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Mutual obligation requirements for Youth Allowance job seekers under 22 years of age who have not completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education qualification 001-09020040

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This document explains the mutual obligation requirements for Youth Allowance (YA) job seekers under 22 years of age who have not completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification

On this page:

Early School Leavers (ESL) claiming Youth Allowance as a job seeker

Current job seeker advises they have completed Y12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III or higher

ESL manual reviews and coding of NES screen


Early School Leavers (ESL) claiming Youth Allowance as a job seeker

Table 1

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Step

Action

1

Claiming YA as a job seeker

Has the customer stated they have completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher)? Note: ensure qualifications completed while at secondary school are recorded correctly.

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2

Job seekers who have not completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification

Is the job seeker under 18 years of age?

ø

3

Coding of the NES screen for ESLs under the age of 18

If the job seeker is under 18, an exemption from study must be coded for the customer to qualify for YAL.

Go to the Newstart Education Status (NES) screen and in the:

  • Study Exemption Reason field, key YAA (YAL activity agreement signed)
  • Study Exemption End date field:
    • Key the YAA exemption for the maximum 6 month period
    • If the job seeker has less than 6 months before turning 18 code the study exemption end date as the day before their 18th birthday to avoid system error
    • The exemption only needs to be coded once and remains effective until the job seeker turns 18 years of age, even where the exemption end date has expired
    • The job seeker's payment will not be suspended for reason Under 18 - No Exemption to Studies (NEX) on expiry of the exemption

Record a DOC on the job seeker's record. Procedure ends here.

4

Job seeker’s claim shows completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification

The job seeker must provide verification of their educational qualification. This may include:

  • a Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification certificate issued by a Senior Secondary Board of Studies or an equivalent qualification such as:
    • an Australian Qualification Framework Certificate III
    • a higher qualification issued by a Registered Training Organisation or higher educational institution
    • a Certificate III or IV of General Education for Adults
    • the International Baccalaureate, or
    • other higher education pre-entry course
  • a letter from the school or institution
  • other evidence (for example, details on the job seekers record which indicate they have completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification
  • a statutory declaration detailing the name of the course, date completed, institution and contact details where no other evidence is available

Note: a statement of attainment is generally not accepted as sufficient evidence. A statement of attainment does not confirm that the job seeker successfully completed a course. It only confirms that they have completed certain units from part of that course.

Completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification may not require the job seeker to have sat Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification exams.

For example, a Victorian Certificate of Education can be awarded where the student has submitted school-based assessments for satisfactory completion of units but has not been assessed for levels of achievement in the study and has not sat examinations. The job seeker still needs to provide proof of the completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification (that is, VCE certificate).

If verification is not available or unable to be obtained, a determination can be made based on:

  • the weight of evidence as to whether it appears the job seeker has attained the required level of educational qualifications
  • other evidence, for example, where the Service Officer can see the job seeker has undertaken this level of study as information has been recorded previously on one of the following Process Direct screens:
    • Customer Study Details (EDC/EDCH) screen
    • Short Course Details (SCD/SCDS) screen

Has the job seeker provided verification, or is it apparent from their record that the job seeker has completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification?

5

Verification

If the job seeker states they:

  • will be able to provide verification, the job seeker can be given up to 28 days to provide verification. Go to Step 7
  • will not be able to provide verification at all:
    • in Process Direct on the NES screen, update the Verification Document Code field with NVE (not verified)
    • tell the job seeker they will be subject to ESL requirements and/or job search to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements
    • if there is an MFU activity with keyword Y12NVE displaying on the Activity List (AL) screen, select and complete the activity in Customer First after processing is completed
    • record a DOC on the job seeker's record
    • procedure ends here

ø

6

Job seeker has provided verification, or is it apparent from their record that the job seeker has completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification

Go to the NES screen. Note: a warning message will display to check and update the Job Seeker Snapshot. Action as appropriate:

  • Key the Verification Document Code: field using one of the valid types of evidence:
    • VEC - Certification of achievement
    • VEL - Letter from the school or institution
    • OTH - Other evidence as appropriate
    • VSD - Statutory declaration
  • Finalise the claim, following the existing job seeker process. See Applying mutual obligation requirements

Procedure ends here.

ø

7

Job seeker states they will be able to provide verification after the participation interview

On the NES screen, within the new claim activity, update the following:

  • Verification Document Code:field, key NVE (Not verified)
  • Study Exemption Reason field, key 28D (28 day exemption to verify Y12/Equivalent)
  • Exemption End Date field, key the end date. It should be 28 days in the future
  • Finalise the claim

The job seeker will be given up to 28 days to provide verification of their qualification. Tell the job seeker if verification is not provided within 28 days, they will be identified as an ESL. If an MFU activity with keyword Y12NVE is displaying on the Activity List (AL) screen, do not complete this activity.

