Reviews of independence for ABSTUDY 110-07020020

Has the ABSTUDY customer been granted independent status under a reviewable independent category?

Check the Start/Reject Reason: field on the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen in the ISS system.

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, a review of independence is not required. Procedure ends here

The customer's independent status should be reviewed only if the customer's circumstances change.

Has the customer had a change in circumstance that may affect their eligibility for the category of independence under which they have been granted?

• Yes:
• In Service Centres or on the phone,send an ABSTUDY action request Fast Note to the ABSTUDY Smart Centre Processing Team with the details of the customer's change in circumstances. Use Fast Note - select Auto Text, use Students > ABSTUDY & Apprentices > Update > ABSTUDY action request > Confirm. Procedure ends here
• For processing teams in service centres or Smart Centres, see Step 1 in Table 2
• No, record details of discussion with customer on a DOC. Procedure ends here for Service Centres and Smart Centre Call

Note: if unsure of whether the change will affect the customer's eligibility for independent status, read through the rest of this procedure. It details the changes for each reviewable independent category that Service Officers in the ABSTUDY Smart Centre Processing Team will investigate when reviewing the customer.

The customer's independent status should be reviewed only if their circumstances change.

Under which category of independence has the customer been granted?

Check the Start/Reject Reason: field on the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen in the ISS system.

• Above the age of consent in their state or territory, and living in a de facto relationship that is of at least six months in duration, go to Step 2
• Currently has the care or custody of another person's child, go to Step 3
• 15 years of age or over and has parent(s) who cannot exercise their parental responsibilities, go to Step 4
• 16 years of age or over and living in an Indigenous Australian community after previously being adopted or fostered by a non-Indigenous family for more than two years, go to Step 5
• Of minimum school leaving age and a homeless customer (including customers in State care who are not living with a carer or receiving any ongoing support from the State/Territory), go to Step 6

The customer has been granted independent status because they are in a de facto relationship of at least six months duration.

The following changes in circumstances will affect the customer's independent status:

• customer is no longer in a de facto relationship of at least six months

Note: if the customer is or has been previously married, they should be granted permanent independent status on the grounds of currently or previously married or a registered relationship. See Assessing independence for ABSTUDY customers

Will the customer still meet the criteria for independence under which they were initially granted?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7.

Customer has been granted independent status because they have the care or custody of another person's child and that child/student.

The following changes in circumstances will affect the customer's independent status:

• customer no longer has the care or custody of the other person's child/student
• the child/student is no longer a dependent child/student of the customer

Note: if the customer has the care or custody of another person's child/student, but that child/student is a different child/student to the one they were caring for when they were granted independent status, the customer will need to reapply for independent status for the new child/student.

Will the customer still meet the criteria for independence under which they were initially granted?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7.

Customer has been granted independent status because they are 15 years of age or over and their parent(s) cannot exercise their parental responsibilities.

The following changes in circumstances will affect the customer's independent status:

• customer's parent(s) are released from prison
• customer's parent(s) are released from a mental institution
• customer's parent(s) are released from a nursing home
• customer's parent(s) were missing but have been located or made contact

Note: care should be taken when reviewing customer's under this category. Although they may not qualify under this category, they may qualify as a homeless customer. A social worker can assist in determining whether the customer should be regarded as homeless.

Will the customer still meet the criteria for independence under which they were initially granted?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7

Customer has been granted independent status because they are 16 years of age or over and living in an indigenous Australian community after previously being adopted or fostered by a non-indigenous family for more than two years.

The following changes in circumstances will affect the customer's independent status:

• customer changes address to a location other than the home community

Will the customer still meet the criteria for independence under which they were initially granted?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7

Customer has been granted independent status because they are of minimum school leaving age or at least 16 years of age and homeless

Note: this includes customers who have been or are in State care if they have:

• left the carer's home
• are living in a government funded or subsidised refuge or residential care facility, and
• the State/Territory Child Protection Authority has not accepted ongoing responsibility for the customer

The following changes in circumstances will affect the customer's independent status:

• customer has had support from either of their natural or adoptive parents
• customer has had contact from either of their natural or adoptive parents
• customer has returned to their parental home for more than 14 days. Short visits (i.e. generally less than 14 days) to the parental home would not preclude the customer from independent status. Such visits should be encouraged particularly if the customer is attempting mediation with their family

Note: care should be taken when reviewing a homeless customer. A social worker can assist in determining the nature of the support/contact and whether the customer should still be regarded as homeless.

Will the customer still meet the criteria for independence under which they were initially granted?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7

Go to NIHS screen. Select the current entry. Code an End Date: and End Reason: on the appropriate line of the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen in the ISS system to end the period of independence for which they are no longer eligible. The end date will be the date the change in circumstance occurred, or will occur.

If the customer qualifies for:

• independence under another category, or
• the away from home rate, update the NIH screen with the new criteria

If the customer no longer qualifies for independence or away from home rate, and was getting Rent Assistance (RA), they will no longer be eligible for RA from the earlier of:

• the date they ceased to qualify for the independent rate, or
• the date they ceased to pay for accommodation
• update the Change in Contact Details workflow to update the customer's address and accommodation details if required. Make sure ACS is updated with Lives with parents - LWP where they are no longer eligible for RA. See Completing the Accommodation Details (AC) screen and assessing Rent Assistance (RA) to finalise the AC screen update
• finalise activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen
• record details of decision on a DOC
• customers who are no longer in a de facto relationship require further updates to separate records. See Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY independence impacts when a customer separates

Procedure ends here.

Finalise the independence review:

• select the review from the Activity List (AL) or Future Activity List (FAL) screen in the ISS system
• press [Enter]
• the ABSTUDY Task Selector (EYTS) screen will be displayed. Select any screens that need to be completed from this screen
• complete the screen flow and finalise the review on the Assessment Results (AR) screen
• if the customer is advising of a change of address run the Change in Contact Details workflow to update the customer's address and accommodation details
• record details of the decision on a DOC