Child leaves care
When a dependent child leaves the caregiver's care Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children should stop from the start of the pay period following the date of event.
However, there is discretion to continue payment for up to 28 days following the event to allow for a period of financial adjustment, generally to avoid hardship for the client.
Temporary return to parents
In Unsupported Child's Benefit cases where the child leaves the care of the principal caregiver or principal temporary caregiver and returns to their parents for a short period, MSD needs to establish:
- the reason for the change
- the intended length of stay
- whether the child will return to the caregiver
- who made arrangements for the change
- whether it is likely to happen again and
- who will be providing the support, care and control of the child (that is, will the caregiver still be responsible for the child)
"Short period" is not defined. A decision whether to continue paying Unsupported Child's Benefit and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children is to be made on the facts available. It is necessary to determine in these cases if the principal caregiver or principal temporary caregiver remains the primary carer for the child.
While Unsupported Child's Benefit is being paid, the parents continue to be liable to pay their assessed Child Support.
Return to parents for a trial period
When a child returns to their parents care for a trial period, Unsupported Child's Benefit, and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children continues to be paid to the principal caregiver or principal temporary caregiver only.
Permanent return to parents care
When the child returns to live with their parents permanently, and the parents resume primary responsibility for the child other than on a temporary basis, then the caregiver getting Unsupported Child's Benefit and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children no longer meets the definition of principal caregiver or principal temporary caregiver.
Unsupported Child's Benefit and Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children should stop from the start of the payday following the date of event.
However, there is discretion to continue payment for up to 28 days following the event to allow for a period of financial adjustment, generally to avoid hardship for the client.
