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Determining whether a participation failure is applicable for Youth Allowance or Austudy students 010-07020010

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This document explains the actions to follow to determine if a participation failure has occurred when a YA or Austudy student has not met the participation requirements for their payment. It further outlines the process for Youth Allowance (YA) customers that have signed and a Youth Allowance Activity Agreement where the customer does not meet the participation requirements for YA.

Determining whether a participation failure is applicable

Table 1

Expand table

Step

Action

1

Australian Apprentice not meeting requirements

Customer receiving Youth Allowance (YA) or Austudy as an Australian Apprentice are not required to meet the full-time study requirements and are not subject to participation failures.

Is the customer receiving Youth Allowance (YA) or Austudy as an Australian Apprentice?

2

Assessing a participation failure for failing to meet study requirements

Processing Team: Typically done by specialised processing teams in a service centre or Smart Centre. Unless otherwise stated, staff may complete this step if they are trained.

Follow the appropriate process for the student's circumstances:

3

Customer undertaking qualifying study

Processing Team: Typically done by specialised processing teams in a service centre or Smart Centre. Unless otherwise stated, staff may complete this step if they are trained.

Is the customer still undertaking qualifying study?

4

Reduced study-load due to a temporary incapacity

Has the customer become incapacitated and temporarily reduced their study-load?

5

Cancellation of payment

Processing Team: Typically done by specialised processing teams in a service centre or Smart Centre. Unless otherwise stated, staff may complete this step if they are trained.

The customer no longer qualifies for payment.

Cancel the payment:

  • from the date the customer lost qualification for payment, and
  • raise a debt for any overpaid amounts

See Payment of Youth Allowance (YA) and Austudy when a student is deferring or discontinuing study before the end of the course.

Procedure ends here.

6

Appointments that are not participation related

Processing Team: Typically done by specialised processing teams in a service centre or Smart Centre. Unless otherwise stated, staff may complete this step if they are trained.

Has the customer missed an appointment such as income and asset or living arrangement service update that is not participation related?

  • Yes, suspend the payment until the customer contacts to complete the appointment. Procedure ends here
  • No, go to Step 7

7

Participation related appointment

Processing Team: Typically done by specialised processing teams in a service centre or Smart Centre. Unless otherwise stated, staff may complete this step if they are trained.

If the customer does not have a valid reason for missing an appointment to discuss their failure to meet their full-time study requirements for YA or Austudy, a participation failure will apply. See Generating participation failures for Youth Allowance and Austudy students.

The Participation Solutions Team (PST) will contact the student to:

  • discuss the reason for the missed appointment and apply the participation failure if required
  • re-book a new appointment