C40/1998 Introduction of a Youth Allowance by the Department of Social Security

DATE OF ISSUE:  7 October 1998

Introduction of a Youth Allowance by the Department of Social Security

Purpose

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to provide background information and procedural guidelines resulting from the 1997/98 Department of Social Security (DSS) Budget initiative to introduce a new payment type into the Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) called Youth Allowance (YA).  This reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

2.  Effective Date

This initiative is effective from 1 July 1998.

3.  Legislation

The initiative has consequential effects on the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).

The amendments to the VEA were contained in the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Youth Allowance Consequential and Related Measures) Act 1998.  Royal Assent was received 17 June 1998.


BACKGROUND

What is Youth Allowance

This initiative was announced as part of the 1997/98 Budget.  From 1 July 1998 most payments for young people and students will be replaced with one payment called YA.

4.  Scope of new payment

YA is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

5.  DSS payments affected

This new payment will replace:

  • DSS youth training allowance, newstart and sickness allowance for 16 to 20 year olds and most 16 year olds currently covered by these payments;

  • DSS above the minimum Family Allowance (FA) for students aged over 16 who do not get AUSTUDY; and

  • AUSTUDY for students aged 16 to 25 years.

6.  Family Allowance changes

As indicated above, the above the minimum FA for students aged over 16 will be replaced be the new YA.

Consequently, certain additional payments for these children currently included in the above the minimum FA will cease to be paid.  These additional payments are:

  • Guardian Allowance

  • Rent Assistance*

  • Remote Area Allowance.

*Rent Assistance for the parent will revert to their income support payment.  See paragraph 14 for further details.

Continued on next page


IMPACT ON DVA

Impact on ‘saved' child related payments

As part of this initiative, certain ‘saved' child related payments will also be integrated with the new YA.

7.  DVA ‘saved' child related payments

From 1 January 1998, responsibility for administration of most income support child related payments (CRP) was transferred to Centrelink.

However, as a result of minor anomalies between the VEA and the SSA, some pensioners who would have been financially disadvantaged by the transfer continued in payment with DVA. Departmental Instruction C16/98 refers.

8.  CRP to be cancelled for children 16 years and over

As DVA ‘saved' CRP is almost identical to the above the minimum FA that is to be replaced by YA, CRP for dependent children aged 16 and over will also be replaced by YA.

This means that from 1 July 1998, all ‘saved' CRP for any dependent child aged 16 years and over will be cancelled.  After that date, all ‘saved' CRP will cease from the dependent child's 16 — th birthday.

9.  VCES excluded

The Veterans' Children Education Scheme is excluded from the integration.

Continued on next page


Impact on ‘non-saved' child related payments

Of those children whose CRP was not saved and was transferred to Centrelink, the group who were not prescribed will require DVA action as a result of this initiative.

10.  RA but not GA to be resumed for certain non saved child assessments

Prior to 1 July, the parents of a non-saved non-prescribed child aged 16 and 17 years receive a FA payment which may include an amount payable for Rent Assistance (RA) and Guardian Allowance (GA).

With the introduction of the new YA, the FA rate will be limited to the minimum rate and will not include any amount for RA or GA.

RA must therefore be paid with the person's income support payment.

A dependant child 16 years and over is not eligible for GA.

11.  Additional RAA not payable

The additional Remote Area Allowance paid in respect to a FA child is now not payable to a dependent child 16 years and over.


Children may continue in assessment

Although, as stated above, the ‘saved' child related payment will be cancelled for all dependent children aged 16 years and over, while these children and the non saved children remain dependent, they will remain in their parent's pension assessment.

12.  YA and the definition of a dependent child

For DVA purposes, a dependent child over 16 years is defined by the SSA subsections 5(4) to 5(8).

Under SSA subsection 5(6), a child in receipt of a social security benefit is not a dependent child.  As YA will be a social security benefit, recipients will not in general be a dependent child.

However, for certain specific purposes, a YA child will continue to be deemed a dependent child.

13.  Income reduction remains for dependent children

A new definition included in VEA SCH6-E12 stipulates that for the purposes of Module E of Schedule 6, a YA child is deemed to be a dependent child.

