Assessing the away from home rate of Youth Allowance (YA) when parents move out of the area 010-06040100

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

Will the parent/s move out of the area (or have they already moved out)?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the customer is not eligible for the away from home rate under this criterion. Record the reason for the decision on a DOC. Procedure ends here

Note: if the customer remains in the parental home and the parent/s will be moving out of the area for a temporary period (any period less than 12 months would be considered temporary) then the customer cannot qualify for the away from home rate. This does not mean the customer needs to wait 12 months before they qualify for the away from home rate if the parents are moving permanently.

Is the customer an Australian Apprentice, job seeker or full-time student?

• Australian Apprentice, go to Step 4
• job seeker, go to Step 5
• full-time student, go to Step 6

Australian Apprentices can be considered for the away from home rate on the basis of excessive travelling time, if the parent's move takes them to an area away from the customer's workplace.

See Assessing excessive travelling time for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate. Procedure ends here.

If the parent's move will take the customer to an area of lower employment opportunities and/or away from an approved activity the customer has commenced, the customer may choose to remain in the local area to access better employment and training opportunities/continue their approved activity. If the customer chooses to stay, they would be eligible for the away from home rate of YA. Approved activities are outlined in the job seeker’s Job Plan. See Approved activities for Job Plans for more information.

To check the relative employment rates for the 2 areas complete a comparison of unemployment rates from Labour Market Insights. See the Resources page for a link.

Will the move take the customer to an area of lower employment and training opportunities?

• Yes, go to Step 9
• No, the customer is not eligible for the away from home rate under this criterion. Record reasons for decision on a DOC. Procedure ends here

Is the student undertaking secondary or tertiary study?

• secondary study, go to Step 7
• tertiary study, this criterion does not apply. The student would instead be considered for the away from home rate because of excessive travelling time. See Assessing excessive travelling time for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate. Procedure ends here

Continuity of study

Years 11 and 12 at high school are important for the future of the student. These 2 years together are used to assess the final result achieved.

Where parents move out of the area this may interrupt these years of study. This interruption could significantly reduce the level of academic achievement recorded and limit choices for tertiary study and/or reduce the chances of gaining employment. In these cases, customers qualify for the away from home rate if they would meet the excess travelling time provisions in relation to the new principal family home and their current school.

Generally, customers would be expected to move with their parents, however, situations arise where this provision could be applied.

Is the student studying year 11 or 12?

• Yes, the student is eligible for the away from home rate of YA. Go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 8

Continuity of study may also apply outside of year 11 or 12 but only in certain, individual cases.

These would be the exception rather than the rule.

For example, a student with special needs may suffer significant disruption to their education if they had to change schools midyear.

The Service Officer would need to be satisfied that there is a genuine requirement for the customer to remain at the same school. Evidence such as statements would need to be supplied.

Do exceptional circumstances require the customer to maintain continuity of study?

• Yes, the student is eligible for the away from home rate of YA. Go to Step 9
• No, the customer is not eligible for the away from home rate under this criterion. Record the reasons for the decision on a DOC. Procedure ends here

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

Code the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen with the grant reason of 'AMA' (parents move out of the area). See Commencement, cessation and coding of the away from home rate for Youth Allowance (YA).