Requests for Letters of Support

Sometimes an application or a request for hardship or special assistance will require a letter of support be provided, where proof of income and expenses may not be enough.

A letter of support needs to be from a professional that you have been working with or treated by, such as a community worker or a doctor.

Medical letters of support

If you are requesting help due to a medical condition or illness, you should request a letter of support from your treating doctor/s.

Medical letters of support should include:

• The doctor’s/specialist’s professional position and/or area of expertise
• The time period/s in which they have treated you
• Your medical diagnosis
• Whether the impairments are permanent, or are likely to be permanent, or of an ongoing nature
• If not permanent, a timeframe of how long you will be impaired
• How this affects your functional capacity, such as whether you are able to work.

Letter of support from community workers (for example social workers, family violence practitioners or AOD counsellors)

If you are requesting help due to a personal situation, you can request a letter from any community program or worker you are engaged with.

If you are requesting a letter from a community worker, ask that they include:

• Their professional position and the purpose of their role/program
• The time period/s in which you have been engaged with the worker/program
• How your circumstances have impacted on your life and contributed to the issue you are seeking help with
• How long your current circumstances are likely to last

Keep a copy of each letter you have, and send a copy to the lender which is requesting it.