Therefore the additional income free area in respect of a child aged 16 years and over will continue to be applied to the parent's income support pensions whether in receipt of YA or not while the child remains eligible (ie remains a student child) until the child's 18 — th birthday.

This rule currently applies in respect to ‘non-saved' and ‘saved' prescribed dependent children.

The additional income free area in respect of a dependent child who is not receiving YA and not prescribed, ie not in receipt of VCES, may continue until the child turns 22 years.

Note: The additional income free area in respect of dependent children receiving YA ceases from the child's 18th birthday.

Continued on next page


Children may continue in assessment, Continued

14.  Rent Assistance (RA) to resume with income support payment

Child receiving YA

As indicated above, under SSA subsection 5(6), a child in receipt of a YA is not a dependent child.  This means that FA will cease to be paid from the child's 16 — th birthday for any child receiving payment of YA.  RA must therefore resume being paid as part of the parent's income support pension if there are no other children under 16 years for whom the above the minimum FA is paid.

Child receiving minimum FA

Minimum FA only will continue to be paid in respect of any dependent child 16 years and over not in receipt of YA or payment from a prescribed education scheme (eg VCES).  Minimum FA does not include any amount for RA, and therefore payment of RA must resume being paid as part of the parent's income support pension if there are no other children under 16 years for whom the above the minimum FA is paid.

15.  Child remains on PCC until 22 years

A YA child will continue to be recorded as a dependent on the Pensioner Concession Card(s).

Note that eligibility as a dependent child ceases on 22nd birthday.

16.  Additional threshold for DVA treatment eligibility

New VEA subsection 53E(2A) and point 53F-6A stipulate that for the purposes of calculating the treatment benefits income for treatment eligibility, a YA child is deemed to be a dependent child.  Therefore, the additional treatment benefits income reduction amount in respect of a child aged 16 years and over will continue to be applied in calculating the veteran's treatment benefit income threshold whilst the child is an eligible dependent child.

Note that eligibility as a dependent child ceases on the child's 22nd birthday.

Continued on next page


PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES

Only those pensioners identified as affected or potentially affected by the cancellation of CRP and the implementation of YA on 1 July 1998 require processing action and a mail-out advice.  Cancellation action for this initiative is effective from the pay day 2 July 1998.

17.  Lists of affected pensioners provided

For the 2 July cancellation action and mail-out advice, each State Office was supplied with its own list of cases under separate cover.

The list, obtained on Friday 12 June 1998, was forwarded to Income Support Managers by Monday 15 June 1998.

18.  Finalise pending cases involving children

To ensure that the SAS run identifying all affected cases was complete, State Offices were asked to give priority to finalising all outstanding action for cases involving children in the assessment, in particular for those cases with children over 16 years, by the scheduled cut-off for AL processing.

19.  Priority action requested

Once the lists were received, priority action on processing and mailing these advices was required to enable affected pensioners maximum time before 1 July to contact Centrelink and test their eligibility for YA.

20.  Six categories of cases require action

The list of cases provided to the State Offices for action was divided into 6 categories.  The categories with approximate national numbers are outlined in the following table.

Category

Saved Status

Description

Approximate numbers

1

Saved

Prescribed: 16 and 17 years

90

2

“

Non-Prescribed: 16 and 17 years

15

3

“

Prescribed: 18 to 21 years

18

4

“

Non-Prescribed: 18 to 21 years

38

5

“

22 years and older

13

6

Non-Saved

Non-Prescribed: 16 and 17 years

250


CANCELLATION AND MAIL-OUT

Timetable

The following table outlines the timetable for the mail-out and cancellation procedure.

Step

Action

Start by

Complete by

Commence processing

Commence processing of cancellation from 15/6 (first day of pay period 2/7).

Immediate on receipt of list (15 June)

26 June

Advice to pensioner

Commence mail-out of standard letter (Attachment A or B) to pensioner advising of pending cancellation of child related payments.

Immediate on receipt of list (15 June)

26 June

Cancellation

Cancellation action for pay date 2/7/98 completed and through interface by close of business 26/6/98.

15 June

26 June


Cancellation procedure:  Action Processes

To assist the State Office staff, for each case on the list an instruction is provided as to which of the following three action processes is required.  Where Remote Area Allowance is effected, Action Process 4 must also be followed.

