Assessing parental home inadequate for study, work or job search for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate 010-06040080

If the YA customer is:

• dependent, go to Step 2
• independent, the customer does not require an approved reason to live away from home. Procedure ends here

Has a Services Australia social worker recommended the away from home rate be paid?

• Yes, the Service Officer should grant the away from home rate with the grant reason 'ACA' (parental home not conducive to study/activity). See Commencement, cessation and coding of the away from home rate for Youth Allowance (YA)
• No, go to Step 3

Making a decision on the seriousness of a family's situation is a discretionary decision. As such, each case must be dealt with individually on its merits. The Service Officer should always consider discussing the case with a Service Support Officer, Team Leader or Manager if they feel the case is beyond their current level of experience. Service Officers are also encouraged to consider discussing the case with a social worker to consider if an Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) referral or a referral for social casework is appropriate.

There are a number of situations that may make the parental home an inadequate place for study, work or job seeking. The Resources page contains details on some of these situations.

If further information is required to make a decision and the customer is not present, make 2 genuine attempts to contact them by phone.

Is the customer present or was phone contact successful?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, request the information go to Step 5

Has the customer provided evidence that the parental home is inadequate for study, work or job search?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, request the information, go to Step 5

The customer does not qualify for the away from home rate of YA under this criterion. Record the reasons for the decision on a DOC and if the customer is:

• payable at the at home rate, finalise the claim/reassessment
• not payable at the at home rate, put the claim/reassessment on hold for 14 days to allow the customer time to respond to the request and provide the supporting documentation

Procedure ends here

The customer is eligible for the away from home rate under this criterion.

In some cases the circumstances may have a fixed end date (for example, family will move to better, bigger accommodation at the end of their current lease) or would not necessarily be permanent (for example, elderly relative may possibly move to a nursing home).

Where there is an expected end date for the customer’s circumstances, this should be coded on the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen. Remind the customer of their requirement to notify the agency of any change within 14 days to avoid overpayments, including changes to the family home situation.

Code the NIH screen with the grant reason code 'ACA' (parental home not conducive to study/activity). See Commencement, cessation and coding of the away from home rate for Youth Allowance (YA).