Verification of independence categories for Youth Allowance (YA) for Payment Accuracy Reviews (PAR) 110-14040020

If a customer is 22 year of age or older, they are considered to be independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

There is no need to request additional documentation to prove independence on the basis of age, unless the date of birth provided at interview does not match what is on record.

A customer is considered independent where the customer has, or has had, a dependent child in their care. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Check the customer is receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for the child
• If not receiving FTB, documents need to be provided to support the claim

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer has, or has had, a dependent child.

A customer who is legally married/in a registered relationship or they have been (now separated, divorced, widowed, Section 24) is considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Check the partner is recorded as a partner on the Marital Status (MS) screen
• When evidence of the customer's circumstances is not available from Centrelink records, or doubt exists about the customer's circumstances, documentation may be requested from the customer to support the claim for independence
• When documentation is required, applicants must provide a statutory declaration signed by both parties, plus other documentation indicating cohabitation such as rental agreement, electricity, water or telephone accounts

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer is/was married or a member of a couple.

A customer who is a member of a couple or previously was a member of a couple are considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Check if the customer's partner is recorded, or was previously recorded as a partner on the MS screen and the customer is receiving, or has received the member of a couple rate of payment for at least 12 months, or 6 months due to special circumstances

If there is no evidence on record, verification may be required If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer is/was married or a member of a couple.

A customer who has worked an average of 30 hours a week for a total of 18 months within a 2 year period may be considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Evidence of employment is required for employees and self-employed customers

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer is self-supporting through full-time paid employment.

A customer who has worked continuously for at least 15 hours per week for at least 2 years since leaving secondary school may be considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Check available information on the record for evidence
• If there is no evidence on the record, verification will be required

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence for full time or concessional study load students from regional and remote areas under the self-supporting through employment criterion.

A customer who has earned 75% or more of the Wage Level A of the National Training Wage Schedule since leaving secondary school may be considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

• Check available information on the record for evidence
• If no evidence on the record, verification will be required

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence for full time or concessional study load students from regional and remote areas under the self-supporting through employment criterion.

A customer who:

• has earned at least $15,000 gross income in approved agricultural work anytime between 30 November 2020 and 31 December 2021(inclusive) and claimed from 1 March 2021 to 1 March 2023, and
• are undertaking full-time studies or an approved concessional study load in an approved course, and
• have a combined parental income below $160,000 plus $10000 for each additional child included in the Family Unit Regional

May be considered independent. This independence criterion is not a reviewable independence category.

Evidence of employment is required. See Assessing independence when a student has undertaken approved agricultural work.

A reviewable independence category.

• If the customer has been in receipt of Double Orphan Pension (DOP), check the Child Task Selector (CHTS) screen and Child Double Orphan Pension (CHDP) screen for verification
• If customer has not been paid DOP, obtain verification of the deaths by way of death certificates, coroner's reports or any other document which confirms the death of parents, for example, a Social Work report from a State authority

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer is an orphan.

A reviewable independence category.

If the parent is:

• incarcerated, confirm with relevant authority
• confined to medical institution or aged care home, confirm with hospital or institution/nursing home
• missing, evidence is required on attempts to locate parent

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer's parents cannot exercise responsibilities.

A reviewable independence category.

If the customer is identifying for the first time that it is unreasonable for them to live at home and they are:

• under 18 years of age, book a Social Work Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) appointment
• 18 years of age and under 22 years of age:
• issue Youth Allowance: Unreasonable to live at home Statement by Young Person (SY015) and Youth Allowance: Unreasonable to live at home Statement for Parent(s)/Guardian(s) (SY016) forms, and
• refer to Student Network - UTLAH Assessment Over 18 Team (O18)

If the customer has previously been granted UTLAH status and they are:

• under 18 years of age, and
• there has been no change of address notified since they were granted UTLAH, note the Social Work DOC containing the recommendation for grant of independent status in the PAR results DOC
• there has been a change of address notified since they were granted UTLAH, book a Social Work Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) appointment
• for a review of the UTLAH assessment, no further action is required
• 18 years of age and under 22 years of age:
• issue an SY015 - Youth Allowance: Unreasonable to live at home Statement by Young Person form
• if the customer's stated reason why it is unreasonable for them to live at home on the SY015 matches what is shown on their record, no further action is required
• if the customer's stated reason why it is unreasonable for them to live at home on the SY015 has changed, investigate and record on a DOC whether or not the independent status is to continue and refer to the UTLAH Assessment Over 18 team (O18)

The Resources page contains a link to Office Locator. See Unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) initial contact for Youth Allowance (YA), Disability Support Pension (DSP), Special Benefit (SpB) or Tertiary Access Payment (TAP).

If verification documentation is required, see:

• Assessing unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) for customers claiming or receiving Youth Allowance (YA), Disability Support Pension (DSP) or Special Benefit (SpB)
• Reviews of independence for Youth Allowance (YA)

A reviewable independence category.

• Check the customer's responses in the PAR questionnaire confirm their parents have not arrived in Australia, and
• They do not meet the definition of a dependent child for another person on a long term basis

If verification documentation is required, see Assessing independence when a customer is a refugee.

A reviewable independence category.

Confirm with the customer whether they are in State care or have left State care.

• Confirm customer:
• has not returned to parental home, and
• that they are still in State care; or
• have ceased State care due to age

If the customer states they are in State care, documentary verification must be obtained from the State or Territory welfare authority, such as a court order or letter. Verbal verification is not sufficient.

See Assessing independence when a customer is in State care.

A reviewable independence category.

Customers are considered to have a PCW if they have an ongoing physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment that prevents them from:

• working at least 30 hours per week at or above the relevant minimum wage independently of a program of support within the next 2 years, and
• undertaking any training (mainstream or disability specific) that would enable them to do such work within the next 2 years

Check if the customer has a current and valid ESAt or JCA. This means there was an assessment within the last 2 years with no significant changes to the customer's medical condition or work capacity.

• If the customer has a current and valid ESAt/JCA, no further verification is needed
• If a new assessment is needed, complete an ESAt referral

Once the ESAt report has been accepted by the agency, details of the customer's assessed work capacity from the report are automatically coded on the Work Capacity Details (WC) screen.

The customer will have the category of 'Partial Capacity to Work' or 'Temporary Reduced Work Capacity' recorded on the Customer Target Category History (CTCH) screen and the Customer Target Category Summary (CTCS) screen from the date the ESAt report is accepted. These are view only screens.

Note: if the customer has become a full-time student or Australian Apprentice, they can no longer qualify for independent status under the PCW criteria. Update the system and record details on a DOC.

If verification documentation is required, see:

• Identifying people with a partial capacity to work
• Assessing independence for customers with a partial capacity to work, and
• Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) Referral

A reviewable independence category.

Confirm the customer is not living with parents or receiving financial support and check for original grant DOC.

Confirm the customer:

• has not returned to the parental home; and
• is not receiving financial support from parent(s) or from another person who is acting as customer's guardian on a long term basis; and
• is specially disadvantaged with respect to education or employment, see Guide to Social Security Law 1.1.S.270. The References page contains a link to this section of the Guide

The customer must also be at least 18 years old and have had full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week for a period of at least 12 months, or for periods that total at least 12 months.

To be assessed under this criterion, the customer must provide evidence to prove they:

• were working for 30 hours per week in a 12 month period, or for periods totalling 12 months (for example, payslips), and
• are not being financially supported (indirectly or directly) by their parent(s). This could be a statutory declaration or bank statements

See Assessing independence when a customer is self-supporting through full-time paid employment.