Remind the job seeker:

  • about the requirement to provide verification of completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification immediately or when they lodge their next Reporting Statement
  • they can provide verification using the Upload documents service
  • if they do not provide verification within 28 days their payment will be suspended

Note: the study exemption code 28D can only be keyed within the new claim activity for ESLs. If verification is not provided by the end of the 28 day period, a different MFU with keyword 28DESL will be generated on the AL screen and an Urgent Issue will be displayed on the Customer Issues page in Customer First to prompt staff to take follow-up actions.

For actions to be taken when the MFU review matures at 28 days, see Table 3.

New claim procedure ends here.

ø


Current job seeker advises they have completed Y12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III or higher

Table 2

Expand table

Step

Action

1

Current job seeker advises they have completed Y12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III or higher

If a current Youth Allowance job seeker contacts to advise that they have completed Year 12 or equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) Service Officers should determine if the job seeker has been assessed as an ESL.

Go to the Newstart Education Status (NES) screen to determine if the correct level of education has been recorded.

Has Year 12 or a higher level of education been recorded?

ø

2

Verification of Year 12 or equivalent level of education

Check if the Y12/Equiv Verified field in Customer First or the Verification Document Code field in Process Direct has been recorded with one of the following verification sources:

  • VEC - Certification of achievement
  • VEL - Letter from the school or institution
  • OTH - Other evidence as appropriate
  • VSD - Statutory declaration

Has verification been provided?

3

Job seeker is not an ESL

Job seeker is not assessed as an ESL.

Ensure the job seeker:

Tell the job seeker the employment services provider is responsible for:

  • discussing their mutual obligation requirements, and
  • negotiating an appropriate Job Plan

Procedure ends here

ø

4

Job seeker is an ESL

Job seeker is assessed as an early ESL and must undertake the following until they turn 22 years of age or provide verification of having completed Y12 (or equivalent) or Certificate III or higher:

  • an approved activity and/or
  • job search, or
  • a combination of these activities

Remind the job seeker:

  • they must provide verification of completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification if completed
  • they can provide verification using the Upload documents service
  • if they do not provide verification, they will be identified as an ESL and their payment may be suspended

Ensure the job seeker:

Tell the job seeker the employment services provider is responsible for:

  • discussing their mutual obligation requirements, and
  • negotiating an appropriate Job Plan

Note: the Action Item 'Customer is Centrelink managed and has no current Job Plan. Negotiate Job Plan with customer', may appear for ESL job seekers who:

These job seekers are not Centrelink managed and must be referred to a Provider. When referred, they will display as Provider managed.

Procedure ends here.

ø

5

Coding education level attained

Go to the NES screen:

  • update the Education Level Attained field with the appropriate response
  • make appropriate updates. Note: a warning message will display to check and update the Job Seeker Snapshot. Action as appropriate
  • key the Y12/Equiv Verified (Customer First) or Verification Document Code field (Process Direct) using one of the valid types of evidence:
    • VEC - Certification of achievement
    • VEL - Letter from the school or institution
    • OTH - Other evidence as appropriate
    • VSD - Statutory declaration

Finalise the activity:

  • Ensure the job seekers Job Seeker Snapshot is updated if required and the job seeker is referred to an appropriate employment service
  • Tell the job seeker their employment services provider will:
  • discuss their mutual obligation requirements, and
  • negotiate an appropriate Job Plan

Procedure ends here.

ø


ESL manual reviews and coding of NES screen

Table 3

Expand table

Step

Action

1

MFU review matures

When the job seeker’s education qualification has been updated to Y12/13 or equivalent (for example, Form 6 or Matriculation) via the Job Seeker Snapshot:

  • an MFU activity with the keyword Y12NVE will be generated and display on the job seeker's record if verification has not been recorded
  • this will allocate as work type ZIAM JSK ESL
  • the job seeker will receive SMS and/or email reminder (if they have opted for these services) requesting they provide proof of their qualification within 14 days

For new customers, if the job seeker was granted the 28D study exemption at the new claim stage, if evidence of completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification has not been provided:

  • an MFU activity will be generated at the end of this period (with the keyword 28DESL attached)
  • this will be allocated as work type ZIAM NSS REA, and
  • an Action Item will also be displayed

Remind the job seeker:

  • about the requirement to provide verification of completion of Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification immediately or when they lodge their next Reporting Statement
  • they can provide verification using the Upload documents service
  • if they do not provide verification at this contact, they will be identified as an ESL and their payment may be suspended

Has verification of study level been provided:

ø

2

Checking verification of study level has been previously recorded

Check if the job seeker has provided verification of completing Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification and the details are confirmed.

To do this check:

  • Process Direct:
    • Customer Study Details (EDC/EDCH) screen, or
    • Short Course Details (SCD/SCDS) screen
  • Customer First:
    • Education Course History (EDCH) screen

Also check scanned documents on the customer record.

If the customer has provided verification, on the NES screen:

  • Update the Verification Document Code field (Process Direct) or the Yr12/Equiv Verified field (Customer First) with an appropriate code. For example, OTH (other evidence as appropriate)

If verification of study level is not confirmed, tell the job seeker of the requirement to provide original documentation to prove their educational qualification as soon as possible.

