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 job seeker 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

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

Principal carers with a large family exemption are contacted when:

• a qualifying child is turning 16 years old, and
• they will no longer have at least 4 other qualifying children under the age of 16

A Service Update is automatically generated when the child reaches the age of 15 years and 9 months. For more information, see Principal carers large family, foster carer, home schooling, distance education or carer non-parent exemption review.

This applies to:

• new claimants of Parenting Payment (PP) with mutual obligation requirements, and
• principal carers receiving:
• JobSeeker Payment (JSP)
• Youth Allowance (YA) (job seeker), or
• Special Benefit (SpB) NVH (Nominated Visa Holder)

This is a compulsory contact and must be conducted within 2 months before or after the child turns 15 years and 9 months.

Profiling/Parenting Exceptional circs activity

In Customer First, do not complete via the Profiling/Parenting Exceptional circs activity on the Activity List (AL) screen as this will close 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.

The briefing contact is to cover the following information:

• Discuss if the child will continue to meet the secondary pupil child definition after turning 16 years old, allowing the job seeker to extend their large family exemption. Note: the job seeker must have at least one qualifying child under 16 years of age to qualify for the exemption
• Discuss if the child will remain in secondary school and will live at home after turning 16 years old
• If needed, get evidence from the job seeker to confirm the child’s school enrolment after turning 16 years old
• Inform them of the changes to their mutual obligation requirements if the exemption cannot be extended when the eldest child turns 16 years old
• Part-time mutual obligation requirements will include looking for at least 15 hours of work per week or undertaking other approved activities (if the exemption cannot be extended)
• Change in base rate when the exemption cannot be extended where the principal carer is single and getting the higher rate of JSP, YA (job seeker) 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 (if under 55 years, this can only be approved by job seeker's Employment Services Provider)
• A combination of some or all of the above requirements for at least 15 hours per week
• Other programmes (for example, Skills for Education and Employment (SEE))
• If not fully meeting mutual obligation requirements through paid work and/or study, the job seeker must be registered and participate in Employment Service. If the exemption can be extended, they may choose to volunteer in Employment Services
• The requirement to agree to a Job Plan, with either Services Australia or their provider (if they are provider managed), and no longer qualify for the exemption
• Suspension/compliance processes including the importance of attending scheduled interviews with Services Australia and Employment Services Providers
• Reporting requirements and channel choices for example, self service options (online or phone self service), in person, or in writing (SU19)