Determining a dependent child for inclusion in the family pool for the Parental Income Test (PIT) 108-02010060

• a new claim for payment is made
• a change of circumstances occurs that means a child has entered into the family pool
• a customer enquires about who are considered to be dependent children for YA, ABSTUDY and Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Additional Boarding Allowance
• dependent child details are provided:
  • in a new claim
  • in an online MOD JY using the Advise Parental Income service
  • via Module JY - Parent(s)/Guardian(s) details for the Base Tax Year and Current Tax Year for Dependent Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY Customers (Mod JY)
  • verbally
  • a Claim for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) (SY040) for assessment of entitlement for these payments

Determine who the YA/ABY/AIC customer's parent(s)/guardian(s) are for applying the PIT for ABSTUDY and YA or applying the PIT for AIC.

Do they have any other children?

• Yes, repeat this procedure for each child. Go to Step 3
• No, the YA/ABY/AIC customer is the only member of the family pool. Procedure ends here

• Yes, the child is not in the YA/ABY/AIC customer’s family pool. Procedure ends here
• No, go to step 4

Does the child receive the means tested component of Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Additional Boarding Allowance (ABA), ABSTUDY (ABY) Living Allowance or School Fees Allowance (SFA) Group 2?

• Yes, this child is included in the YA/ABY/AIC customer's family pool. Go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 6

Does the child receiving AIC, ABA, ABY or SFA Group 2 also meet the definition of a Family Tax Benefit (FTB) child or regular care child?

Note: customers receiving ABA, ABY or SFA Group 2 who are also receiving FTB or meet the definition of an FTB or regular care child, will be included in the family pool as an AIC/ABA, ABY/CUR or ABY/SFA child and as an FTB or regular care child.

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, go to Step 7

• Check the Family Pool Summary (NSFP) or Dependent Youth Rate Summary (!DYRSUMM) screens or Family Pool Summary guided procedure to verify if the customer has an eligible FTB or regular care sibling already recorded as being in the family pool
• If an FTB or regular care child is linked to the parent(s)/guardian(s) but is not recorded as being in the family pool, action is required. Check and ensure the following in the sibling, parent and/or partner record:
  • the child meets age requirements for FTB
  • the child has not claimed, or is not currently receiving an Income Support Payment (ISP)
  • the Child Override/Claim (CHOC) screen displays a FTB entry for the child
  • the child is recorded as 'In Customer Care' on the Child in Care (CHC) screen
  • if the child is aged 16-19 years old, they are recorded as in full-time secondary study in the Child Education Details workflow in Customer First or Child education/exemption details (CEED) screen in Process Direct
  • the child's proof of birth has been registered and date of birth is verified on the child’s Change Child (CCH) screen
  • the child is alive or are within the FTB bereavement period
  • rent has been verified on the parent/guardian’s Accommodation Circumstances (AC) screen

Note: if any of the above information has not been recorded, check any lodged documents or request the information from the parent(s)/guardian(s) and make the required updates.

To update information on the CHOC, CHC, and CCH screens select the relevant child from the Child Selection (CHS) screen. Then select the required screens from the Child Task selector. If assistance is required contact Tier 1 technical support - Local Peer Support (LPS).

If a sibling meets age requirements for FTB and is not currently linked to the nominated parent/guardian an FTB claim is required to determine if:

• they can be considered an FTB child under family assistance law
• any shared care arrangements exist

This information is required to determine a sibling's inclusion in the family pool and their contribution to it.

Make a genuine attempt to contact the parent/guardian by phone. If the attempt is unsuccessful, issue a Q369 - Invite to claim for Family Assistance and Parental Leave Pay.

If the update relates to a claim or change of circumstance, do not hold the claim or transaction pending assessment of the FTB claim. If all other required information has been provided, complete the claim or transaction.

If payment cancels or rejects Parental Income too High (PIH), contact the customer to advise that they can request re-assessment if there are changes to their family circumstances within 13 weeks of cancellation/rejection notification.

Does the child meet the definition of an FTB or regular care child?

• Yes, this child is included in the YA/ABY/AIC customer's family pool. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 7

A child is determined to be dependent if they are wholly or substantially dependent upon their parent(s)/guardian(s) and the child does not receive the independent rate of YA or ABSTUDY Living Allowance.

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, this child is not included in the YA/ABY/AIC customer's family pool. Procedure ends here

Normally lives with means the customer's normal home is the same as the natural or adoptive parent(s), guardian(s) and/or step-parent. This is where a customer may live away from home for the purposes of undertaking study, to search for work and/or undertake other activities, but still not establish their own permanent and separate home, e.g. they intend to return home.

If the student maintains a separate permanent home and has no intention returning home during holiday periods, the student should not be regarded as normally living with a step-parent.

• Yes, this child is included in the YA/ABY/AIC customer's family pool.
  Ensure the YA/ABY/AIC customer is also included in the family pool. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 9

Determine who this child's parent(s)/guardian(s) are for applying the PIT for ABSTUDY and YA or applying the PIT for AIC.

If this child has a parent in common with the YA/ABY/AIC customer, they must be included in the YA customer's family pool.

Siblings sharing 1 or 2 parents for the PIT are considered to be part of the same family group and have a parent in common.

Ensure the YA/ABY/AIC customer is also included in the family pool. Record any additional details on a DOC.