Customer no longer an Australian Apprentice 102-07030210

A customer is considered to be an Australian Apprentice if:

• they are employed under a training contract as an Australian Apprentice
• their training contract is submitted to the relevant state or territory training authority

If a customer is currently receiving Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY and is under 22 years of age, they may continue to qualify for payment if they change their activity from full-time Australian Apprentice to job search (YA only) or full-time study (YA and ABSTUDY). This is considered a change in circumstances only and a new claim is not required.

Customers aged 22 and over receiving YA, ABSTUDY or Austudy as a full-time Australian Apprentice who cease being an apprentice, may continue to qualify if they change their activity to full-time study. This is considered a change in circumstances only and a new claim is not required.

Customers aged 22 years who cease being an apprentice and will not be undertaking full-time study can make a claim for another suitable payment, such as JobSeeker Payment (JSP).

Customers who expect to change from one apprentice employer to another within 28 days may continue to be paid their income support payment or ABSTUDY if their Apprenticeship Identification Number remains current during this period.

If it has been more than 28 days since the customer's employment ceased, and they have not commenced with another apprentice employer, they no longer meet the definition of an Australian Apprentice. An apprentice must be employed under a training contract as a full-time apprentice.

For Youth Allowance customers, see Youth Allowance (YA) qualifications for students and Australian Apprentices

For Austudy customers, see Eligibility for Austudy

For ABSTUDY customers, see Existing customer starts an Australian Apprenticeship

Customers considered to be an Australian Apprentice will have a current Apprenticeship Identification Number managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). If a customer stops working for their apprentice employer before they have completed their apprenticeship, their Apprenticeship Identification Number:

• may remain current for a period, and
• if current does not always indicate a customer is currently undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship

Unused working credits or an Australian Apprentice Income Bank balance can be transferred to the customer's Student Income Bank or working credit balance, up to a maximum of 1,000 credits.