If the qualification is not verified within 14 days after the Education Level Attained field on the NES screen has been updated to Y12 Sec, a letter will be sent reminding them to verify the qualification within 14 days or their payment may be suspended.

If the ESL does not provide the requested documentation within 14 days from the date the letter is sent, the job seeker's payment:

  • will automatically be suspended with reason code QNV (Y12/Equiv Qualification Not Verified), and
  • can only be restored when the qualification has been recorded as verified

If payment is still suspended after 13 weeks, it will be automatically cancelled with reason code QNV. Cancellations under this reason cannot be restored.

Note: where the job seeker is unable to provide original documentation within the required timeframe (for example, educational institution is closed for a period of time), a statutory declaration can be provided, see Table 1 > Step 4.

Has the job seeker provided verification, or is it apparent from their record that the job seeker has completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification?

3

Evidence is provided

If allocated a ZIAM_JSK_ESL work type with keyword 'Y12NVE' the MFU activity will display on the Activity List (AL) screen in Customer First.

If the job seeker provides evidence of completing Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification, update their record regardless of their income support payment status.

  • Select the activity and go to the NES screen
  • Select the NES line with 'NVE' (not verified) recorded
  • Update the Y12/Equiv Verified field in the NES screen with the appropriate code:
    • VEC - Certification of achievement
    • VEL - Letter from the school or institution
    • OTH - Other evidence as appropriate
    • VSD – Statutory declaration

When the Yr12/Equiv Verified field on the NES screen has been updated with a 'verified' value, this verified status will be copied to all new Education Level attained entries with later date of effect.

Other considerations:

  • AWE message W044NS:
    • 'W044NS - There is a later NES screen with Verified Y12/Equiv status' appears when the verification status is inconsistent with other NES entries
    • Correct any inconsistencies to the same Y12/Equiv Verified status before finalising the activity
  • Verification coding is incorrect:
    • If it has been established that the Yr12/Equiv Verified field has been incorrectly updated as 'verified', a Service Officer at the APS5 level or above with the required NESY12 resource access via the ICT Security Portal (ISP) will need to correct or delete the incorrect verified status
  • YA payment is suspended, QNV-Y12/Equiv Qualification Not Verified:
  • Payment is cancelled and restoration is not appropriate:
    • Update the NES screen with the Year 12 or equivalent verification, to make sure the correct information is recorded

Finalise the activity from the Activity Results (AR) screen.

If the job seeker is not connected to a provider:

Procedure ends here.

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4

Verification of completing Year 12 or equivalent not provided

If the job seeker has not provided verification, or now advises they cannot provide the verification of completing Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification, or did not complete Year 12 or an equivalent level of education, the NES screen must be updated.

Is the job seeker’s income support status current:

5

Updating the NES screen

In Customer First, go to the Activity List (AL) screen:

If the MFU activity with keyword Y12NVE is:

  • still displaying, select and update the Y12/Equiv Verified field on the NES screen with NVE (not verified)
  • not displaying, manually go to the NES screen and make the update

Finalise the activity via the Assessment Results (AR) screen

Tell the job seeker they will be subject to ESL mutual obligation requirements

If not connected to a Provider:

  • refer to an employment services provider (where appropriate), and
  • book the initial appointment within 2 working days (if possible)
  • tell the job seeker the provider will negotiate the Job Plan with them

Note: job seekers identified as eligible must be referred to Workforce Australia - Transition to Work (TtW) (where available).

6

Job seeker now advises they did not complete Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification

In Customer First, go to the Activity List (AL) screen:

  • if the MFU activity with keyword Y12NVE is still displaying on the Activity List (AL) screen in Customer First, select and update the activity with Education Level Attained field on the NES screen to the correct level of education attained (for example, Year 11). If no MFU activity exists, manually navigate to the NES screen and make the update
  • finalise the activity via the Assessment Results (AR) screen
  • tell the job seeker they will be subject to ESL requirements and/or job search to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements
  • check the response to the Job Seeker Snapshot education/qualifications question as appropriate, using the Participation Summary > Job seeker registration & provider referral information in Process Direct
    • if an update is required, use the Start Job Seeker Registration workflow to complete the update.

If not connected to a Provider:

  • refer to an employment services provider (where appropriate), and
  • book the initial appointment within 2 working days (if possible)
  • tell the job seeker the provider will negotiate the Job Plan with them

Note: ESLs identified as eligible must be referred to Workforce Australia - Transition to Work (TtW) (where available).

Procedure ends here

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7

Income Support status not current, verification not provided

If the ZIAM_JSK_ESL work type with keyword Y12NVE is allocated when the job seeker’s income support status is not current, and the job seeker has not provided evidence of completing Year 12 or an equivalent level of education:

  • if the MFU activity with keyword Y12NVE is still displaying on the Activity List (AL) screen in Customer First, select and update the activity with Education Level Attained field on the NES screen to the correct level of education attained (for example, Year 11). If no MFU activity exists, manually navigate to the NES screen and make the update
  • finalise the activity via the Assessment Results (AR) screen
  • ensure the ZIAM_JSK_ESL work type is completed in Customer First after processing is completed