Worker assistance

The SSRV Worker Help Line offers free and accessible services to social, community and health workers (such as financial counsellors , disability advocates, social workers, doctors and community lawyers) to help support your client.

Individuals can be referred to the Social Security Rights Victoria (SSRV) General Advice Line.

Worker Help Line
Mondays – Fridays, 9.00am – 5.00pm
Ph: 03 9481 0655 Rural Callers 1800 094 164


SSRV lawyers can provide specialist information, advice and legal support for people living in Victoria in relation to matters such as:

  • eligibility for pensions and allowances
  • medical evidence and other information required for applications
  • Centrelink overpayments and debts
  • suspension or cancellation of payments
  • family violence and social security
  • appealing Centrelink decisions
We may also:

  • invite you to make a warm referral of your client to SSRV for further legal assistance
  • offer resources and training to you and your colleagues
  • ask you for feedback

Casework and representation
SSRV lawyers provide a range of further legal assistance services such as assessment of documentation and decisions, negotiation with Centrelink and providing representation at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearings. This assistance is subject to guidelines and availability of resources.

Help with the Disability Support Pension

SSRV has created an online resource to help applicants access the Disability Support Pension (DSP): DSP Help.

DSP Help includes information about:

  • What the DSP is and what eligibility criteria must be met
  • How the DSP is assessed
  • How to gather medical evidence to support an application
  • How to apply for the DSP
  • What to do if your application is rejected

DSP Help includes a medical evidence chatbot. This can be used to generate a personalised Medical Evidence Kit you can take to your doctors/specialists to assist them in supporting your application with medical evidence.

Disaster legal support guidelines

Guidelines for disaster legal help are here.

Integrated Service Provision

SSRV is committed to working with other services and workers to support people who are experiencing overlapping legal, financial and other challenges in their life. You are encouraged to speak with SSRV lawyers about how they may be able to work co-operatively with you to provide integrated (joined-up, wrap-around) assistance to individuals and groups of clients in relation to social security matters.

Read about the Integrated Services Partnership between SSRV and the Financial Counselling Victoria in the Specialist Projects section.

Community legal education

SSRV provides training and resources to other professionals including community lawyers and community workers. Our aim is to build the confidence and capability of other professionals to better identify and assist people experiencing, or who may encounter, social security problems. Contact SSRV on 03 9481 0299 or info@ssrv.org.au to discuss professional development needs and opportunities.

Recent examples of SSRV’s community legal education activities include:

  • The Law and You interview – Social Security Rights Victoria (Victoria Law Foundation, Law Week 2020)
  • Webinar: COVID-19 and Income (Youth Affairs Council of Victoria)
  • Social Security Law Workshop (Financial Counselling Victoria)

Resources

Visit the Resource Centre section of this website to view fact sheets that may help individuals and professionals to understand social security rights and obligations, and to resolve some problems with Centrelink. This section also includes links to other useful resources and organisations.

Eligibility for assistance

SSRV lawyers provide a range of further legal assistance services. This assistance is subject to guidelines and availability of resources.

Privacy policy obligations

Protecting your privacy and personal information is an important part of how we manage our services. Social Security Rights Victoria has obligations and you have rights under privacy law.

Feedback & complaints

We welcome feedback and will deal with complaints in an open and fair way.