Just thought this would be of interest....
WARNING: official centrelink document (very unpersonal and cold - and not good news for most of us
)
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Dear Kalli
Thank you for your email.
A Youth Allowance (YA) customer is regarded as being independent if they satisfy ONE of the following criteria.
If they are or have been married or if they satisfy the criteria to
be assessed as a member (or former member) of a YA couple
If they have or at some time, have had a natural or legally adopted
dependent child.**Youth Allowance customers (over 15 year old) may be
considered independent on the basis of having a dependent child.
A Youth Allowance customer is independent if they have supported
themselves through paid employment consisting of:
full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week for at least
18 months during the preceding 2 years; or
part-time employment for at least 15 hours per week for at
least 2 years since the person last left secondary school; or
employment within an 18 month period since the person last left
secondary school earning the customer at least 75% of the
Commonwealth Training Award payments for the calendar year in
which the 18 months started.
There is also a safety net provision for young people who have
an education or employment disadvantage.**These customers may
be assessed as independent if they have had full-time
employment of at least 30 hours per week for at least 12 months
or for periods that total 12 months and they are at least 18
years old and are not living with or being supported by their
parents.
Once the criteria of self-supporting through paid employment
has been proven there is no need to review it, or to prove it
again if the customer reclaims YA at a later date, unless they
return to secondary school in the interim period.
If both their natural or legally adopted parents are deceased.**This
applies even if the young person is being supported by somebody
else.**Customers who are independent because they are orphans may be
paid from 15 years.
If they are a refugee and do not have a parent or parents living in
Australia, or a person on whom they are substantially dependent for a
long time.**For example, many children who enter the country as
refugees will actually be living with relatives.**Where these
relatives have taken on a 'parental role' over a long period of time,
the customer would not be considered independent under this
criterion.
If they are in State care and are NOT living with their parents.**For
the purposes of determining independence, a "parent" is defined as a
natural parent of the young person or a person who has legally
adopted the young person.**A young person in State care is regarded
as independent regardless of whether they have a foster parent or
legal guardian
If their parents (or parent, if the person has only one parent) are
unable to exercise parental responsibilities because they are
missing, mentally incapacitated, serving a prison sentence, or living
in a nursing home for an indefinite period.**These customers may be
paid an independent rate of assistance from 15 years.
If it is unreasonable for them to live at the home of either or both
parents because of extreme family break down, or similar exceptional
circumstances, or because living at home would cause a serious risk
to the customer's mental or physical well-being due to violence,
sexual abuse or other similar unreasonable circumstances.**A customer
may also be assessed as independent under this criterion if their
parents are unable to provide them with a suitable home because of
their own lack of stable accommodation.
If we can be of further help you may phone our Youth and Student Services team on 13 2490 or you may send another email with a phone number on which we can contact you during business hours.
Thank you for using Centrelink's internet services.
Regards
Christine P
Centrelink Internet Services
