Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Our approach to gathering supporting information
The approach you take when gathering supporting information should align with the principles of dignity, fairness and respect.
These principles are outlined in our Social Security Charter.
You must approach supporting information with understanding and consideration of the following concepts.
Trust-based approach
You must approach what the individual has told us from a position of trust.
As a starting assumption, you should treat the individual’s account and any supporting information accompanying it as an accurate reflection of their circumstances.
Additional supporting information should serve as an additional tool to gain a better understanding of the impact a condition or disability has on the individual’s life and establish their entitlement. This should support you in making a determination.
Supporting information does not need to confirm all aspects of the care needs and mobility needs reported by the individual.
Missing information or inconsistencies, where relevant, should be explored, rather than seen as proof that the individual’s account is inaccurate.
You should not use supporting information as a resource to prove, disprove, or ‘evidence’ what the individual has told us.
Balance of probabilities
All the determinations you make must be on the balance of probabilities.
This means that if something an individual or their source of supporting information tells us is more likely than not, it’s considered a fact for decision-making. We’re not asking individuals to prove their conditions or disabilities ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
However, it does not mean that you must always make decisions on the basis of what the individual tells you if the necessary supporting information needed to make a decision is not available.
If there's contradictory information, you should not automatically disregard that information, or immediately assume one piece of information is more important than other without further consideration. You should consider whether there is a reasonable explanation for the inconsistency. If there is no reasonable explanation, follow the guidance in the Understanding and interpreting supporting information chapter.