Effective date for applicable parent changes
When there is a change in an applicable parent's circumstances, this may affect whether the young person meets the Parental Assistance Test. MSD may review Jobseeker Support Student Hardship to determine if they still qualify.
Changes that may affect the Parental Assistance Test are:
- an increase in an applicable parent's income
- a parent starting or ending a relationship
The date MSD reviews Jobseeker Support Student Hardship from depends on when the change happened, when MSD was notified about it, and the reason for any delay in notifying.
Notified before or within 14 days of change
The effective date is generally the first available date if MSD was notified within 14 days of the change. This includes when the change was notified before it happened.
Notified more than 14 days after change
If the change was notified more than 14 days after it happened, the effective date depends on whether there was a good and sufficient reason for the delay e.g. bereavement or illness.
If there was a good and sufficient reason, the effective date is generally the earliest date it would have been reasonable for the young person to notify of the change. This is the date the good and sufficient reason no longer applies.
If there was no good and sufficient reason, the effective date is generally the date the young person became aware of the change e.g. the date their parent told them about the change.
Example 1
Carl's mother started a new job with a higher salary that is over the parental income limit. She got her first pay from the new job on 3 February. Carl was in hospital from 8 to 18 February and told MSD about the change on 28 February. MSD reviews his Jobseeker Support Student Hardship and finds that he does not qualify because he does not meet the Parental Income Test. Because Carl was in hospital, he had a good and sufficient reason for part of the delay. His Jobseeker Support Student Hardship is cancelled from 19 February because this is the earliest date it would have been reasonable for Carl to tell MSD about the change.
Example 2
On 2 March Katia's father tells her that his income has increased. He got the first payment of his new income on 28 February. Katia waits until 28 March to tell MSD about the change because she did not think it would affect her benefit. MSD reviews her Jobseeker Support Student Hardship and finds that she does not qualify because she does not meet the Parental Income Test. Because Katia did not have a good and sufficient reason for the delay, her Jobseeker Support Student Hardship is cancelled from 2 March. This is the date she became aware of the change.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Discretionary review of entitlement to, or rate of, benefit granted subpart 3 part 6, Social Security Act 2018
