Principal carers large family, foster carer, home schooling, distance education or carer non-parent exemption review 102-01130040

The Post Exemption Review for large family, foster care, distance education, home schooling or carer non-parent exemption for non-remote job seekers will generate either:

• an online task for the job seeker to complete, or
• a letter is sent requesting job seeker to contact

Upon successful completion of the online task, the review status will auto complete on the Service Strategy (PQSS) screen, to either Completed ‘COM’ or Historical ‘HST’.

However, the Post Exemption Review for remote job seekers are still being handled by Service Profiling processes. The Service Components for remote job seekers are:

• 256 - Large Family Exemption Update (remote)
• 257 - Foster Carer Exemption Update (remote)
• 258 - Home Schooling or Distant Education Exemption Update (remote)
• 287 - Carer Non-Parent (Kinship) Exemption Update (remote)

To start a Post Exemption Review for a remote job seeker only, see Table 2.

Otherwise, for all Post Exemption Reviews enquiries (including remote job seekers), go to Step 2.

If the job seeker contacting has Personalised Servicing, see Referring customers to and handling customer enquiries and correspondence for Personalised Services.

If the job seeker is contacting about:

• an online task:
  • Tell the job seeker all they need to do is tell us via the task if they still meet the exemption criteria and they will have exemption extended
  • Assist them to complete the online task if they are having difficulty
  • If they are not seeking further exemption, no action is required. The agency will be in contact after the expiry of the current exemption if further action is required (for example, referral to employment services)
  • If they are unable to complete the online task, go to Step 4
• a request to contact letter, go to Step 4
• a booked appointment (remote job seeker only), and they:
  • request to reschedule the appointment, go to Step 3
  • require appointment to be conducted today, go to Step 4

To support first contact resolution and unnecessary handoffs, the Service Officer should attempt to complete the appointment upon contact.

If the job seeker:

• accepts the offer, go to Step 4
• declines the offer, reschedule the appointment:
  • For instructions to reschedule the appointment, see View, reschedule or cancel an appointment in the Centrelink Appointment System
  • Make sure the appointment is booked as soon as possible to ensure the current exemption does not end
  • If the rescheduled appointment is in the next 5 business days, tell the job seeker the time and date because no appointment advice is issued

Procedure ends here.

Check the job seeker's record regarding their circumstances. This includes:

• age of youngest child:
  • If their youngest child in care is due to turn 16 years of age, they may lose their exemption (some exemptions are available to non-principal carers, and principal carers with children over 16)
  • For a registered and active foster carer - check the job seeker has a foster child in their care. See References for a link to the principal carer definition. Go to the Child Selection (CHS) screen, 'S'elect the child/ren in their care, and go to the Child Miscellaneous Circumstances (CHM) screen
• the principal carer for a large family (4 or more dependent children aged under 16 years, or a secondary pupil child 16-18 years of age):
  • The job seeker must have at least one child aged less than 16 years, and therefore is still considered a principal carer to be eligible for this exemption

Go to Step 5.

Discuss the job seeker's current circumstances involving their children.

• Large Family Exemption Update Review:
  • Check if the job seeker knows of any future changes to the number of children in their care, and
  • Whether any children over 16 years, but under 19 years old, meet the secondary pupil child definition
• Foster Carer Exemption Review:
  • Check they are still a registered and active foster carer, and if they are aware of any future changes
  • For non-principal carers, check the job seeker is still a registered and active respite or emergency foster carer, open to any placements. They are eligible for exemptions for up to 12 weeks after a foster child leaves care
• Home Schooling or Distance Education Exemption Review, check:
  • they are still providing home schooling, or the children are undertaking distance education
  • the children are going to continue with this form of schooling
  • if the job seeker is aware of any future changes
  • if the home schooling or distance education exemption should be extended because the job seeker is providing home schooling or distance education to their child/ren who are aged over 16 years and a secondary pupil child. The job seeker may no longer be considered a principal carer, due to the age of their child, yet is still eligible for the exemption
• Carer Non-Parent (Kinship) Exemption Review, check:
  • that the job seeker is still a relative, family or community (kin) carer (but not the parent) of a child under a Family Law Parenting Order or a formal State/Territory protection case plan
  • the relevant document (order/plan) has not expired, and
  • if the job seeker is aware of any future changes

See Exempting a job seeker from mutual obligation requirements due to special circumstances.

Does an exemption still apply?