ACTION PROCESS 1:

All ‘saved' children 16 to 21 years (Categories 1 to 4 inclusive of case list)

Step

Action

1

Remove the saved indicator from the “Edit Child Details” screen. This cancels the ‘saved' payments.

2

If the RAA indicator is selected, it must also be removed.  See below ACTION PROCESS 4.

3

Select the YA indicator on the “Edit Child Details” screen.

Steps 2 and 3 ensure that RA will continue where applicable.

4

Determine if there are any other children under 16 years in the assessment.

If YES: Go to Step 5.

If NO: Go to Step 6.

5

Determine if other children continue to be ‘saved' (DI C16/98 refers).  See required action for mail-out below.

6

Choose appropriate sample letter from Attachment A or B for advice to pensioner.

ACTION PROCESS 2:

Children 22 years and over (Category 5 of case list)

Step

Action

1

These children must be terminated from the assessment.

2

Determine if there are any other children under 16 years in the assessment.

If YES: Go to Step 3.

If NO: Go to Step 4.

3

Determine if other children are to continue to be ‘saved' (DI C16/98 refers). See required action for mail-out below.

4

Complete appropriate sample letter from Attachment C for advice to pensioner.


ACTION PROCESS 3:

Non-saved, non-prescribed children 16 and 17 years (Category 6 of case list)

Step

Action

1

If the RAA indicator is selected, it must be removed.  See below ACTION PROCESS 4 for additional action required in these cases.

2

Select the YA indicator on the “Edit Child Details” screen.

Steps 1 and 2 will ensure that RA will be resumed where applicable.

3

Determine if there are any other children under 16 years in the assessment.

If YES: No further action required.

If NO: Go to Step 4.

4

Identify if the pensioner is renting.

If YES: Go to step 5.

If NO: No further action required.

5

Complete Attachment D letter for advice to pensioner.  See required action for mail-out below.

ACTION PROCESS 4

For all cases where the RAA indicator is removed from the “Edit child” screen

Step

Action

1

Select the appropriate letter for advice to pensioner.

2

If case is from Action Process 1: go to step 3

If case is from Action Process 3: go to step 4.

3

ADD the following paragraph to the appropriate letter as the third paragraph in the section titled

“How this change will affect you”

The additional amount of Remote Area Allowance for your child(ren) over 16 years will also be cancelled.

4

ADD the following paragraph to the letter as the second paragraph in the section titled,

“Veterans' Affairs will pay rent assistance”

The additional amount of Remote Area Allowance for your child(ren) over 16 years will also be cancelled.


Mail-Out required to affected pensioners

As part of the cancellation processing, each case needed to be examined to determine which sample letter was appropriate.

21.  Action required for Mail-out

In order to select the appropriate sample letter for the mail-out, part of the Action Process for each case listed was a step to determine:

  • if there were any other children under 16 years; and

  • if the case was a ‘saved' case, whether those other children would remain ‘saved'.

Departmental Instruction C16/98 outlines the categories of ‘saved' cases, the reason for being ‘saved' and how to calculate if the pensioner would be financially disadvantaged if required to transfer to Centrelink to receive payments for remaining dependent children.

22.  If other children in assessment are required to transfer to Centrelink

Where the pensioner would receive an additional amount of FA equal to or greater than the current ‘saved' CRP amount for the remaining children in the assessment, the pensioner would need to transfer these payments to Centrelink.  The appropriate sample letter (depending on the age of the child whose payments are to be cancelled) was required:

  • from Attachment A, Letter 1;

  • from Attachment B, Letter 4;

  • from Attachment C, Letter 7.

Continued on next page


Mail-Out required to affected pensioners, Continued

23.  If other children in assessment must continue to be ‘saved'

Where the pensioner continues to receive a greater amount of CRP from DVA than additional FA from Centrelink, the case continues to be ‘saved'.

The appropriate sample letter (depending on the age of the child whose payments are to be cancelled) was required:

  • From Attachment A, Letter 2;

  • From Attachment B, Letter 5;

  • From Attachment C, Letter 8.

