Principal Carers Large Family Eldest Child Review Service Update 102-01130020

An automatic exemption for the principal carer of a large family may be granted for up to 12 months at a time if the customer has provided verification and is:

• the principal carer of 4 or more dependent children:
• aged under 16, or
• aged 16-18 years inclusive and a secondary pupil child
• caring for a child when they are:
• a relative (other than a parent), and
• directed by a Parenting or Protection Order made under the Family Law Act, for example. in a Children's Court or Family Court
• a family or community member (not the parent) caring for a child under:
• a Parenting Plan, or
• another document that has the support of the relevant state/territory authority.
  Note: The definition of child in this case relates to the child definition in each state or territory and may include children over the age of 16 years

From 1 July 2021, the Service Profiling appointment for the Principal Carer Large Family Exemption Review were replaced by work items for job seekers. These changes do not affect Remote Customers who will continue to be serviced via booked appointments.

Contact is made with principal carers who have a large family exemption in place, if they have a qualifying child turning 16 years, and they will no longer have at least 4 other qualifying children aged under 16. A Service Update will automatically generate when the child is 15 years and 9 months.

This is applicable to new claimant Parenting Payment (PP) recipients, and principal carers getting JobSeeker Payment (JSP), Youth Allowance (YA) or Special Benefit (SpB) NVH (Nominated Visa Holder).

This is a compulsory contact and is to be conducted within 2 months of either side of the child turning 15 years and 9 months.

Profiling/Parenting circs activity

In Customer First, do not complete via the Profiling/Parenting circs activity on the Activity List (AL) screen as this closes the work item without updating the required service profiling coding. The info link under the help column explains that this activity and corresponding work item will close if actioned correctly under the Service Strategy (PQSS) screen.

Note: during a transition period, appointments booked on or after the 1 July 2021 by service profiling will still need to be conducted (this includes rescheduling if required).

The briefing contact is to cover the following information:

• Discuss if the child meets the secondary pupil child definition after turning 16 years old and therefore allows the customer to have the large family exemption extended. Note: the customer must have at least 1 qualifying child under 16 years of age to allow the exemption to be extended
• Discuss if the child will remain in secondary school and be living at home after turning 16 years old
• If necessary, get evidence from customer that the child is enrolled in school after turning 16 years old
• Inform customer of changes to their mutual obligation requirements when eldest child turns 16 years old, if the exemption cannot be extended
• Part-time mutual obligation requirements to look for work of at least 15 hours per week or undertaking other approved activities
• Change in base rate when the exemption is removed if the principal carer is single and getting JSP, YA (other) or SpB
• Approved requirements that may fully meet mutual obligation requirements:
• Suitable paid work of at least 15 hours per week (including self-employment)
• Approved training or study of at least 15 hours per week
• Voluntary work (can only be approved by customer's Employment Services Provider)
• A combination of some or all of the above requirements
• Other programmes for example, Skills for Education and Employment (SEE)
• If not fully meeting mutual obligation requirements through paid work and/or study, the customer must be registered and participate with an Employment Services Provider. If the exemption can be extended, the customer may choose to volunteer with an Employment Services Provider
• The requirement to agree to a Job Plan, with either Services Australia or their provider (if they are provider managed), if they no longer qualify for the exemption
• Suspension/compliance processes including the importance of attending scheduled interviews with Services Australia and Employment Services Providers
• Reporting requirement and channel choices for example, self service options (online or phone self service), in person, or in writing (SU19)