Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for children aged 16-19 years 007-07110030

• For a child turning 16 years of age, go to Step 2
• For the impact on FTB payments when a child claims a precluding/disqualifying payment, go to Step 8
• For the impact on FTB payments when a child claims or is receiving ABSTUDY, go to Step 13
• For customers who contact about their FTB entitlement for a child where there is a gap in payment before the Youth Allowance (YA) or Disability Support Pension (DSP) claim start date or YA or DSP has been rejected or withdrawn, see Step 1 in Table 2
• For a course end date, see Step 4 in Table 2
• For an exemption end date review, see Step 5 in Table 2
• If a customer advises their child has ceased study, they may no longer be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
• If a customer requests a letter confirming FTB Part A entitlement in order to apply for an Equity Scholarship or the Education Access Scheme, a Q999 free letter text can be sent in Customer First. The Resources page contains the approved Q999 text and further information. Procedure ends here
• For customers who contact about a letter received inviting a child to apply for DSP, go to Step 3
• If a customer needs to update their child's education details, go to Step 5

Note: if the FTB customer also receives an income support payment, update the CHSI screen. This ensures correct dependent child assessment.

Before an FTB child turns 16, a letter is issued to the customer advising them when Services Australia expects their child/ren to complete year 12 or equivalent qualification.

The letter explains how the customer can go online to update the 'assumed' course end date if it is incorrect, or view the 'Family Tax Benefit - Your child is 16 to 19 or stops studying' page on the Services Australia Website. The Resources page contains a link to the Website.

Eligibility for FTB Part B ceases for single parents and grandparent carers when their youngest child turns 16 years of age (or at the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 if they are in full-time secondary study).

If the customer needs further information to decide whether to continue FTB or claim another payment for the child, go to Step 4.

Where the system identifies a child may be eligible for Disability Support Pension (DSP), a letter will be sent inviting them to apply for DSP.

The letter will be sent when the child turns 15 years and 10 months and will include a covering letter and the Disability Support Pension Claim at Age 16 (SA439) form.

See Eligibility for Disability Support Pension (DSP).

For the effect for DSP on FTB, go to Step 8.

For more information on the impact on FTB payments when a child claims a precluding payment, go to Step 8.

If the customer needs further information to decide whether to continue FTB or claim another payment for the child:

• The 'Family Tax Benefit - Your child is 16 to 19 or stops studying' webpage and the Payment and Service Finder can help families compare potential FTB and Youth Allowance (YA) entitlement based on their family's circumstances. Customers can view the Payment and Service Finder online. The Resources page contains a link to the Payment and Service Finder
• Identify the most advantageous income support payment for students or apprentices

DVA customers may benefit from claiming FTB for a child aged 16 years or over, particularly where the family is entitled to FTB Part B. DVA customers cannot receive both a Veterans' Children Education scheme (VCES) or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education Scheme (MRCAETS) payment and FTB for a child.

Note: a child aged 16-17 years in full-time secondary study and living at home is generally not eligible for YA. However, if they are living away from home or are independent they may test their eligibility for YA.

Does the customer want to update their child's education information online?

• Yes:
• Help the customer register online (if required)
• Explain how to update their child's education information online. Procedure ends here
• No, take the information verbally and update the information now. Go to Step 6

In Process Direct:

If the child education details are being updated within a Family Tax Benefit new claim work item being actioned in Process Direct:

• Select the child from the Relations menu
• Go to the Child Education/Exemption details (CEED) screen
• Make updates. Note: the same process applies whether the child has a CHI or PER record

If not a new claim activity Service Officers must complete the updates in Customer First.

In Customer First

Run the Child Education Details workflow.

Note: Service Officers must be in the child's record (if they have one) to make all the required updates. Use Ripple Management if required to review if outcome of the update(s) to FTB customer(s) are as expected.

If the customer advises the child has not completed year 12 or equivalent qualification and is not in full-time study, record the date the child ceased study.

To view or make updates, select the child on the Summary Information table. Select existing:

• Education Information to be updated if required, and select 'Update Education Details' (for example, to add or change an end date for education information already recorded), or
• Exemption Information to be updated if required, and select 'Update Exemption Details'(for example, to change an end date for exemption information already recorded)

To add new education/exemption details, select:

• 'Add Education Details', or
• 'Add Exemption Details'

For a child who has ceased full-time study without completing year 12 or an equivalent qualification, tell the customer the options available. The child may be eligible for a payment in their own right such as Youth Allowance (YA), ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (DSP) or a Low Income Health Care Card, depending on their circumstance.

