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

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Risks to a customer’s privacy have been identified. See Separating Safely – protecting personal details to make sure the customer’s personal details are safe before progressing.

This is a Family and Domestic Violence Interaction Point. If the customer is with another person, on speaker phone, or already identified with family and domestic violence concerns, continue with the current business conversation. Otherwise, go to the Family and domestic violence procedure to conduct the risk identification and referral process.

This document outlines the correct processes to follow when a Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer advises they have separated from their partner.

On this page:

YA or ABSTUDY customer separates

Independence impacts – Youth Allowance (YA)

Independence impacts ABSTUDY

YA or ABSTUDY customer separates

Table 1

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Step

Action

1

Support the customer to separate safely

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

See Resources page for a link to The Privacy and Secrecy Hub and the Privacy Incident Notification form.

2

Notification of separation

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. Tell the customer to advise the separation when it occurs by:

  • lodging a completed Separation Details (MOD S) form, if they receive ABSTUDY or YA and cannot use the online service
  • using the A self service option is available Update Relationship details option in their Centrelink online account, if they are an eligible YA customer

Record details of contact on a DOC.

At risk assessment

To protect vulnerable customers, customers 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?'

3

Vulnerable customer at risk

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

4

Check Marital Status (MS) screen

If the customer is 22 years or over, follow standard separation process. Procedure ends here.

If the customer is under 22 years of age, check if the customer and ex-partner records are linked on the MS screen.

If the records are:

5

Check ongoing entitlement

Check whether the separation affects ongoing entitlement. Consider:

  • A self service option is available qualification for YA or ABSTUDY
  • whether another payment is more appropriate, such as Parenting Payment Single (PPS)
  • whether an online claim, or an Assisted Customer Claim (ACC) is required
  • 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
  • whether payment destination needs updating, 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

6

Verification of separation

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

Has the customer updated their relationship details online or returned a MOD S?

  • Yes, assess the separation, go to Step 7
  • No,
    • Tell the customer to use their online account if eligible. Customers can update their relationship details by selecting Menu > My details > Personal and contact details > Update relationship details
    • if the customer cannot use self-service issue a MOD S form (where the customer or their partner are not claiming or transferring to PPS). See Requesting information (CLK)
    • procedure ends here until online updates or MOD S provided

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.

7

Independence impacts

For customers under 22 assessed as independent because they were member of a couple the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home details (NIH) screen must be updated. This may result in changes to their independence status, for:


Independence impacts – Youth Allowance (YA)

Table 2

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Step

Action

1

Determine if YA customer is independent

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

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.

2

Is the customer considered independent due to being a member of a YA couple?

3

Customer is independent due to being a member of a YA couple

For customers not already linked, check if:

  • more details are required
  • MS updates are needed to correct the record before separation is completed.

See Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer becomes partnered.

Update the NIH screen:

  • if there is an existing PCO entry, end date it from the date of separation
  • add a new line with the following fields:
    • Action: IND
    • Start Date: day after separation
    • Start/Reject Reason:
      • 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

Is the customer’s record unlinked from ex-partner?

  • Yes, finalise the activity and record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here.
  • No, see Table 3 in Change in relationship status from partnered to single, to complete separation before finalising

4

Customer is not independent

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.


Independence impacts ABSTUDY

Table 3

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Step

Action

1

Determine if ABSTUDY customer is independent

ABSTUDY customers who have:

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

2

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

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

3

Determine if ABSTUDY customer is independent for any reason

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

4

No longer eligible for independence rate

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

5

Complete the Separation

DOC the details of independence updates.

Ensure the remaining separation steps are completed.

Procedure ends here.