Assessing improved employment prospects for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate 010-21102843

If the YA job seeker is:

• dependent, go to Step 2
• independent, the customer does not require an approved reason to live away from home. See Independence for Youth Allowance (YA) customers. Procedure ends here

Approved activities enhance a job seekers chance of gaining employment, through either education, training, or assisting them with job seeking. See the Resources page for examples of suitable activities.

Is the job seeker undertaking approved activities for YA?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here

YA job seekers may choose to live away from the parental home to improve their employment prospects. To decide whether a new location will significantly increase a YA job seekers chances of employment ask the job seeker to provide evidence. For example:

• a comparison of unemployment rates from Labour Market Insights. See the Resources page for a link, or
• evidence they have spoken with their Employment Service Provider or, other (non-specified) evidence, such as a google search. See the Resources page for examples

Can the job seeker demonstrate the move will significantly increase their prospect of finding work?

• Yes, the job seeker has provided evidence of increased prospects of finding work. Go to Step 4
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here

To be eligible for the away from home rate the job seeker must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• travelling time is excessive, go to Step 5
• the parental home is an inadequate place for job search, go to Step 6
• the young person has a disability and the parental home is isolated from required special facilities, go to Step 7
• improved job prospects, go to Step 8

If the job seeker does not meet any of the above, they are not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here.

Assess the distance and travelling time using the job seeker's usual mode of transport.

Is the job seeker's travelling time excessive?

• Yes, see Assessing excessive travelling time for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here

This does not extend to minor difficulties of a kind normally encountered in a family. However, it may be possible for job seekers to reasonably demonstrate other situations where the parental home is inadequate to undertake job search activities.

Is the job seeker's parental home an inadequate place for job search?

• Yes, see Assessing parental home inadequate for study, work or job search for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here

The job seeker may be eligible for the away from home rate if they are required to:

• board at a special provider for people with disabilities, or
• access special facilities or regular medical treatment which would otherwise involve excessive travelling time, or
• avoid the effects of lengthy daily travel

Is the parental home isolated from required special facilities?

• Yes, see Assessing a customer with a disability when the parental home is isolated from required facilities for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here

Does the YA job seeker need to live away from home to improve their employment prospects?

• Yes:
• Code the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen with action reason 'AJP' (improved job prospects)
• Consider whether an end date is needed. For example, if the YA job seeker has temporarily relocated to complete a short course
• See the Resources page for examples
• No, the job seeker is not eligible for the away from home rate. Record the reason for the decision in a Fast Note. Procedure ends here