If the child is claiming a payment in their own right, FTB will cancel for the child when the claim for payment is received. Where it is identified the child may claim a payment in their own right, a child record (CHI) is to be converted to a person record (PER). This assists in reducing the possibility of a Multiple or Duplicate record being created when the New Claim process is commenced.

For a child claiming a payment in their own right, go to Step 8.

If FTB is cancelled or cancelling next pay, go to Step 7.

If FTB is CUR but cancelled for this child, the reason will display on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen. In Customer First, check information via Children > Child information.

Is FTB cancelled for the child or cancelling next pay?

• Yes, see Step 6 in Table 2
• No, advise the customer of their continuing FTB entitlement. Procedure ends here

When an FTB child lodges a claim for a disqualifying payment such as:

• Youth Allowance (YA) as a student (Note: 16 or 17 year old dependent children living at home undertaking full-time secondary study will generally not be eligible for YA)
• YA as an apprentice
• YA as a job seeker
• Disability Support Pension (DSP)

FTB is no longer payable to an FTB customer for that child.

Note: if a CCS child claims one of the above payments, they may continue to attract CCS until they are granted a precluding payment. Do not cancel CCS while the claim for any of the above payments is still being assessed. Once the precluding payment has been granted CCS eligibility ceases from the date that the payment has been granted from (which would include any backdated periods). The child age exception should be ended from the date that the precluding payment has been granted, and customer overpayments may apply. See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

For the effect on FTB for a child claiming:

• YA, go to Step 9
• DSP, go to Step 10

A child who turns 18 in year 12 prior to the end of their course can lodge an early claim for YA, up to 13 weeks prior to their 18^th birthday. FTB can remain current up until the child's 18^th birthday when it will cancel DPP, if YA is granted from the child's 18^th birthday.

A child who completes year 12 or equivalent qualification in November or December can lodge an online claim for YA with a nominated claim start date of 1 January. This option will be offered if the YA claim is lodged anytime from 1 October to 31 December of the year the child completes full-time secondary education.

For a child who completes year 12 or an equivalent qualification in November or December and lodges a YA claim with a nominated 1 January start date, FTB can continue to be paid until 31 December (unless FTB ceases before 31 December for another eligibility reason).

When a YA claim is indexed on the child's record for a child who has nominated a 1 January start date, 'DPC' (Dependent Claimed Precluding Payment) will display on the parent/carer's record from 1 January. This displays on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen.

When YA is granted, 'DPC' is auto updated to 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment).

If 1 January is not selected by the FTB child claiming YA, the DPC that is passed is the earlier of the:

• date of claim
• study end date recorded on the child summary, or
• child's 18th birthday

Procedure ends here.

When a claim for DSP is received, FTB must be manually cancelled for the child from the child's 16th birthday or the date of the DSP claim lodgement, whichever is later.

When an Online claim is lodged for DSP, FTB for the child will be cancelled automatically.

Where a paper claim has been lodged, cancellation will occur automatically when a SOA shell has been created in Process Direct for DSP claim processing.

If auto cancellation has not occurred, a Change of Circumstance (CoC) work item will be created.

To check if auto cancellation of FTB for the claiming child has occurred

If auto cancellation has occurred when a DSP claim is indexed, in the parent's record the most recent entry line against the child's name will indicate 'No eligibility, 'DPC' (Dependent Claimed Precluding Payment).

Process Direct:

• Go to the parent record via the
• Go to the FTB Assessment Explanation (AX) screen
• If auto cancellation has occurred the most recent entry will indicate 'No - Precluding payment'

Customer First:

• Go to the Assessment Explanation (AXFTB) screen in the parent record
• If auto cancellation has occurred the most recent entry will indicate 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment)

Has FTB automatically cancelled for the child claiming DSP?

• Yes, a DOC will have been auto created on the parent record explaining the reason for cancellation. Procedure ends here
• No:
• Families Service Officer - If Service Officer is allocated a CoC work item (with Keyword FACANDSP) this is to be actioned in Customer First. Go to Step 12
• DSP Service Officer - If Service Officer is processing a DSP claim in Customer First, go to Step 12. If in Process Direct, go to Step 11

If auto cancellation of FTB has not occurred, a Change of Circumstance (CoC) work item will require action:

• Select the CoC work item from the Inbox
• Go to the Child General Circumstances (CHG) screen
• Update the Payment Details table with:
• Event date: date of receipt of DSP claim
• Other Payment Type: DPP – Dependant Precluding Payment
• Select Save
• Select Assess

If any errors display, resolve them and select Assess to finalise the activity. A DOC will automatically be created on Notes (DL) screen.

