Assessing compulsory residence at an educational institution for Youth Allowance (YA) at the away from home rate 010-06040120

This criterion only applies to dependent YA customers undertaking tertiary study. For all other dependent YA customers, see The away from home rate for Youth Allowance (YA) customers, for other criteria that may apply.

If the YA customer is:

• dependent, go to Step 2
• independent, the customer does not require an approved reason to live away from home. Procedure ends here

Some courses have a compulsory requirement for the student to reside on campus. In these cases, the student cannot do the course without leaving home. As the student must live away from home the away from home rate of YA may be payable.

The residency must be compulsory and not just 'suggested' or 'recommended', and evidence is required. Sufficient evidence may be a letter from the institution confirming the requirement or a copy of relevant pages from the institution’s handbook outlining the requirement.

The best-known example of this requirement would be nursing students where the students are normally required to stay in the nurse's quarters. Other examples are possible.

Note: the location of the customer's parental home is not an issue when there is compulsory residence. Even if it were next door, the away from home rate of YA would still be paid.

Does the course have a compulsory residence requirement?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the customer is not eligible for the away from home rate under this criterion. Record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here

The customer is eligible for the away from home rate for the duration of their compulsory residence. In this circumstance, an end date should be coded on the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen.

Code the NIH screen with the grant reason code 'AOT' (other reasons). See Commencement, cessation and coding of the away from home rate for Youth Allowance (YA).