The Coalition has made changes to lessen the administrative burden for DES providers. According to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield, the Coalition Government is serious about cutting red tape in Disability Employment Services, while ensuring appropriate accountability for providers.
“I have tasked my department with running a fine-tooth comb through the guidelines and other documents used to administer Disability Employment Services, in order to streamline documents and provide greater clarity about program requirements. These measures are a small but meaningful first step in the Government’s promise to reduce unnecessary red tape for DES providers,” Senator Fifield said.
Providers will now have 56 days to claim outcome fees, double the current claim period, allowing them more time to collect documents to support the claim. DES providers will no longer need to keep paper copies of records if they have an electronic copy.
“We want providers to focus their efforts on what they do best, which is finding jobs for people with disability, injury or health conditions, rather than struggling under burdensome paperwork.”
Changes to guidelines will now only occur on a quarterly basis, to deliver certainty about program settings and allow providers to focus on any changes in the knowledge more will not occur unexpectedly.
The Senator added that these common sense initiatives, to cut $1 billion a year in red and green tape, will result in more productive businesses.
“We will continue to look for administrative waste in the disability employment sector and make processes easier where possible,” he said.