If a DOC has not been created, record information including the reason for cancellation via the DL screen.

Procedure ends here.

To manually cancel FTB for a child claiming DSP:

• If the child has a child record (CHI):
• where it is identified the child may claim a payment in their own right, a CHI is to be converted to a person record (PER). This assists in reducing the possibility of a Multiple or Duplicate record being created when the New Claim process is commenced
• If the child has a PER record:
• In the child's record select SELF from the CHS screen
• Go to the Child General Circumstances (CHG) screen
• On the CHG screen, insert the event date as the date of receipt of the DSP claim
• Insert 'DPP' (Dependant Precluding Payment) in the Other Payment Type field
• Insert relevant Source and DOR (date DSP claim lodged)
• Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen. This will automatically cancel Family Assistance for the respective child
• Locate the parent record via the Link Summary (LS) or FYSH

Locate the FTB customer (parent) record:

• Identify the FTB customer record by selecting SELF from the Child Selection (CHS) screen in the child's record
• Go to either:
• the Child in Customer Care (CHC), or
• the FTB Shared Care (FSC) screen (in Customer First), or
• the Shared Care Assessment (SCA) screen in Process Direct

These screens will show the last carer for the child

• Service Officers may also search via the Link Summary (LS) or FYSH Grp Data Display (FYSHA) screen and entering the child CRN to locate the FTB customers CRN (FYSHA only)

To check if FTB has cancelled go to the Assessment Explanation (AXFTB) screen in the parent record.

If cancellation has occurred the most recent entry will indicate 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment).

Is the FTB payment cancelling/reassessing correctly?

• Yes: record details on a DOC stating FTB has been cancelled for the child due to lodgement of a precluding payment. Set the Work Item to Complete:
• Go to Workspace and select Online Interaction Summary from the Customer Online Account assignment block. The Search Criteria will pre-fill
• Select Search
• Select the relevant row entry relating to the work item ID from in the Results List
• Select Change Status
• Select Completed from the selection
• Select Save (above the Results List and on the right of the other buttons) once appropriate action has been chosen
• Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 14

Note: claims should be lodged by the child's 16th birthday for payment to be granted from that date.

FTB is the primary payment option for students aged 16-19 years in full-time secondary study. However, in some circumstances it may be more beneficial for the student to claim ABSTUDY (for example, if the student is 18 years of age or older, living away from home or independent).

Where applicable, discuss the option of claiming or remaining on FTB with the student and parent(s)/guardian(s). Parent(s)/guardian(s) can compare payment options via the Payment and Services Finder. See Online estimator options.

From 1 January 2020, children aged 16-19 years receiving a means tested ABSTUDY payment (such as Living Allowance and School Fees Allowance (Group 2)) can still be considered an FTB child if they are:

• a full time secondary student
• approved to live away from home to study, and
• boarding to attend school

The system will continue to pay FTB for this child, if:

• a customer is in receipt of FTB for a child who is 16 to 19 years, and
• the child is granted a means tested ABSTUDY payment and is boarding away from home to study

No action is required by Service Officers.

To restore FTB for children aged 16-19 years receiving means tested ABSTUDY allowances as a full time secondary student and who are living away from home and boarding to study where FTB is not being paid for the child, see Step 3 in Table 2.

When an ABSTUDY claim is granted for a child living at home, the parent/carer's record displays on the Assessment Explanation (AX) screen for the child as 'DPP' (Dependent Receiving Precluding Payment). This action automatically occurs when ABSTUDY is granted and FTB is no longer payable for that child.

Note: if a CCS child claims one of the above payments, they may continue to attract CCS until they are granted a precluding payment. Do not cancel CCS while the claim for any of the above payments is still being assessed. Once the precluding payment has been granted CCS eligibility ceases from the date that the payment has been granted from (which would include any backdated periods). The child age exception should be ended from the date that the precluding payment has been granted, and customer overpayments may apply. See Updating school status, and assessing age exemptions for Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

Procedure ends here.

If the FTB payment is not cancelling/reassessing after updating the record, in Customer First:

• Go to the Trans/Trigger List (TTL) screen via Nxt: field
• Key 'R' beside the outstanding RIP activity (RIPUPD #1MIN - CLK/RIP)
• Key 'Y' in 'You are updating RIPUPD to #NOW. Are you sure? Y/N:'
• Exit the record for one minute to wait for the ripple to complete
• Re-enter the record, if the record is still not cancelling/reassessing check the TTL screen and repeat again if necessary
• Once the FTB has cancelled/reassessed correctly, record details on a DOC stating FTB has been cancelled for the child due to lodgement of precluding payment

Note: FTB cannot be restored if the disqualifying payment claim is awaiting processing.

