3.2.3.60 Notification & Recipient Obligations for YA

Notifiable events for YA

In addition to the common notifiable events, YA recipients must notify Centrelink within the 14 day notification period, if any of the following events occur, or are likely to occur:

• changing activity
  • starting or discontinuing a course of study, OR
  • not enrolling in a course as a continuing student by the end of the enrolment period, OR
  • not beginning the course on the first day it is offered, OR
  • changing study workload, OR
  • changing enrolment in the course.
• the status of a full-time Australian apprentice's Commonwealth registration number changes (granted, suspended, cancelled or restored),
• if the young person has received/is receiving a Commonwealth scholarship, ABSTUDY student start-up or relocation scholarship, a student start-up or relocation scholarship under the MRCA, or a student start-up scholarship or relocation scholarship from DVA, OR
• if family assets exceed the assets value limit for dependent YA recipients (1.1.D.100), OR
• if personal and partner assets exceed the assets value limit for independent YA recipients, OR
• starting full-time work, OR
• the young person is taken into lawful custody, OR
• parents' (section 5(1)-'parent') circumstances change:
  • if parental income or actual means is likely to exceed 125% of the appropriate tax year income and 125% of the applicable income free area,
  • family assets (1.1.A.290) increase in value beyond the assets value limit,
  • a parent takes a new partner, OR
  • a parent becomes a designated parent for the FAMT (1.1.F.10).

Act reference: SSAct section 5(1)-'parent'

Common provisions

Some notification and recipient obligations are common to MOST payments, and further explained in 3.1. Some of the common provisions include:

• the person or their partner:
  • starts work, OR
  • receives any money from investments, OR
  • changes investments, OR
  • has a change in their assets, OR
  • receives compensation, or claims compensation, OR
  • receives money from a superannuation or roll-over fund, OR
  • receives any other money, OR
  • receives any leave payments, OR
  • has a child under 16 come into their care, OR
  • has a child under 16 leave their care, OR
  • is imprisoned, OR
  • are intending to go overseas, even for a short period, OR
  • have been overseas, OR
• the person:
  • starts living with a partner, OR
  • separates from their partner, OR
  • starts a rehabilitation program, either private or with the Commonwealth rehabilitation program, OR
  • applies for, or starts to receive ABSTUDY or another allowance.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.13 Compliance Framework for Participation Payments

Reporting methods

A YA recipient can be required to give information to Centrelink in one or both of 2 different ways. The first way is that all recipients are required to report if a specified event or circumstance change occurs or is likely to occur, notification reporters (1.1.N.126). The second way is that some recipients are also required to give a statement about a specified matter, and sometimes to give a separate statement for each of several specified periods, statement reporters (1.1.S.350).

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 68 Person receiving social security payment or holding concession card

Statement Reporters (1.1.S.350)

YA job seekers and early school leavers (1.1.E.05) are usually required to lodge continuation forms on a specified day each fortnight to allow their continued payability to be assessed. These forms require answers to questions regarding salient issues.

Example: Job search or study activities and income earned.

Late lodgement of statements

If a recipient is late in lodging their continuation form, YA may be cancelled, UNLESS there are special circumstances that justify the late lodgement.

Example 1: Centrelink contributed in some way to the delay, by not giving necessary information when requested, or by giving incorrect information.

Example 2: Young people in unstable accommodation or whose personal circumstances have made lodgement difficult.

Exemption from personal lodgement of statements

YA job seekers and early school leavers should lodge their continuation forms in person where they can reasonably be expected to do so. In certain circumstances, a personal lodgement exemption may be granted and the continuation form may be lodged by post, faxed or lodged by another person on the person's behalf.

A person may be exempted from personal lodgement if the:

• person resides in an area remote from a Centrelink office,
• travelling time involved is generally in excess of one and a half hours each way by public or private transport,
• person is receiving bereavement payment,
• person is attending a Centrelink approved training course,
• person is participating in an approved activity as part of their EPP and the activity coincides with their due-to-lodge date,
• person is working part-time or casually on their due-to-lodge date,
• person lodges a medical certificate indicating a period of temporary incapacity, or
• cost of attending a Centrelink office exceeds 10 percent of the maximum basic payment each fortnight.

Explanation: If a person visits a centre where a Centrelink office is located, whether to shop or look for work, the person will be required to lodge personally regardless of cost.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.3 Notification & Recipient Obligations

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Last reviewed: 2 August 2010