Checklist · Social Security & Veterans' Entitlements
Centrelink first review: what the Tribunal asks for and when
Checklist of the first-review time limits, the no-fee rule, and the information the Administrative Review Tribunal says it needs for a Centrelink decision.
- Kind
- Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Where it applies
- Australia, Commonwealth
- AI use
- Yellow You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at
- 22 October 2026
- Status
- Maintained. Checked on 22 October 2026 against the authority it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.
- Version
- 1
- Source
- Written for this library
When to use it
Use when a Centrelink decision has already been reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer or a subject matter expert, and a first review in the Tribunal is being prepared.
Used for these tasks
Each task page says how far AI may help with the task and what the lawyer must review.
How AI may be used
The tool may enter the dates and the information the Tribunal lists, and the lawyer writes the reasons and decides whether a review is available.
AI may
- Record the ARO or subject matter expert decision, and the date it was received.
- Apply only the time limit the page states for that kind of decision, including the 13-week back-pay warning where there is no time limit.
- List the contact details, the decision, and a placeholder for the lawyer's reasons.
- Record that the page says there is no fee for a first review of a Centrelink decision.
AI must not
- Do not write the reasons the decision is wrong. The page asks for brief reasons. The lawyer writes them.
- Do not complete the Tribunal application. A form guide already exists.
- Do not lodge if there has been no ARO or subject matter expert review. The page says the Tribunal cannot review that decision.
- Do not treat a Centrelink complaint, or a scheme for compensation for detriment caused by defective administration, as a review. The page says the Tribunal cannot do either, and cannot change the law.
The lawyer checks
- Read the decision letter for the time limit. The page says the letter tells you whether the Tribunal can review the decision and what the limit is.
- Confirm the 13-week, 90-day, 28-day and 14-day figures on the current Centrelink page before a date is treated as the last day.
- Confirm there is still no fee. The page said there is no fee for a first review when it was read.
- The Common Procedures Practice Direction and the After applying page were not opened. Read them before the hearing is prepared.
Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.
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