Change of circumstance for Farm Household Allowance (FHA) 002-02080000

FHA customers must notify Services Australia within 14 days of any of the following changes:

• contact details including address, phone number and email address
• accommodation details including change of address or rent
• income and assets, including estimated farm business income
• they do not have to lodge a tax return for a financial year in which they received FHA payments
• family circumstances or relationship status. For example, they become partnered or have separated
• work load
• residency status
• financial hardship
• difficulties in meeting activity test requirements
• receiving precluding payment
• travel outside of Australia
• ownership/control of farm enterprise
• imprisonment or psychiatric confinement
• changes that may affect their rate of payment or entitlement to payment

Note: if a customer advises they are separating, see Separating safely - protecting personal details to ensure personal information is kept safe.

FHA customers must report their income from earnings on a regular schedule, which is either:

• 6 weekly - if they have no employment or other types of off-farm income
• 2 weekly - if the customer or their partner receives income from employment or other off-farm income, whether it is a regular amount or variable

Customers must notify of any change of circumstance that can affect their FHA payments, within 14 days of the change occurring.

Customers can report on their Entitlement Period End Date (EPED):

• using their Centrelink online account
• using phone self service
• by calling the Farmer Assistance hotline

A change in circumstances can affect a person’s rate of payment or even their entitlement to receive the payment.

If an FHA customer fails to notify the agency about their change of circumstances, they may incur an overpayment if the change results in a different rate of payment or loss of entitlement.

Customer calls authenticated using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) do not need to have address details confirmed.

At every contact, for all other call's Service Officer's must check and update (if required) the customer's:

• address (including postal address)
• phone details (including mobile phone numbers)

A review of eligibility for FHA may be appropriate when:

• there is a change in the customer's circumstances
• the FFA indicates a change in eligibility

A change in circumstances may affect a customer's eligibility to FHA differently. For example, when a farmer:

• decides to de-stock or not plant a crop due to environmental conditions and has a clear intention to continue when conditions improve, they would remain eligible for FHA
• has a change that effects the ability to farm resulting in the farm no longer being commercially viable. This includes:
• a reduction in leased farmland
• selling farmland

FFA reviews

As part of the streamlined FHA claims process, FHA may be granted on a discretionary decision.

In these cases, the FFA must be completed and reviewed.

Farm Household Case Officers (FHCO’s) will review the FFA to confirm the details support the decision to grant.

If the details do not support the decision to grant a full review must be completed, including a request for supporting documents. The FHCO will:

• request a review by processing staff
• include details about eligibility and reasons for the review request

For more details on eligibility and requesting documentation, see Eligibility and payability for Farm Household Allowance (FHA).

The RFCS:

• provides free, independent, and confidential assistance to eligible farmers to help them better understand their financial situation
• offers a range of services and information to support customers assess their business finances and plan for the future
• is authorised to sight, copy and certify original identity documents and complete linkage with the customer as part of the Identity Confirmation process
• helps customers:
• to access government and industry programs as well as help with short term issues like negotiating loans, debt mediation and succession planning
• prepare and lodge claims for FHA
• assist the customer to complete the Farm Financial Assessment (FFA)
• access professional services to help them manage and cope with stress

A customer must provide express consent for Services Australia to disclose their personal information to the RFCS and for them to attend meetings with the FHCO. Person Permitted to Enquire (PPE) has been agreed as a minimum requirement for sharing information from the FFA and FIA.

The RFC:

may offer suggestions for activities to be included in the FIA

• meets the qualification or expertise criteria for a Financial Assessor and can complete the FFA
• does not agree, authorise, or approve any activities in the FIA
• does not do the activity test or approve payment of the Activity Supplement

At all times the Service Officer must be sure the RFC is acting in the best interests of the customer. If there is any doubt about the validity of the advice, contact the customer by phone of in writing before actioning any changes.

A person does not need to be in receipt of FHA to be referred to RFCS and access their services.