need to stay in Melbourne for two weeks minimum befoer I can go home. Hopefully this will be enough for them.
Liz
Be careful because I think I read somewhere that if you have already paid for it you can't get your super released to pay for it.
Quote from: ElizabethK on April 10, 2018, 09:32:54 PM
Have an appointment with my Psych to fill out the report and another with my HRT Dr tomorrow which I may get her to also help with filling out the second report.
Important
When you change your name with the Australian tax office all your super will disappear from your My Gov account until you have officially completed the name change with you Superannuation company/s. I only noticed this after going to check the balances as recorded by my latest super against what the Govt record was. It was then I realised I have not completed the change of name with my Superannuation provider. I have started this process now and hope to have it done in the next few days. They have assured me that once this is complete then the Govt records will be correct.
If you have multiple super accounts it is far easier to change your name once they have been combined into one(if this is your preference) but once you change your name with the ATO anything still in your old name will disappear from view.
Odd, all my Super appears and I know I haven't updated the name for all of them, the process required by some was mind-boggling.
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on April 22, 2018, 11:22:40 PM
Be careful because I think I read somewhere that if you have already paid for it you can't get your super released to pay for it.
So maybe I should just submit a quote for the accommodation instead of a receipt. I am still waiting on the return of the handwritten Dr's report which should be here today to make the final submission. Thanks for your help
take care
Liz
A further note
I have checked the requirements further since reading your comments and I have found a line in the instructions that specifically says "quotes or unpaid invoices" so thanks you so much I now have the appropriate quotes for submission.
Quote from: PurplePelican on April 23, 2018, 02:41:45 AM
Odd, all my Super appears and I know I haven't updated the name for all of them, the process required by some was mind-boggling.
I agree, the hoops they want you to jump through are over the top and the excuse I was given was "legislation"....I should add that I was told that the reason my super went missing was because of my name change and that once I had corrected the issue it would fix it. I have to say it does not surprise me in the least to find out that the information I was given may not be correct. Thanks
Take care
Liz
Quote from: ElizabethK on May 09, 2018, 07:37:06 PM
So maybe I should just submit a quote for the accommodation instead of a receipt. I am still waiting on the return of the handwritten Dr's report which should be here today to make the final submission. Thanks for your help
take care
Liz
A further note
I have checked the requirements further since reading your comments and I have found a line in the instructions that specifically says "quotes or unpaid invoices" so thanks you so much I now have the appropriate quotes for submission.
So glad I could help. :)
I had already paid for the accommodation but I am not too concerned about that and hopefully they will do the same as when I got an early release some years ago in which they just sent me the funds via my bank account. I can't imagine the quotes are anything more that a guide to what it will cost. Hopefully anyway...If anyone can tell me how they deliver the funds I would be grateful.
I posted the application yesterday and if we allow for it to have been received by Tuesday then I should have an answer no later that the 12 of June(28 day service level)
I will post again once I have received a response.
Once again thanks for your help
Liz
I followed up today in regards the application only to find out there is an online part to the process. No real problem but would have been nice to know. When I did the original application there didn't seem to be anything more to do but clearly I was wrong.
I started this process only to get stumped by the application refusing to accept the Super providers ABN number. This little piece took about 45 minutes to remedy only to be told that each time I submit a new ABN I need to refresh the web page...Oh wow really...Anyway got through to the next section only to find it is a repeat of the information in the application form.
In the end I rang the department and the woman was very laid back about the issues I was having as apparently they are quite common. You got to love Govt Departments. Lucky for me the woman went through the application to ensure that everything else was correct. In the end despite submitting evidence in the form of an email along with the surgery information pack I still need to get this in writing specifically addressing their concerns. The biggest being that they now want is "proof" that I need to be in a different city and require a carer. The fact that I need to be in Melbourne is a no brainer...the surgeon is there and the hospital is there...go figure... Pedantic!!!
Anyway am waiting on the letter back from Dr Ives so I can finish and submit the online part of the application. Once approved they will send me a letter that I take to my Super provider who then gives me the funds.
Total exercise in frustration...the pedantic mindlessness of GOVT departments never fails to gob smack me.
Onwards and upwards!!
Liz
Edit: Huge Pat on the back for Dr Ives Team...I submitted my request for a cover letter and updated quote a little under 3 hrs ago and I have the updated documents in front of me now. Bravo for a job well done Dr Ives Practice
I received a letter on the 26th June advising that I had the funds approved. I made an application of withdrawal from my Super company and had the funds deposited in their entirety into my nominated account 9 days later however there was a paperwork foul up during that process that extended it by about 2 days.
I received the funds into my account today. I was going to write a post outlining the basic process to get approval but then I realised that the whole process was supposed to change as of 1 July 2018 as announced on Centrelinks page. They advised that the ATO would now be handling requests for early super release. I do not know how this will impact the process.
What I would say is this....It is well worth spending the time over getting your documents right. The inmformation given to me by the help desk at centrelink was great. The lady checked each document to ensure it covered off everything as required by the process. She advised me to exchange a couple of documents for better ones with better detail. She advised I get the seperate letter regarding the requirement for a helper. I was confident when I sent the documents in that they were all good but i was wsrong as I had declared investested money as cash. When they mean cash they wean "get from the ATM" kind of cash. If the $$ are tied up then they are not readily accessable. Once that was straightened out then it wasn't long after that I received the approval letter.
So here I go for Nov 2018
Liz