Determining proof of rent for the Verification field on the Accommodation Details (AC) screen 108-18092616

From 25 September 2020 onwards, the COVID-19 rent verification waiver stops. See Resources for a timeline of system changes made to deliver this waiver.

If a customer's new claim or updated accommodation details were:

• received on or after 25 September 2020, follow the normal rent verification and exemption rules detailed on the Process tab
• received from 26 March 2020 to 24 September 2020 for Group A payment types or received from 13 May 2020 to 24 September 2020 for Group B payment types, regardless of the claim processing date or update, they remain subject to COVID-19 rent verification waiver and will not need to verify their rent details for the claim or update, that is, the rent details given by the customer during these periods are regarded as verified

These rules apply to the following payment types:

Group A payment types

From 26 March 2020 to 24 September 2020, rent verification waiver applied to customers or their partners who were claiming or receiving the following payments and advised of a change in circumstance:

• ABSTUDY - Living Allowance
• Austudy
• Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
• JobSeeker Payment (JSP)
• Parenting Payment (partnered and single)
• Partner Allowance (PA)
• Sickness Allowance (SA)
• Special Benefit (SpB)
• Widow Allowance (WA)
• Youth Allowance (YA)

Group B payment types

From 13 May 2020 to 24 September 2020, rent verification waiver applied to customers or their partners who were claiming or receiving the following payments and advised of a change in circumstance:

• Age Pension
• Bereavement Allowance (BVA)
• Carer Payment (CP)
• Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• Family Tax Benefit (FTB)

There are no changes to existing date of event or date of receipt rules when processing any RA related update.

Generally, customers must verify their rent details to be paid Rent Assistance (RA). This includes when the customer and/or partner:

• is lodging a new income support payment (ISP), ABSTUDY or Family Tax Benefit (FTB) claim, or
• tells Services Australia about a change of accommodation circumstances

Only 1 member of a couple needs to return verification.

Some customers will be exempt from providing verification.

An A-Z of all Rent Assistance terms and codes is in Rent Assistance (RA).

Customers selected for an RA Profile review must provide verification regardless of their circumstances.

Customers not undergoing an RA Profile review will be exempt from verifying their rent details when:

• living in exempt accommodation for the purposes of Rent Assistance (RA). For more details, see References page. Exempt accommodation is:
• boarding style accommodation
• living in 'refuge type' accommodation; that is, a refuge, crisis or emergency accommodation of generally not more than 3 months (short term)
• living full time in a non-Commonwealth funded bed in residential care (including nursing homes and hostels)
• living in a retirement village and qualified for RA as they are regarded as a non-homeowner due to the amount of the entry contribution
• reduced verification for rent assistance can be applied
• claiming an ISP/ABSTUDY or transferring from another ISP/ABSTUDY, and:
• the rent has previously been verified, and
• the details have not changed
• they pay rent to a community housing organisation and they have provided verification using the Electronic Verification of Rent (EVoR) service

Customers are to provide verification within 14 days of receipt of notice.

The system allows 7 days for postage each way. This means the system will not cancel RA for 28 days from the date the activity is finalised. Advise customers they have 14 days to return notice. Do not advise customers they have 28 days.

Customers receiving an ISP, ABSTUDY and some FTBcustomers can be paid RA for 28 days after the system date of an update that is recorded with the rent verification codes of COA, NCL, HAR or UPL.

Where a customer fails to provide rent verification within the 28 day time frame, RA will automatically cease by applying the rent verification code of NVE.

For more information, see Types of Centrelink debts and how they are generated.

For details about QOLCheck tool step question options for the AC screen, search QOL tool in the A-Z of Rent Assistance terms and codes.