Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (transition to work) change in circumstances and reviews 007-19070952

Customers must let the Services Australia know as soon as possible if their circumstances change as this may affect their eligibility or entitlement to ACCS or Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Notifiable events include:

• an increase in family income estimate
• a change to their course of study (extension or cessation)
• a change in their study load
• a change in the number of hours they’re participating in their ACCS (transition to work) activity and/or other CCS activity

If the change of circumstances entitles the customer to another type of ACCS payment, entitlement to ACCS (transition to work) will cease. Also the period for which they receive the other ACCS will not count towards their TTW time limit for that activity. If the customer wants to continue receiving ACCS (transition to work) when the other ACCS payment expires, they will need to lodge a new application.

Customers can advise prior to their current course end date if their course has been extended and they have not already reached their allowable activity time limit. In these cases, the customer is not required to make a new application for ACCS (transition to work).

Subject to evidence of the new course dates, and proof of progress (where appropriate), the existing ACCS (transition to work) information can be updated to reflect the new course end date and their weeks of entitlement reassessed.

For all other activities where the customer has not already reached their allowable activity time limit, the evidence relevant to that activity will need to be provided to confirm the activity will be ongoing (for example a letter from employer where customer is undertaking unpaid internship). whether the remaining activity time limit has already been exhausted. If the customer has been granted the full time limit for the activity, evidence of continuation of the activity should not be requested. The customer will not attract further ACCS (transition to work).

If the activity original end date has passed at the time of notification, and customer is seeking a retrospective extension, the customer needs to re-apply for ACCS (transition to work).There are no backdating provisions for ACCS (transition to work).

If a customer has ceased a CCS activity for which they were receiving ACCS (transition to work), their ACCS eligibility must also be reviewed and cancelled, if appropriate.

Service Officers are to update the activity details then forward an ACTDOC to the ACCS Processing Team to reassess ACCS (transition to work) entitlement. See the Process page for further details.

If this was the only activity for which ACCS (transition to work) was being paid, their eligibility will end from the end of the CCS fortnight when the activity ended. If the customer has delayed notifying of this change, this may result in an overpayment.

The customer will continue to be eligible for CCS, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

Where a customer contacts to advise they are no longer participating in the activity for which they are receiving ACCS (transition to work), but are now undertaking a different activity, they are required to lodge a new application.

Their current ACCS (transition to work) should be ended as per the cessation of activity via ACTDOC notification to the ACCS Processing Team. See the Process page for further details.

Customers undertaking study or training as their ACCS (transition to work) are required to notify if they have a change in their study load from part time to full time, or vice versa.

Service Officers are to update the customer’s CCS activity details with the new hours of study or training per fortnight, then forward an ACTDOC to the ACCS Processing Team to reassess ongoing entitlement to ACCS (transition to work) entitlement. See the Process page for further details.

One of the eligibility criteria for ACCS (transition to work) is to have a combined family income equal to or less than the CCS lower Income threshold.

If a customer increases their income estimate above the CCS lower income threshold, the customer’s ACCS (transition to work) will automatically cancel effective on the last Sunday of the CCS fortnight when the change is notified.

When granting ACCS (transition to work), a review date may be set to assess progress of study. In these cases, customers will be required to provide evidence that they are still undertaking their study activity within 28 days of the review being initiated.

If the customer had included multiple activities in their original ACCS (transition to work) application, and now wish to use a different activity to continue receiving payment, they will be required to lodge a new application and provide evidence they are still undertaking that activity.

Pending system functionality, no review action is required at this time.

Service Officers are responsible for:

• accepting evidence to support an extension to an existing ACCS (transition to work) activity, including progress of study
• accepting evidence to support a change in study load
• updating CCS Activity Test details. Where the activity relates to an ACCS (transition to work) activity, Service Officers will refer the record to the ACCS Processing Team for reassessment of ACCS (transition to work)

ACCS Processing Team are responsible for assessing all scheduled reviews (including progress of study), and all ACCS (transition to work) reassessments due to activity or study load changes to determine the impact on eligibility and entitlement.