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Social worker involvement with Special Benefit (SpB) 003-12060030

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If you have concerns about a child’s safety, conduct the risk and referral process.

For Services Australia social workers only

This document outlines the role Services Australia social workers have in assessing SpB claims.

Social worker involvement

For some SpB categories, a social work referral is recommended or mandatory.

For example, a social work assessment is often essential in determining if a customer under 18 years of age is eligible for SpB under Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) provisions. If the customer is under 16 years of age and claiming SpB, referral to a social worker is mandatory, see Assisting a customer aged under 16.

When reviewing and speaking with the customer, if complex vulnerabilities and limited existing supports are identified, the parent/nominee should be referred to a social worker as per existing processes. See Risk identification and management of threats to the safety or welfare of a child.

The SpB categories where social worker involvement is needed or recommended are:

  • Unsupported customers under 16 years of age (USY)
  • In some cases of Australian Citizen Children (ACC) and Australian Permanent Resident Children in the custody of a Non-permanent Resident
  • Assurance of Support (AOS)
  • Newly Arrived Residents (NAR) - help in assessing substantial change in circumstances beyond the customer's control
  • Partner Provisional Visas (PPV)
  • Socially Marginalised (SOM) customers
  • Not residentially qualified for the Disability Support Pension (NRD)
  • Caring for a child (CFC)
  • Caring for an incapacitated person (CIP)
  • Other cases - short term (OST)

The Resources page has a link to the Public Interest Disclosure.

Eligibility and new claim procedures for Special Benefit (SpB)

Special Benefit (SpB) categories

Exempting a job seeker from mutual obligation requirements due to special circumstances

Social casework

Risk identification and management of threats to the safety or welfare of a child

Special Benefit (SpB) for Australian Citizen Child (ACC) and Australian permanent resident children

Assisting a customer aged under 16

Social worker's role regarding Youth Protective Assessments