For DSP claims awaiting processing, see Progress of claim - Disability Support Pension (DSP).

For YA claims awaiting processing, see Progress of claims.

Gap payment may apply

The customer may still be eligible for FTB for the relevant child if one of the following applies:

• FTB for that child was cancelled due to the child claiming a disqualifying payment and the claim has been rejected and the customer is not applying for a formal review of the decision
• FTB for that child was cancelled due to the child claiming a disqualifying payment and that claim is withdrawn
• There is a gap period from the date FTB for that child was cancelled and when the disqualifying payment was granted (or is to be granted) and the customer is not applying for a formal review of the start date of the claim, or
• For an FTB child aged 16-19 completing year 12 or an equivalent qualification and claiming Youth Allowance (YA), FTB can be paid up to 31 December, or for 28 days after the course end date if the course ends before November. YA can be granted with a start date of 1 January in this case
• If the child is applying for YA to be granted from their 18^th birthday and they are lodging an early claim within 13 weeks of their birthday, FTB may continue to until be paid for that child until their 18^th birthday
• FTB for that child was cancelled due to the child receiving a means tested ABSTUDY payment and that child is now studying away from home and boarding

If one of the above conditions applies, FTB may be restored for the child. Go to Step 2.

To restore FTB for children aged 16-19 years receiving means tested ABSTUDY allowances as a full time secondary student and who are living away from home and boarding to study, go to Step 3.

If a gap payment does not apply, procedure ends here.

For DSP processing Service Officers

DSP claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted in Process Direct

If FTB is cancelled for the child on a date prior to the start date of their DSP claim, an open work item will be automatically created. It will be allocated to appropriately trained Families staff to re-assess FTB and/or DOP for the gap period.

Where a DSP claim has been rejected or withdrawn, an open work item will be automatically created. It will be allocated to appropriately trained Families staff for action to re-assess/restore FTB and/or DOP for the child.

DSP claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted, in Customer First

• Create a Fast Note for FCC to re-assess/ restore FTB, select Auto text, use Families > SUS/CAN/RES > DSP REJ/WTHDWN - FTB Reclaim

For YA processing Service Officers

YA claim was rejected, withdrawn or granted with gap in entitlement

• Create a Fast Note for FCC to re-assess/ restore FTB, select Auto text, use Families > SUS/CAN/RES > YAL REJ/WTHDWN - FTB Reclaim

For Families and Child Care trained staff only

In Customer First:

• If required, update the education details for the child by running the Child Education Details workflow. Select the Add education details button before finalising the workflow
• Service Officers must be in the child's record (if they have one) to complete all the required updates
• Select the relevant child from the Assessment Explanation FTB (AXFTB) screen to go to the Assessment Details (ASDT) screen
• On the ASDT screen, view the date of effect of the DPP code (start date for YA/DSP) and the DPC code (date FTB was cancelled). Use 'prev'ious / 'next' to scroll between screens
• If the customer has remained eligible for FTB for the child during the gap period, restore FTB instalments for the child:
• If FTB is cancelled and there is a gap in payment, FTB can be restored within the current financial year or previous financial year, from date paid to plus one. See Table 1, Step 9 in Restoration of Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• If FTB is current, in the child's record, from the Child Selection (CHS) screen select 'self', navigate to the Child General Circumstances (CHG) screen and delete the DPP line. Finalise the activity in the child's record, then return to the customer's record to continue. To restore FTB for a particular child, index an 'ACH' (Add Child) activity by going to the Family Task Selector (FTS) screen and coding:
  Source: PHO
  Date: Date of customer contact
  Act: ACH
  Press [Enter] to go to the CHS screen.
  Select the child, go to the Child Override/Claim (CHOC) screen and key 'RCL' (Re-claim) from the date FTB was cancelled for the child
• If only restoring FTB for the child during the gap period (from the date FTB for that child was cancelled up to the date the disqualifying payment was granted), re-code DPP on the Child General Circumstances (CHG) screen from the date the DPP was granted
• If satisfied with the outcome, finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen. FTB should auto cancel from the YA/DSP start date, if YA/DSP was/is granted at a later date
• Record details on a DOC

Note: if the child was also attracting Double Orphan Pension (DOP) immediately before the claim was submitted, a separate Fast Note must be sent to the DOP Processing Team (DOP) requesting DOP is reinstated, select Auto text, use Families > SUS/CAN/RES > DOP Reclaim.

