Assessing concessional study loads for Youth Allowance (YA) 010-06070040

Gather information and evidence about the study load that the customer is undertaking or intending to undertake.

Note: for customers who are reducing their study load due to becoming incapacitated, see Youth Allowance (YA) student or Australian Apprentice becomes incapacitated or impacted by unforeseen or extreme circumstances.

For customers claiming YA, this information is gathered in the online claim, Assisted Customer claim or Claim for Youth Allowance (SY001). Current YA customers can provide this information verbally, online through the Manage Study Details service or via the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

The customer may also need to supply there:

• Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) or a letter from their education provider to verify the amount of study they are enrolled in, and
• the academic reasons for the reduction in their study load if their study load is between 66% and 74% (see evidence requirements below)

Customers who are enquiring about their circumstances can give their details over the phone. Suitably trained staff can make the assessment once appropriate evidence is provided.

If the customer’s study load is:

• between 75% and 100% of the normal amount of full-time study, they are considered to be full-time students. This concessional study load procedure does not apply, procedure ends here
• between 66% and 74% of the normal amount of full-time study, go to Step 3
• less than 66% of the normal amount of full-time study, go to Step 5

Is the customer's study load between 66% and 74% of the normal amount of full-time study because of 1 of the following:

• the education provider's normal requirements for the course (for example, timetable clashes, subject cancelled or over-enrolled)
• a specific direction in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer
• a recommendation in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer for academic or vocational reasons, regardless of whether the reason is given with the recommendation or not Note: study load requirements can only be reduced for this vocational reason for up to 1/2 an academic year
• Yes, advise the customer that they can qualify for YA at a 66% concessional study load, go to Step 4
• No to all the above. These customers do not satisfy the full-time study requirements as a student, go to Step 5

Complete the following tasks:

• Code education details on the system
• Advise the customer that they are required to notify any changes to their study load within 14 days
• Explain to the customer the consequences of reducing their study load or of ceasing studies altogether. That is, they will no longer satisfy the full-time study requirements as a student and will be required to undertake job search and/or other activities or commence an Australian Apprenticeship to continue receiving YA
• Explain the consequences of failing to notify changes, or, of failing to satisfy the full-time study requirements.
  See Participation and serious failures for students and Australian Apprentices
• Record details on a DOC

Procedure ends here.

Customers who do not satisfy the full-time study requirements do not qualify for YA as a student.

If a YA (student) ceased full-time study and they wish to continue to receive an income support payment, they must notify Services Australia within 14 days to transfer to an alternative payment.

Failure to notify cessation of full-time study within 14 days will result in cancellation of YA from Student End Date + 1 day.

Payment of an alternative income support payment may only commence from the date the customer lodges a claim for the new payment. A debt may be generated for students who fail to notify cessation of full-time study.

Complete the following tasks:

If the customer is:

• 22 years of age and over, go to Step 6
• 18-21 years old, go to Step 7
• under 18 years old, go to Step 8

YA customers aged 22 years and over may still be qualified for YA if they have commenced an Australian Apprenticeship.

If not, consider qualification for alternate income support, for example, JobSeeker Payment (JSP) and advise the customer.

On the:

• Education Course Details (EDC) screen:
• change the Student End Date using the day immediately before the date the customer reduced their study load to less than 75% of the normal amount of full-time study. (E.g. if the customer reduced their study load on 1 April, code 31 March)
• ensure the Source and Receipt Date of the information is recorded
• Newstart Education Status (NES) screen insert a new page by recording an Event Date of Student End Date + 1 day and a Student Status of Not a Student (NST)
• Finalise the reassessment activity through the Assessment Results (AR) process

This will result in YA being cancelled ‘Not A Full-Time Student’ from the Student End Date + 1 day.

Advise customer that:

• a debt may be generated for payments received when not qualified as a student, and
• they will lose eligibility to the automatic issued Health Care Card; however, they may wish to assess their eligibility for a Low-Income Health Care Card

If the customer wishes to claim another income support payment, or a Low-Income Health Care Card, identify the most beneficial payments and services and refer the customer to the appropriate claiming options.

YA customers aged 18-21 years old may still be qualified for Youth Allowance if they have commenced an Australian Apprenticeship. If not, consider whether the customer is qualified for Youth Allowance as a jobseeker, or an alternative income support payment, and advise the customer.

On the:

• Education Course Details (EDC) screen:
• change the Student End Date using the day immediately before the date the customer reduced their study load to less than 75% of the normal amount of full-time study. (E.g. if the customer reduced their study load on 1 April, code 31 March)
• ensure the Source and Receipt Date of the information is recorded
• Newstart Education Status (NES) screen insert a new page by recording an Event Date of Student End Date + 1 day and a Student Status of Not a Student (NST)
• Finalise the reassessment activity through the Assessment Results (AR) process

If the customer:

• does not wish to remain on YA as a jobseeker, or
• failed to notify their change in study circumstances within 14 days,
• go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen and cancel YA (reason 'NST') from Student End Date plus 1 day within the same activity
• finalise the activity via the Assessment Results (AR) screen. YA should then cancel with the reason 'Not a Full-Time Student' (CAN-NST)

Advise customer that:

• a debt may be generated for payments received when not qualified as a student, and
• they will lose eligibility to the automatic issued Health Care Card; however, they may wish to assess their eligibility for a Low-Income Health Care Card

If the customer:

• notified within 14 days and will remain on Youth Allowance as a jobseeker, see Student to job seeker transfers
• did not notify within 14 days and wishes to re-claim YA, another income support payment, or a Low-Income Health Care Card, identify the most beneficial payment, and refer the customer to the appropriate claiming options

On the:

• Education Course Details (EDC) screen:
• change the Student End Date using the day immediately before the date the customer reduced their study load to less than 75% of the normal amount of full-time study. (E.g. if the customer reduced their study load on 1 April, code 31 March)
• ensure the Source and Receipt Date of the information is recorded
• Newstart Education Status (NES) screen insert a new page by recording an:
• Event Date of Student End Date + 1 day
• Student Status of Not a Student (NST)
• ensure the Education Level Attained field is correct, and
• if required, record if Y12/Equiv Verified based on the available options (see Mutual obligation requirements for Youth Allowance job seekers under 22 years of age who have not completed Year 12 or an equivalent level of education (Certificate III or higher) qualification)
• finalise the reassessment activity through the Assessment Results (AR) process

In most cases, this will result in cancellation of YA from Student End Date plus 1 day.

If the customer contacted more than 14 days after cessation of full-time study, and the payment does not cancel automatically, go to the Benefit Action (BA) screen, and cancel YA (reason 'NST') from Student End Date plus 1 day within the same activity.

Finalise the activity via the Assessment Results (AR) screen. YA should then cancel with the reason 'Not a Full-Time Student' (CAN-NST).

Advise customer that:

• a debt may be generated for payments received when not qualified as a student, and
• they will lose eligibility to the automatic issued Health Care Card; however, they may wish to assess their eligibility for a Low-Income Health Care Card

If the customer notified within 14 days and will remain on Youth Allowance as a jobseeker, see Student to job seeker transfers.

If the customer did not notify within 14 days and wishes to continue receiving payment as a job seeker, identify the most beneficial payment and refer them to the appropriate claiming options.

The customer could still be qualified for Youth Allowance if they have commenced an Australian Apprenticeship. No under 18 exemption needs to be coded if the customer is an Australian Apprentice. If the customer becomes a job seeker a study exemption needs to be coded if they have not completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Record decision on a DOC and advise the customer of their review and appeal rights. See Initial contact about a decision and the review of decision process.