Payment process for a young partner

The couple's main benefit and any Extra help will be apportioned between the couple.

The young partner who is youth money managed, will have their portion of accommodation, service costs and lawful debts paid direct to a supplier from their portion of their main benefit and any on-going extra help. The balance of payment, if any, is distributed between the young partner's payment card and the in-hand allowance. The maximum amount that can be paid direct to a young partner as an in-hand allowance is $50.

The following process shows how a young partner's portion of benefit assistance is paid when they are subject to youth money management.

Any incentive payments earned is added.

Note to ensure the incentive payment is only paid to the person who earned it, the portion of incentive payment that will automatically be apportioned to the primary client will need to be re-directed back to the young person.

When a young partner is subject to youth money management, they can get an amount of up to $50 a week paid directly to them as an in-hand allowance.

After the young partner's portion of accommodation, service costs and lawful debts are paid by redirection from their portion of their main benefit and any on-going extra help, the balance of payment, if any, is distributed between the young partner's payment card and the in-hand allowance. The maximum amount that can be paid direct to a young partner as an in-hand allowance is $50.

Generally, where there is more than $50 available after all of a young partner's redirections have occurred, $50 would be paid direct to the young partner and the remainder would be placed on their payment card, unless YSSU is satisfied that another distribution would be more appropriate for the young partner.

Youth service providers are responsible for making recommendations to YSSU as to how their client's payments should be distributed between the payment card and in-hand allowance. When making these recommendations to YSSU, providers consider what would be the most appropriate distribution for the young partner, given their individual circumstances.

YSSU then makes the final decision as to how the young partner's payment will be distributed, taking into account the information supplied by the young partner's service provider.

Example 1

A young partner with a dependent child is renting and has $110 left after their accommodation and service costs and any debts have been paid. A maximum of $50 could be paid direct to the client. However, the service provider wants to ensure the young person has enough money to purchase a sufficient amount of food for her and her child. The young partner lives close to the school she is attending and the childcare centre her child is attending is also within walking distance.

The provider discusses with the young person in their budgeting sessions what their spending habits are and the young partner advises that she goes to the market to get her fruit and vegetables. The provider decides to recommend the young person gets a $50 in-hand allowance and will review to see that she is doing this and has enough food with $60 on her payment card. YSSU makes a decision to agree with the recommendation, and decides to pay the client a $50 in-hand allowance, and to put $60 on her payment card.

Example 2

A young partner with no dependent children in a boarding situation has $80 left after her board costs (which include food) and any debts have been paid. The young partner has transport costs to get to school. The young partner must pay for their own lunch everyday as this is not included in the board payment.

After discussions with the young person, the provider recommends paying a $40 in-hand allowance to the young person and placing $40 on the payment card to be used to purchase food for lunches. YSSU decides to agree with the recommendation and decides to pay the client a $40 in-hand allowance and to put $40 on the payment card.

If, at any time, a Youth Service provider considers that the current distribution of an existing client's payment between the payment card and in-hand allowance is inappropriate for the client's circumstances, they can make a recommendation to YSSU that this distribution be altered.

When determining whether it is appropriate to make a recommendation that a client's payment distribution be altered, providers must take into account a range of factors.