Responds to notice after child is excluded

If a child is excluded from their parent or caregiver's benefit or assistance paid for them stops at the start of the pay period after their 18th birthday, they may be included again, or have payments made for them again, in certain circumstances.

This may happen when the parent or caregiver responds to the notice after the child's 18th birthday. It may also happen when the child enrols in education after their 18th birthday.

In these situations, the 18-year-old child may be considered a dependent child and be included from the date MSD is satisfied that they are continuing in education and not financially independent. For children who enrol in education after their 18th birthday, they may be included from the date they enrol.

The child can continue to be considered a dependent child and be included in their parent or caregiver's assistance or have assistance paid for them for a limited period. The child must be excluded no later than the start of the pay period after 31 December in the year they turn 18.

Example

Kasumi gets Supported Living Payment at a sole parent rate, Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support with one dependent child included. Her child Aika is turning 18 on 16 May 2027.

MSD notifies Kasumi 20 working days before Aika's 18th birthday that Aika will be excluded from her Supported Living Payment, Accommodation Supplement, and Temporary Additional Support, unless she responds to the notice and confirms that Aika is still continuing in education and is not financially independent.

Kasumi does not respond to the notice, and Aika is excluded from 17 May 2027 (the start of the pay period following Aika's 18th birthday). Her Supported Living Payment and Accommodation Supplement rates change from sole parent rates to single rates and Temporary Additional Support is reassessed based on the new rates from 17 May 2027.

On 20 May 2027 Kasumi contacts MSD as her benefit payment had changed and advises that she forgot to complete the form. She advises that Aika is financially dependent on her, still in school and attending as required, and will finish on 8 December 2027.

MSD reviews Kasumi's payments based on the information provided and determines that Aika should be included in her assistance until 13 December 2027 (the start of the pay period following the date Aika is no longer enrolled in school). Because Aika was in her care for the whole period, MSD reincludes Aika from 17 May 2027, and reassesses her Supported Living Payment, Accommodation Supplement, and Temporary Additional Support from this date.

Kasumi's payments will be reassessed on 13 December 2027 to exclude Aika.