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

In Process Direct, update the exemption manually on the Activity and Exemptions Summary (AEX) screen:

• Key 'AEX' in the Super Key, select Enter
• The Activity and Exemptions Summary (AEX) screen will display
• Select Add New Row
• The Create Activity and Exemption Summary (AEX) screen will display
• Complete the Activity Type, Start date and End date. Select Save

Make sure the appropriate end date is coded, based on the below job seeker circumstances:

• Large Family exemption:
  • where the job seeker has 4 or more dependent children under 16 in care, the end date of the exemption must be the oldest child’s 16th birthday
  • when the youngest child in care turns 16, the end date of the exemption must be the youngest child’s 16th birthday. The job seeker will have a compulsory participation interview booked after the youngest child turns 16 as they are no longer a principal carer.
• Home Schooling exemption:
  • The date the child ceases study or turns 16 (whichever the later)
• Distance Education exemption:
  • The date the child ceases distance education or turns 16 (whichever the later)
• Foster Carer:
  • The date the job seeker will cease to be a registered and active foster carer, or up to 12 months (363 days) as indicated by the foster care or kinship care documentation from the state/territory authority
• Update the following fields:
  • Receipt Date:
  • Channel:
  • Service Reason: if the system does not select a default service reason, select the most relevant service reason for the update
• Select Save
• Select Assess and address any errors/warnings
• Finalise the transaction by selecting Assess again, then select Finish. Record details of the update on the Finalise screen
• Select Finalise to complete the transaction
• Record details on a DOC

To complete the Service Profiling Update for remote job seekers, go to Step 10.

A job seeker can enter into a Job Plan at the expiration of their exemption period, with either Services Australia or their provider (if they are provider managed).

For job seekers in a designated Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) region, the type of plan to be negotiated will be determined automatically by the system, based on information sent by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) IT system, and will depend on whether a RAES provider referral is in place or not.

If the job seeker:

• is still considered a principal carer, go to Step 8
• is no longer considered a principal carer:
  • they will lose entitlement to a Pensioner concession card (JSP or YA JSK only) discuss the full-time mutual obligation requirements. Discuss options to meet their obligations about being subject to full-time mutual obligation requirements (30+ hours per week) unless they meet another participation category to be eligible for part time obligations (for example. mature age 55+, in receipt of Carer Allowance or assessed with a reduced work capacity)
  • actively seeking work, that is, job seeker
  • working 30 hours or more per fortnight
  • joining a program or commencing study
  • referring them to employment services, if they are not already connected
• is no longer eligible for a principal carer exemption, they may be eligible for a special circumstance exemption. See Exempting a job seeker from mutual obligation requirements due to special circumstances
• decides to volunteer in employment services during the period of exemption, they must contact their provider to discuss remaining connected on a voluntary basis
• no longer has a dependent child, tell them they are no longer entitled to the higher maximum basic rate for single JobSeeker Payment (JSP)/Youth Allowance (YAL), or partnered with children rate
• was receiving the exemption as a single principal carer, and has lost eligibility for the exemption for any reason, tell the principal carer they are no longer entitled to the higher rate of JSP, YA or Special Benefit (SpB) (equivalent to the Parenting Payment Single (PPS) rate)

Tell the job seeker:

• about any other support available, and:
  • they must comply with their compulsory requirements and the consequences of not doing so. If they are provider managed, see Managing compliance with compulsory requirements
• their reporting requirements, such as:
  • Self managed services (online via myGov, using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app or Phone self service), or
  • Reporting Statement (SU19) in limited/exceptional circumstances
• Record details on a DOC

Procedure ends here.

The job seeker may now to eligible to become Centrelink Managed by participating in an approved activity to fully meet their mutual obligation requirements.

Are they meeting mutual obligation requirements?

• Yes, go to Step 9
• No, and they are:
  • Non-remote job seeker: refer to relevant employment services as appropriate. Procedure ends here
  • Remote job seeker, go to Step 10

Principal carers already meeting mutual obligation requirements through suitable paid work (including self-employment), approved study, or a combination of work and study of 30 hours per fortnight are not required to be connected to an Employment Services Provider, however they may volunteer to do so.

In Process Direct, go to the AEX screen to code the relevant approved activity. Once the activity is finalised, ensure the Job Plan is updated, where appropriate. See Negotiating Centrelink Managed Job Plans.

To complete the Service Profiling Update for remote job seekers, go to Step 10.

In Customer First, finalise the relevant Review from either the:

• Open appointment:
  • Launch the Service Profiling Update workflow via CRN/BP hyperlink > APPOINTMENTS Tab>
  • Select the Execute option for the appointment within the actions column
  • Select Next
  • Complete the Yes/No responses within the question set
  • Select Finish located in the top left of the screen
  • Utilising the ‘execute’ icon from the appointment displayed will automatically update the status of the Service Component and update the appointment status to 'COM' (completed). If the Service Profiling Update workflow is generated from the Workspace, the appointment status is required to be manually updated to Completed
  • Note: when the Service Component is completed, it cannot be restarted
• Service Profiling Update workflow:
  • The workflow must be used if the job seeker has attended the appointment
  • The Service Component will not complete if the response to 'Have you conducted the {insert the relevant exemption type] Review?' is No

Procedure ends here.