Assessing independence when a customer has, or has had, a dependent child 001-04060030

Is the customer receiving or claiming a DSP?

• Yes, a customer should first be considered for independence on the basis of other criteria. See Assessing payment rates and independence for DSP customers under 21 years. If the customer is not considered independent based on any other criteria, they can be assessed as independent on the basis of having, or having had, a dependent child. Go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 2

Customers claiming Youth Allowance (YA) and under 22 years of age may have their independence assessed automatically. Where information is already available on the customer's record indicates the customer has, or has had, a dependent child in their care, they will be asked additional questions about the nature of their relationship with that child, and whether the child is still dependent on them.

This information will allow the system to determine if the customer is independent and automatically pre-populate the applicable coding in the Process Direct Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH/NIHS) table. It is not necessary for Service Officers to request further information or evidence from the customer regarding their independence.

Has the independence been automatically applied from the online claim?

• Yes, Service Officers should continue to process the claim. See:
• Assessing and coding student and Australian Apprentice claims for Youth Allowance (YA)
• Processing Youth Allowance (YA) (job seeker) claims
• No, go to Step 3

Does the customer have a natural, legally adopted or relationship child in their care (the child is wholly or substantially dependent on the customer or the customer's partner)?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 4

Go to Step 5 if the customer ever had a natural child who:

• was adopted out
• died immediately after birth, or
• was a stillborn child for whom Newborn Supplement (NBS), Newborn Upfront Payment (NBU), Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP) or Parental Leave Pay (PPL) was paid

Otherwise, go to Step 6.

If the child:

• was adopted out, request the adoption papers
• died immediately after birth, request the death certificate or, if Baby Bonus (BBY), Newborn Supplement (NBS), Newborn Upfront Payment (NBU) was paid for a child born on or after 1 March 2014, check the customer's record for evidence of the payment being made
• was a stillborn child for whom BBY/Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP) was paid, a death certificate is sufficient evidence

Check the customer and partner screens, include the Child Selection (CHS), Maintenance Entitlement Group Summary (MNGS), and Document Tools for FTB new claim documents.

A customer may indicate via their online claim that they are independent due to having a dependent child. However, evidence must be provided in person, by mail or via Upload documents before an assessment can proceed.

Record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here.

On receipt of evidence, go to Step 9.

Has the customer ever had a natural, legally adopted or relationship child who is no longer in their care?

• Yes, go to Step 7
• No, the customer is not regarded as independent on these grounds. See Step 5 in Table 2

Was the child wholly or substantially dependent on the customer or the customer's partner?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, the customer is not regarded as independent on these grounds. See Step 5 in Table 2

To establish the child is a natural, adoptive or relationship child, check the FTB record or Parenting Payment claim forms and supporting documents. If this does not provide sufficient evidence request the child's birth certificate.

Note: if the customer has, or has had, a child but the customer is not the natural or adoptive parent of the child, the customer is not considered to be independent on these grounds. See the Resources page for an example.

To establish the child is wholly or substantially dependent on the customer or the customer's partner:

• check whether or not they qualify for FTB for the child
• go to the Person Details (PED) screen in the parent's record in the FAO system and key 'PED' in the Nxt field
• if there is no record, request details of the type of support the customer (or partner) provides for the child. (To be considered wholly or substantially dependent, the support can be direct or indirect and either financial or in kind)

Record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here.

On receipt of evidence, go to Step 9.

When provided, check that the evidence is acceptable.

Has acceptable evidence been provided?

• Yes, see Step 1 in Table 2
• No, see Step 5 in Table 2

• For DSP, go to Step 2
• For YA, go to the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen. Go to Step 3

If the customer currently has a dependent child in their care, the independent rate will be paid automatically when the dependent child details are recorded. The code 'CHI' will be recorded automatically in the Independent Living Code field on the Pensions Disability Information (PDI) screen. Go to Step 6

If the customer previously had a dependent child update the PDI screen to pay the independent rate:

• in the Independent Living Code field, key 'PCH'
• in the Event Date field, key the commencement date for independence
• go to Step 6

While in the customer's record, go to the Independent/Homeless/Away From Home Details (NIH) screen.

Code the following:

• ACT field, key 'IND'
• Start date field, key the commencement date for the independence status. See the Resources page for examples
• Start/Reject Reason field, key 'PCH'

Is the customer a full-time student undertaking an approved scholarship course?

• Yes, key 'Y' in the field: To update regional classification details, go to RLD, go to Step 4
• No, for all other customers complete the assessment on the Assessment Results (AR) screen. Go to Step 6

To code the Regional Location Details (RLD) screen, see Relocation Scholarship (RS) payment and coding.

If the customer does not have, or has not had a dependent child, consider other grounds for independence.

See Independence for Youth Allowance (YA) customers or Assessing payment rates and independence for Disability Support Pension customers under 21 years.

Record details of decision on a DOC, listing reasons for grant or rejection.

If independence is:

• granted, the DOC should state that the customer is independent for YA or DSP because they have a dependent child and the date of effect for the commencement of the independent status
• rejected, the DOC should state that independent status has not been approved and the reason for non-approval

Example

A customer has applied for independent status on the basis of having a dependent child. Independence has not been approved because the child is a sibling of the customer's partner.

Note: If a customer has received Crisis Payment and a change has occurred, a manual reassessment of Crisis Payment may be required. For more information, see Reviewing and reassessing Crisis Payment (CrP).