Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY independence impacts when customer separates 102-05020060

When a customer separates, changes to their record must be made to reflect their new circumstances. These changes can result in a potential privacy breach if they are not done correctly. Customers must be supported to separate safely.

Discuss separating safely with the customer before updating any personal information

Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer advises they have separated.

If the customer advises their relationship status will change in future, do not code the change.

ABSTUDY customers must complete and lodge a paper Separation Details (MOD S) form.

For YA encourage the customer to use the online update relationship details option through their Centrelink online account at the time of the relationship status change. Within the activity, the customer can provide details of date of separation/divorce. Record details of contact on a DOC.

At risk assessment

To protect vulnerable customers, those considered being at risk of family and domestic violence may have their relationship status updated immediately. Verification will still be required, however can be supplied after the records have been unlinked. Ask the customer:

'Do you have any concerns for your safety and/or the safety of your children?'

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, go to Step 4

Customers at risk should have their files updated immediately. Verification may be required in some cases but Service Officers should not defer updating customer files, as the safety of the customer is paramount.

If a customer has advised of their new relationship status online, this activity must be processed through the inbox in Process Direct. See Assessing the Separation details MOD S and online updates.

Updating the relationship status due to separation

To avoid further risk to the customer, when completing the 'unlinking' activity via the Marital Status (MS) screen, take care when updating the customer's address to ensure updates do not flow onto their former partner’s record. See Separation processing for customers at risk of family and domestic violence

If the records are not linked on the Marital Status screen (MS), and the customer is under 22, an assessment of independence is required:

• For Youth Allowance, see Table 2
• For ABSTUDY, see Table 3

If the records are linked on MS:

• For customers under 22, go to Step 5
• For customers over 22, follow standard separation process. Procedure ends here

• If the customer is no longer qualified for YA or ABSTUDY or it has been identified they may be eligible for a more appropriate payment such as Parenting Payment Single (PPS), encourage the customer to claim online
• If the customer is unable to complete an online claim, check Office Locator for the customer's local service centre and book a claim appointment to complete the Assisted Customer Claim (ACC) workflow
• If the customer's ex-partner is receiving Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP), see Claiming Parenting Payment (PP)
• If the separated couple have a child in their care, check if there has been a change of care and/or if maintenance action is to be taken. See Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and/or Child Care Subsidy (CCS) customer separates
• Tell the customer the change of rate of their payment. Customers receiving ABSTUDY Incidentals Allowance only (ABY/CUR) may be entitled to full ABSTUDY including Living Allowance following separation. For more details regarding the single rate of YA or ABSTUDY, see Rates and Thresholds index
• Offer the option of changing the future payment destination if others (including ex-partners or joint holders) have access to the existing bank account. See Changing payment destination
• If the customer is independent under the category of Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH)/homeless or due to being in state care, check for changes that may impact their independence, such as return to the parental home

Has the customer updated their relationship details online?

Note: ABSTUDY customers cannot update their relationship details online. They must complete and lodge a paper MOD S form.

• Yes,
• If the customer has advised of separation (the Service Officer has received and assessed the MOD S or online updates), check for possible impacts to independence go to Step 7
• No,
• encourage the customer to use their online account. Customers can update their relationship details by selecting Menu > My details > Personal and contact details > Update relationship details
• and the customer cannot use self service request a Separation details (MOD S) form (where the customer or their partner are not claiming or transferring to PPS). See Requesting information (CLK)

Note: if the customer's ex-partner receives PP, the records must only be unlinked within the Benefit Transfer (BTR) activity to transfer the ex-partner to PPS. Otherwise, PPP will cancel and a new claim activity coded to transfer to PPS. The PP customer may suffer hardship as a result.

For customers under 22 assessed as independent because they were member of a couple the NIH screen must be updated. This may result in changes to their independence status, for:

• Youth Allowance – see Table 2
• ABSTUDY – see Table 3

Check coding on the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen. Is the customer already considered independent?

• Yes, If NIH code is:
• currently a member of a qualifying YA couple (includes married, registered and de facto relationships) (PCO), go to Step 3
• Not PCO, determine if change of circumstance impacts independence, make any necessary updates to NIH screen and ensure separation process is complete
• No, determine if customer should be considered independent. For more details, see Assessing independence when a customer is/was married or a member of a couple. Go to Step 2

Note: YA customers who have left a de facto relationship that has lasted as least 6 months due to special circumstances, (which can include Domestic Violence) may be considered independent.

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, go to Step 4

For customers not already linked on MS, check if more details are required and/or MS updates to correct the record before separation is completed. See Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer becomes partnered.

Once the records are unlinked, update the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen as follows:

• If there is an existing Independence line with reason 'PCO' (currently a member of a qualifying YA couple), code End Date: field with date of separation
• Code End Reason: field with 'NLE'
• Code a new line with Act: field as 'IND', Start Date: field from day after separation and Start/Reject Reason: field coded as:
• 'PDF' - has previously been member of de facto relationship for at least 12 months, or
• 'PDS' - has previously been a member of a de facto relationship for at least 6 months and special circumstances exist

Procedure ends here.

Do not link the customer’s record to a partner. Updates to the MS and NIH screens are not required. Update any change of address/accommodation details.

Remove the MS coding if:

• the files are linked, and
• there is no independence coding on NIH, and
• the customer does not meet any independence criteria

DOC the customer’s record.

Procedure ends here.

ABSTUDY customers who have:

• previously been married or in a registered relationship are considered independent. For more details, see Assessing independence for ABSTUDY customers
• left a de facto relationship are no longer considered independent. For more details, see Assessing independence for ABSTUDY customers

Is the ABSTUDY customer considered independent due to previously being married or in a registered relationship?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 3

For customers not already linked on the MS screen, check if more details are required and/or MS updates to correct the record before separation is completed. See Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer becomes partnered.

When updates are made to unlink the records the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen must also be updated.

Update the NIH screen in the ISS system as follows:

• enter a new line with Act: field as 'IND'
• Start Date: field from day after separation
• Start/Reject Reason: ‘PBM’
• Source and Date of Receipt fields: add appropriate details

Note: the End Date, End Reason, and Consent to Contact fields do not need to be completed.

Go to Step 5

If the customer ceases to meet independence criteria because they are no longer in a de facto relationship, check if customer meets any other independence criteria – see Independence for ABSTUDY customers.

Do they meet for any other reason?

• Yes, end date the current NIH details from the day before separation. Update the NIH screen with details of the other independence grant from date of separation. Go to Step 5
• No, the student is no longer approved for the independent rate of ABSTUDY

Update the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen in the ISS system as follows:

• Select the current line with Act: field as 'IND'
• End Date: date of separation
• End Reason: NLE
• Source and Date of Receipt: add appropriate details
• As the customer is no longer considered independent, the Parental Income Test now applies
• Request a MOD JY, see Requesting information (CLK)

Go to Step 5

DOC the details of independence updates.

Ensure the remaining separation steps are completed.

Procedure ends here.