24.  Types of cases which will remain saved

In general the only cases which may need to continue to be saved would be:
➢cases which include dependent children absent from Australia for > 3 years;
➢ISS war widow(er)s receiving CRP only;
➢SP receiving CRP only and who are eligible for medical treatment under section 85(7)of the VEA;
➢non custodial veterans paying child maintenance and receiving CRP;
➢other individual cases who proved financial disadvantage after transfer on 1 January 1998;

➢residents of Norfolk Island.

25.  If no other children in assessment

The appropriate sample letter (depending on the age of the child whose payments are to be cancelled) was required:

  • From Attachment A, Letter 3;

  • From Attachment B, Letter 6;

  • From Attachment C, Letter 9.

26.  Rent assistance resumed for non-saved child

Where there are other children under 16 years remaining in the assessment, the FA payment continues to include any amount of RA payable.

Where there are no other children under 16 years remaining in the assessment, the RA is resumed with the income support payment and the sample Letter 10 at Attachment D was required.

27. Ten sample standard letters provided

A total of 10 sample standard letters are divided into 4 Attachments to cover the different family situations of the affected pensioner.

These are:

ATTACHMENT A

Letter 1: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 16-17; Other children in assessment must transfer to Centrelink

Letter 2: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 16-17; Other children in assessment remain saved

Letter 3: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 16-17; No other children in assessment

ATTACHMENT B

Letter 4: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 18-21; Other children in assessment must transfer to Centrelink

Letter 5: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 18-21; Other children in assessment remain saved

Letter 6: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 18-21; No other children in assessment

ATTACHMENT C

Letter 7: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 22 and over; Other children in assessment must transfer to Centrelink

Letter 8: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 22 and over; Other children in assessment remain saved

Letter 9: Cancellation of CRP: Children aged 22 and over; No other children in assessment

ATTACHMENT D

Letter 10: Resumption of rent assistance by DVA


ONGOING PROCESSING

Follow up action from Mail-out

28.  Remaining children transfer to Centrelink

When the pensioner advises that their FA has been increased for the remaining children (as requested in the mail-out letter), the “saved” indicator should be removed from the “Edit Child Screen” for each of the remaining children.

The pensioner's increased FA should include any amount payable by way of Rent Assistance (RA) and/or Guardian Allowance (GA), and these payments will cease from DVA.

The pensioner needs to be advised in the normal manner of the variation to pension rate.

Effect of cancellation on payments

Although the “add-on” types of CRP are cancelled, dependent children still continue to impact on the assessment of income support pensions from DVA.

29.  Children remain in DVA pension assessment

1.The additional free area for each child is still included in the pension assessment until the child's 18 — th birthday whilst the child continues to be either a dependent child, (can also receive the minimum FA rate) or is a YA recipient.

1.The additional free area for a dependent child who is not a YA recipient and is not prescribed, ie receiving VCES, is included in the pension assessment until the child's 22 — nd birthday.

1.Treatment benefits income levels for Gold Card continue to include the treatment income reduction amount until the child's 22 — nd birthday for each dependent child or YA recipient.

1.Dependent children (including minimum FA rate children) and YA recipients also continue to be included on the DVA PCC until the child's 22 — nd birthday.

Continued on next page


Effect of cancellation on payments, Continued

30.  Pensioners continuing obligations

As the children remain in the pensioner's assessment, the pensioner is still obliged to inform DVA if the child:

  • leaves their care or custody or stops being maintained by them; or

  • stops being a student.

Changed use of YA indicator

31. Changed use of YA indicator

Prior to 1 July, the YA indicator in the “Edit Child” screen was used to indicate a student child in receipt of a payment from a prescribed education scheme only.

From 2 July, this indicator is to be used for any dependent student child 16 years and over, whether receiving

  • minimum FA;

  • YA; or

  • a payment from a prescribed education scheme (eg VCES).

The exception to this rule is in the case of an 18 - 22 year old dependent child who is not receiving YA and is not a prescribed student, ie not receiving VCES.  In this case, the YA indicator must be removed so that the $24 pf income reduction can be applied.


Ongoing reviews for children

Where children remain in the assessment, either as a ‘saved' CRP or as a dependent child, ongoing review action is required.

