Sharer Status field on the Accommodation Details (AC) screen 108-18092640

Max is 21, gets YA at the dependent rate and works part time at a pizza shop. Max's family live 30 kilometres out of town.

A friend invites Max to move into a rented apartment. Max's family are happy with the move as it means fewer trips to town. Max contacts to advise the change of address. Updates to the address and accommodation details are made.

Max has been granted YA based on an assessment of being able to live in the parental home. There are no reasons to reassess the dependent rate of payment.

The correct sharers code for Max is Lives in shared accommodation - SHR. As Max is still getting a dependent, at home, rate of payment, no RA will be paid.

Max will turn 22 and transfer to JobSeeker Payment (JSP) in a couple of months. JSP does not have a dependent rate of payment. Max is invited to verify the rent. If that is done, RA will start when Max transfers to JSP.

Sam's relative, Vic, has an argument with a flatmate and arrives on the doorstep of Sam's small rented apartment, suitcase in hand. An enclosed veranda is converted into a temporary bedroom.

Vic intends to stay for a few weeks until something more permanent can be found.

Sam asks for a contribution to the cost of groceries and utilities but does not make any arrangements for example, the payment of rent, which would give Vic a legal right to use the facilities of the home.

Vic is a guest. The Sharer Status field for both Sam and Vic is Not a Sharer - NAS.

Jo has separated a bedroom and bathroom from the rest of the house. Jo rents that part of the premises to an Austudy customer who returns to the parental home for the weekend.

While Jo does not mind if the student puts some items in the fridge, or uses the microwave, they have no legal right to use the kitchen or living areas of the house. They can legally be asked not to enter that area at any time.

The correct sharers option for the student is Not a Sharer - NAS.

Gary is single and living in a self-contained unit located in a relative's backyard. Gary's relative owns their home. Gary pays rent of $200 per week to the relative.

The unit is self-contained and Gary has the exclusive right to the bathroom, laundry and kitchen within the unit (that is, only Gary uses the facilities, they are not shared).

The correct sharers option for Gary is Not a sharer - NAS.

When the customer is not paying for accommodation:

• but has a legal right to use major areas of accommodation, the customer is a sharer. For example, both tenants are on the tenancy agreement, but they have a verbal agreement that only 1 person pays the rent
• and does not have a legal right to use major areas of accommodation the customer is not a sharer. For example, the customer is staying as a guest rent free and is not on the tenancy agreement

The sharer provisions are based on what is shared in the household.

A customer is a sharer if:

• they live with a person who is not a customer
• both the customer and the other person have a legal right to use major areas of the property

Two or more single people with no dependent children (or similar using the park's communal facilities) living in the same caravan/mobile home.

The customer has the legal right to use 1 or more major areas in the main house such as a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.

A customer lives at an aunt's house. They pay board and lodgings. The customer is unable to give an amount breakdown for board and lodging.

Boarders and lodgers are customers who:

• get meals on a regular basis as part of their accommodation payment, and
• have not been able to give a breakup of the board and lodgings

The customer is a sharer but is exempt from the sharers rate of RA. The Type of Rent code - BOA will trigger the correct rate of RA.

The net rent rules may still apply when assessing the RA for the household.

A customer has a lease in their name only for the house in which they live. The customer allows their sibling to stay rent free.

As the customer's sibling does not have any legal, enforceable right to share a major area of the house, they would be considered a guest. The sharers' rate would not apply.