Linking a child to a customer's record 102-05050120

Example

Description

1

Child can be linked to customers record - both carers have participated in the making of a new care decision, either verbally or written (FA012)

Charlie receives Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for Henry, and contacts Centrelink to notify a change in care for child Henry. The other party, Jamie, agrees with the change in care. As Charlie receives FTB for Henry, Charlie's Customer First record can be updated to reflect the new percentage of care.

However, Henry has never been linked to Jamie in Customer First, therefore Henry will need to be linked to Jamie's Centrelink record so the percentage of care for Henry can be recorded.

2

Child cannot be linked to customers record - information received from Child Support

Jane and Bobby notify Child Support of a care change for their child, Frankie to 64% care to Jane and 36% to Bobby. Frankie is linked to Jane's Centrelink record, but not to Bobby's, as Bobby has not claimed FTB or any other payment for Frankie. Data is sent from Child Support to Centrelink via the data exchange to reflect Jane's 64% care and Bobby's 36% care. However, because Frankie is not linked to Bobby, Bobby's name is not displayed as the carer with 36% care on Jane's Centrelink record (the % is shown, but with no name).

A Service Officer later identifies that the level of care for Frankie is not recorded for Bobby as they do not have Frankie linked to their record in Customer First. Frankie cannot be linked to Bobby's record unless Bobby lodges a claim for Frankie (for example FTB, CCB, CCS, PPL, PPS or CDA or an Income Support payment which attracts the 'with child' rate), or unless Centrelink make a later care decision (see below).

3

Child can be linked to customer's record - subsequent care decision made

A few months later, Jane advises Centrelink that the level of care for Frankie is now 80% to her and 20% to Bobby. Bobby confirms the new care arrangements. The Service Officer attempts to code the new care decision and encounters the following edit on the FTB Shared Care (FSC) screen - E004WA - Mandatory value not entered on screen. The purpose of the edit is to prompt the Service Officer to select Bobby from the drop down box for the previous (Child Support) care decision.

As the Service Officer is recording a subsequent care decision, and the error is occurring, they can link the child to Bobby's record to allow the edit to be resolved.

4

Child CRN CAN be provided to foster/kinship carer – Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA)

Where the customer is not eligible for CCS and the child/ren meets the definition of ‘at risk’ for ACCS child wellbeing and the child is a foster child, the child care service can make themselves eligible for ACCS (child wellbeing). To do this the child care service enrols the child using a Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA) enrolment type.

Both the customer and the child require CRNs for a Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA).

For children in foster/kinship care the child must be confirmed as not being in another person’s care before the child can be linked or child’s CRN can be issued to the carer.

Example:

Fiona has recently had their grandchild James placed into their care as a foster child, as Fiona and their partner’s income are too high to qualify for CCS, and the child care provider is applying for ACCS under PEA.

James is still recorded as in the care of their previous carer. Before James can be linked to Fiona’s record, the loss of care must be confirmed to avoid duplicate payments and overpayments for the previous carer.

Fiona has a letter from Child Protection clearly advising James is in their care. Once received, James is linked and Fiona is immediately issued the CRN.

The loss of care is recorded for the losing carer.

5

Child CRN CANNOT be provided to foster/kinship carer – Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA)

Where the customer is not eligible for CCS and the child/ren meets the definition of ‘at risk’ for ACCS child wellbeing and the child is a foster child, the child care service can make themselves eligible for ACCS (child wellbeing). To do this the child care service enrols the child using a Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA) enrolment type.

Both the customer and the child require CRNs for a Provider Eligible Arrangement.

For children in foster/kinship care the child must be confirmed as not being in another person’s care before the child can be linked or child’s CRN can be issued to the carer.

Until the loss of care is verified, the CRN cannot be issued.

Example:

Seamus has recently had Lily placed into their care as a foster child, Seamus does not qualify for CCS, and the child care provider is applying for ACCS under PEA.

Lily is still recorded as in the care of their previous carer. Before Lily’s CRN can be issued to Seamus, the loss of care must be confirmed to avoid duplicate payments and overpayments for the previous carer.

Seamus has no formal evidence Lily has been placed in their care, so the service Officer issues both Seamus and the losing carer a Request For Information (RFI) to obtain evidence of care.

Seamus is able to provide a sufficient amount of evidence to show Lily is in their care and the previous carer has not responded. Seamus is then issued the CRN.

The loss of care is recorded for the losing carer.

6

Child can be linked to customer’s record – Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA) does not meet residency requirements

Where the customer is not eligible for CCS and the child/ren meets the definition of ‘at risk’ for ACCS child wellbeing and they are:

• a refugee, newly arrived resident or asylum seeker or
• the carer does not meet the CCS residency requirements or does not hold a CCS qualifying visa
• the child care service can make themselves eligible for ACCS (child wellbeing)

To do this the child care service enrols the child using a Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA) enrolment type.

Both the customer and the child require CRNs for a Provider Eligible Arrangement. Proof of birth or care is not required.

Example:

Lenny is a newly arrived refugee who has entered Australia and does not hold a CCS qualifying Visa. Lenny does not qualify for CCS, and the child care provider is applying for ACCS under PEA for their child Avery.

Lenny contacts the Agency requesting a CRN for Avery to provide to the child care service.

As the service officer cannot locate an existing CRN for Avery, a new child CRN is created and linked to Lenny’s record. As proof of birth has not been provided, the service officer makes sure that “N”is coded in the Proof of Birth field.

Lenny is provided with Avery’s newly created CRN and is instructed to return to their Child Care Provider to continue the PEA enrolment process.