Payments to parents for under 18 year old Youth Allowance (YA) dependent customers 103-04010010

YA customers who are under 18 but being paid as an independent person may have their payment directed to their own bank account, without permission from their parent(s).

If the YA customer is dependent but has turned 18 then the payment is directed to their account.

To establish whether the customer's YA payment should be directed to a parent's bank account, check whether the customer is claiming a dependent rate of YA and that they are under 18 years of age.

To do this check for new claims:

• Check responses to the following questions on the online claim or Claim for Youth Allowance (SY001) form:
• Marital Status
• Dependent Children
• Homeless
• Independence questions

Payment to the young person should also be considered if the young person is claiming independence on the grounds of it being Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH). For further information see Unreasonable to live at home (UTLAH) initial contact for Youth Allowance (YA), Disability Support Pension (DSP), Special Benefit (SpB) or Tertiary Access Payment (TAP). While a claim for UTLAH is being considered, YA can continue to be paid on the basis of parental means test. If a young person is claiming UTLAH this may be an indicator that the payment is not being used for the customer's benefit, especially where the young person is considered to be at risk.

The assessment or recommendation of whether the YA should be directed to the young person is often made by the Social Worker but it can be made by the Service Officer.

If in any doubt a Service Officer should consult with a Social Worker. However the YA should not continue to be paid to the parent if the Service Officer is satisfied that the payment is not being used for the customer's benefit. The Service Officer does not have to wait for the determination of UTLAH to make this decision.

It is not acceptable to suspend or cancel a payment while making a decision about UTLAH or payment determination. A payment should only be suspended/cancelled if the Service Officer is satisfied that the person is not qualified for YA or the payment isn't payable.