32.  ‘Saved' children turning 16 years after 1 July

The automatic report for child reviews at 16 years will continue to be generated.  The

  • payment for these children must be cancelled from the payday following their 16 — th birthday, and

  • RA where appropriate must be restored to the DVA income support payment, and

  • the pensioner will need to be advised.

Action Process 1 outlines the steps required.

The $24pf additional free area (income reduction) will continue while the child remains eligible.

33.  System generated review forms

The review forms for children turning 16 years and for the annual review of student children are system generated when the reports are generated.

These advices were amended and updated after the June A/L run to reflect these changes.

34.  Children reaching 18 years

The automatic report for prescribed student children turning 18 years continue to be generated and now include all children for whom the YA indicator has been selected.

For these cases, the $24pf additional free area must be cancelled.

Dependent children who are not receiving YA and are not prescribed, the additional free area can continue to be applied until the child's 22 — nd birthday.

35.  Children reaching 22 years

The automatic report for termination of these children from the assessment continues to be produced.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

36.  Advices, forms, brochures

System generated advices for student children (previously Forms D2527 and D2529 for both saved and non-saved cases) and associated Forms required amendment as part of this initiative.

37.  Delegations

There are no changes to delegations as a result of this initiative.

38.  Attachments

  • Attachment A:  Sample letters 1, 2 and 3: Cancelled CRP for children 16-17 years.

  • Attachment B: Sample letters 4, 5 and 6: Cancelled CRP for children 18-21 years.

  • Attachment C: Sample letters 7, 8 and 9: Cancelled CRP for children 22 years and over.

  • Attachment D: Sample letter for resumed RA for non-saved non prescribed children.

39.  Contact officers

Any questions regarding this DI should be directed to:

Robyn Del Casale — Assistant Director — Phone: (08) 8290 0321

FAX: (08) 8290 0498

(LAN: Del Casale Robyn)

Kathi Ashman — Project Officer — Phone: (08) 8290 0237

(LAN: Ashman Kathi).

RJ HAY

BRANCH HEAD

INCOME SUPPORT

    September 1998


ATTACHMENT A

LETTER 1

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 16 AND 17 YEARS

Other children must transfer to Centrelink

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998, Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

By now you should have received a letter from Centrelink explaining the new Youth Allowance payment and informing you of how to apply.

If this has not occurred please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998.

Payment for other children

The amount of increased Family Allowance for your other children will now be the same as the amount of child related payments from Veterans' Affairs.

As you will no longer be financially disadvantaged, your child related payments must be transferred to Centrelink.

Please contact your local Centrelink Office who will explain to you how to apply to have your Family Allowance increased.

In order to ensure there is no interruption to your payments because of the transfer process, Veterans' Affairs will continue to pay your child related payments until your Family Allowance has been increased.

You will therefore need to advise us as soon as you have received your first increased Family Allowance.

Remember

You will need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any questions?

If you do not understand or have any questions about any of the above please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely


LETTER 2

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 16 AND 17 YEARS

Other children remain saved

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veteran's Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998, Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

By now you should have received a letter from Centrelink explaining the new Youth Allowance payment and informing you of how to apply.

If this has not occurred please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998.

Payment for other children

The amount of Family Allowance you would be eligible to receive from Centrelink for your other children is still less than the amount of child related payments Veterans' Affairs will pay you.

You will therefore continue to receive the higher child related payments from Veterans' Affairs for your other children.

Remember

You will need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any questions?

If you do not understand or have any questions about any of the above please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely


LETTER 3

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 16 AND 17 YEARS

No other children in assessment

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998, Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

By now you should have received a letter from Centrelink explaining the new Youth Allowance payment and informing you of how to apply.

If this has not occurred please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998.

Remember

You will need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any questions?

If you do not understand or have any questions about any of the above please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely


ATTACHMENT B

LETTER 4

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 18 to 21 YEARS

Other children must transfer to Centrelink

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Payment for other children

The amount of increased Family Allowance for your other children will now be the same as the amount of child related payments from Veterans' Affairs.

As you will no longer be financially disadvantaged, your child related payments must be transferred to Centrelink.

Please contact your local Centrelink Office who will explain to you how to apply to have your Family Allowance increased.

In order to ensure there is no interruption to your payments because of the transfer process, Veterans' Affairs will continue to pay your child related payments until your Family Allowance has been increased.