Procedure ends here.

For ABSTUDY processing Service Officers

• Ensure the following relevant screens are coded and make updates as required:
• Independent/Homeless/Away from home (NIH) screen coded with AFH, HOM or IND
• School Fees and Boarding Details (EYSB) coded with boarding details, ensuring students in private boarding arrangements have a figure coded in the Weekly Private Board Amount field. Select Schooling B - Boarder from the drop down box and see Step 16
• Education Course History (EDCH) screen coded with full time secondary study details
• In Customer First create a Fast Note for FCC to re-assess/restore FTB, select Auto text, use Families > SUS/CAN/RES > ABSTUDY boarding child - FTB reclaim

For Families and Child Care trained staff only

• If required, update the education details for the child in Customer First by running the Child Education Details workflow. Select the Add education details button before finalising the workflow
• Service Officers must be in the child's record (if they have one) to complete all the required updates
• If FTB is cancelled, determine if FTB can be restored or if new claim is required, see Restoration of Family Tax Benefit (FTB). If restoration can occur, within restoration activity:
• Go to CHS and select ABSTUDY child
• Go to CHOC screen - input FTB RCL line with DOV 1 January of current year or child's 16th birthday, whichever is later
• If FTB is current:
• Go to CHS and select ABSTUDY child
• Go to CHOC screen - input FTB RCL line with DOV 1 January of current year or child's 16th birthday, whichever is later

Note:

FTB will commence for the ABSTUDY child from the first eligible date. For example, if CHOC screen is coded with 1 January 2020 and the child was in receipt of ABSTUDY but didn't commence boarding away from home to study until 1 March 2020 and child is already 16, FTB for this child will only be able to be paid from 1st March 2020.

Where a re-assessment or claim occurs for an FTB ABSTUDY eligible child for a period more than 2 years in the past, a system limitation may result in an incorrect assessment (child not being assessed as FTB eligible). Do not complete the activity.

• Place the activity/claim on hold with a resubmit date of 7 days (21 days during the MIV peak period - 1 July to 30 September)
• Use Fast Note - select Auto Text, use Families > Reconciliation > ACTDOC Manual Correction on FRMA to refer the record to the Manual Intervention (MIV) team. Include the following:
• Financial year/s requiring correction
• Date and AMR of the reconciliation result that needs changing
• Full reason reconciliation request needs to be adjusted

For FTB MIV action only

When the above Fast Note is received:

• Adjust the result using the FAO Reconciliation Manual Adjustment (FRMA) screen to remove any overpayment amounts occurring where the child met FTB child requirements
• Annotate the Fast Note to record the outcome
• Finalise the reconciliation activity
• Procedure ends here

If the customer does not wish to go online, in Customer First run the Child Education Details workflow:

• Select the child
• Select the education information that requires updating
• Select Update education details before finalising the workflow
• Use screen help [?] for help with coding

Note: if the child has their own PER record, in the child's record:

• In Customer First run the Child Education Details workflow, then
• Return to the respective customers' record to:
• check the outcome, and
• make any further updates as required

Use Ripple Management if needed.

Is the customer advising that the child has completed/will complete year 12 or equivalent when the course ends?

• Yes:
• If the child has completed year 12, ensure the question 'Has the child completed year 12 or equivalent qualification, or will they complete such a qualification in the next 28 days?' is updated to 'Yes'
• A reassessment letter will be issued to advise the customer of their FTB eligibility and possible rate reduction
• No, the customer is invited to update the child's course end date. If FTB needs to be restored, go to Step 6

Twenty-eight (28) days before the exemption is due to end, the customer is sent a letter asking them to complete the child update online.

If required, assess further exemption.

If the customer does not wish to go online, run the FTB Child 16-20 review workflow. Select the Add education details button prior to finalising the workflow. Use screen help [?] for help with coding.

If FTB needs to be restored, go to Step 6.

FTB may be restored from date paid to plus one if the customer has remained eligible.

Note: education details must be manually updated first. In Customer First, select Workspace> Children> Child Education Details. Select the child's name. Under Education Information, select the relevant education details line with the end date that needs to be updated. Select Update education details and record the information. Use screen help [?] for help with coding.

• For cancellation in the current or previous financial year, see Restoration of Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• To restore FTB eligibility for the child, code the 'RCL' line from the date FTB was cancelled for the child on the Child Override/Claim (CHOC) screen
• If the income support payment is rejected for the child, go to the Child General Circumstances (CHG) screen for the child and delete the DPP line or key 'CEA' (ceased to receive other payments) from the date FTB is restored

Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen. Record details on a DOC.