Navigating the CSC Reconsideration Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

You request a review by submitting the Application for Reconsideration of a Decision (Form A-RECON). The process is free, but success relies heavily on understanding how to build and submit your case.

1. Watch the clock: the 30-day window

The most critical part of a CSC reconsideration is the timeline. You must lodge your A-RECON form within 30 days of receiving the decision notice.

• Missed the deadline? You can still apply, but you must include a detailed written explanation of the circumstances that caused the delay. CSC has discretion to accept or reject a late application, so never rely on it.
• An initial Class C decision can never be reviewed later. Reconsideration is your one chance to change it – see Classified Class C? CSC reconsideration within 30 days.

2. Gather the required paperwork

A complete application needs more than the form itself. Before submitting, make sure you have:

• The A-RECON form – fully completed and signed.
• The original decision letter – a complete copy of the decision you are challenging.
• Authority documents – if an advocate, lawyer or family member is managing the appeal for you, attach a signed authority for that representative.

3. Build your case: facts over feelings

The most common mistake is focusing on why a decision feels unfair, rather than why it is factually or medically wrong. The reconsideration panel decides on objective evidence.

• Deconstruct the original decision. Identify the specific rules, employment kinds and medical findings CSC relied on – see How CSC decides your class.
• Address the gaps. If CSC found your condition doesn't restrict your capacity for civil employment enough for Class A or B, your job is to show, with dated records, that it does.
• Provide fresh evidence. Don't resubmit the same paperwork. Add specialist reports, a detailed letter from your GP or treating doctor, or a functional capacity assessment that sets out your work restrictions explicitly – anchored to your discharge date for invalidity classifications.

4. Submit your application

Once your form and evidence are assembled, lodge your request by:

• Email (fastest): reconsideration@csc.gov.au
• Post: the address printed on the current A-RECON form (for MilitarySuper, GPO Box 2252, Canberra ACT 2601).

Tip: if you post your application, use Registered Post so you have tracking and proof of delivery. Check the address on the form you download from csc.gov.au, as it differs by scheme.

What happens next?

CSC will acknowledge your application. The original decision stays in effect while it is reviewed. The reconsideration is decided independently of the delegate who made the first decision – for MilitarySuper by the Military Superannuation and Benefits Committee, and for ADF Cover with input from the Defence Force Case Assessment Panel – and they review your whole file alongside the new evidence.

Because these reviews are thorough, the process can take several months. If you are still unhappy afterwards, MilitarySuper and ADF Cover members can complain to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA); DFRDB members go to the Administrative Review Tribunal. Staying organised and presenting clear, medically supported facts from day one is your best strategy.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to lodge a CSC reconsideration?

30 days from receiving the decision notice. Later applications need a written explanation and are accepted only at CSC's discretion.

What form do I use to ask CSC to reconsider a decision?

The Application for Reconsideration of a Decision (Form A-RECON), with a copy of the decision letter and your evidence.

Does reconsideration cost anything?

No. CSC reconsideration is free.

Where do I send the A-RECON form?

By email to reconsideration@csc.gov.au, or by post to the address on the current form.

Get the evidence right first time

VHC writes the medical evidence a reconsideration turns on – a Rule 22 classification report that answers CSC's reasons point by point. See CSC invalidity class appeals, call 0429 146 039 or email reception@vhc.org.au.

General information only; not legal or financial advice. Confirm the current form, address and review pathway in your decision letter and on csc.gov.au.