You will therefore need to advise us as soon as you have received your first increased Family Allowance.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


LETTER 5

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 18 to 21 YEARS

Other children remain saved

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Payment for other children

The amount of Family Allowance you would be eligible to receive from Centrelink for your other children is still less than the amount of child related payments Veterans' Affairs will pay you.

You will therefore continue to receive the higher child related payments from Veterans' Affairs for your other children.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


LETTER 6

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 18 to 21 YEARS

No other children in assessment

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


ATTACHMENT C

LETTER 7

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN 22 YEARS AND OVER

Other children must transfer to Centrelink

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Payment for other children

The amount of increased Family Allowance for your other children will now be the same as the amount of child related payments from Veterans' Affairs.

As you will no longer be financially disadvantaged, your child related payments must be transferred to Centrelink.

Please contact your local Centrelink Office who will explain to you how to apply to have your Family Allowance increased.

In order to ensure there is no interruption to your payments because of the transfer process, Veterans' Affairs will continue to pay your child related payments until your Family Allowance has been increased.

You will therefore need to advise us as soon as you have received your first increased Family Allowance.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


LETTER 8

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 22 YEARS AND OVER

Other children remain saved

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Payment for other children

The amount of Family Allowance you would be eligible to receive from Centrelink for your other children is still less than the amount of child related payments Veterans' Affairs will pay you.

You will therefore continue to receive the higher child related payments from Veterans' Affairs for your other children.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


LETTER 9

ADVICE OF CANCELLATION of CHILD RELATED PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 22 YEARS AND OVER

No other children in assessment

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your child related payments.

Child Related Payments

I wrote to you in December 1997 about the transfer of responsibility for all child related payments by Veterans' Affairs to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

However, your payments continued to be paid by Veterans' Affairs because, at that time, you would have received less Family Allowance than the child related payments Veterans' Affairs was paying you.

You were advised that your child related payments would continue to be administered by Veterans' Affairs whilst you remained eligible for the higher payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students with one payment called Youth Allowance.

Youth Allowance is an integrated income support payment for young Australians regardless of whether they are in education, training, unemployed or sick.

This important reform is a response to community concerns that current arrangements are inefficient and inconsistent.

How this change will affect you

As part of this initiative, Veterans' Affairs child related payments for children aged 16 years and over will also be integrated with the new Youth Allowance.

Therefore, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will cease to pay child related payments for your child(ren) aged 16 years and over.

As soon as these payments have been cancelled, we will write to you again to advise you of your new income support payment details.

How to apply for the new Youth Allowance

Those children whose payments will be cancelled are eligible to apply for the new Youth Allowance from Centrelink.

In order to ensure you continue to receive all the payments for which you are eligible from 1 July 1998, please contact your local Centrelink Office as soon as possible. They will explain the new Youth Allowance payment and inform you of how to apply.

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact m on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,


ATTACHMENT D

LETTER 10

ADVICE OF RESUMPTION of RENT ASSISTANCE

(Child reaches 16 years)

I am writing to you to inform you of forthcoming changes to your income support payments.

Child Related Payments

On 1 January 1998 responsibility for your child related payments was transferred to Centrelink, the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency. This change meant that your rent assistance was paid as part of your Family Allowance payment.

The new Youth Allowance

From 1 July 1998, the government is replacing most payments for young people and students aged 16 years and over with one payment called Youth Allowance.

How this change will affect you

By now you should have received a letter from Centrelink explaining how to apply for Youth Allowance. This letter also explained the impact of the new Youth Allowance payment on your Family Allowance payments.

Veterans' Affairs will pay rent assistance

As you will no longer be receiving rent assistance as part of your Family Allowance payment, from 2 July 1998 Veterans' Affairs will pay your rent assistance as part of your income support payment.

We will write to you again immediately after 2 July 1998 to advise you of your new income support payment details.

Remember

You will still need to tell us if:

  • your child(ren) leaves your care or custody or stops being maintained by you; or

  • if your child(ren) stops being a student

  • you cease to pay private rent

Any Questions?

If you do not understand, or have any questions about any of the above, please contact me on the number at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/1998/c401998-introduction-youth-allowance-department-social-security