Mandatory review when young person turns 18 years old

If possible, MSD must notify the young person of the review and the information they need to provide at least 20 working days before their 18th birthday.

MSD does not have to notify the young person if Jobseeker Support Student Hardship is suspended or expired for another reason when the notice would usually be sent. Notice may be sent if the benefit is or will be resumed within 20 working days before the young person's 18th birthday and there is enough time for them to provide the information.

When the young person does not provide the information for the review before their 18th birthday:

• Jobseeker Support Student Hardship must be suspended from their 18th birthday if the young person is the primary client or
• the young person must be excluded from Jobseeker Support Student Hardship from their 18th birthday if they are the included partner

If the young person provides the information within 8 weeks of their 18th birthday, MSD must complete the mandatory review. However, if the primary client has not provided the information within 8 weeks after their 18th birthday, MSD must cancel Jobseeker Support Student Hardship from that date.

The mandatory review is complete when MSD has:

• received the information needed for the review
• decided whether the young person meets the Parental Assistance Test
• determined their entitlement to and rate of Jobseeker Support Student Hardship and
• actioned the outcome of the review

The action MSD must take depends on who the Parental Assistance Test applies to and who meets it.

Primary client is the only young person

If the primary client is the young person and they meet the Parental Assistance Test and are eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, MSD must continue or resume it from the 18th birthday.

If they do not meet the Parental Assistance Test, their Jobseeker Support Student Hardship must be cancelled from the 18th birthday. Their partner can apply and may not have an initial stand down.

Partner is the only young person

If the partner is the young person and they meet the Parental Assistance Test, MSD must pay Jobseeker Support Student Hardship at the couple rate.

If they do not meet the Parental Assistance Test, they must be excluded from Jobseeker Support Student Hardship from the 18th birthday.

Primary and partner are both young people

If the primary client and their partner are young people and both meet the Parental Assistance Test and are eligible for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, MSD must continue or resume it from the 18th birthday.

If only the primary client meets the Parental Assistance Test, the partner must be excluded from the 18th birthday.

If the primary client does not meet the Parental Assistance Test, Jobseeker Support Student Hardship must be cancelled from the 18th birthday. If their partner meets the Parental Assistance Test, they can apply and may not have initial stand down.

Note if the primary client is 16 or 17 years old and their 18 or 19 year old partner does not meet the Parental Assistance Test, the test no longer applies to the primary client even if they did not meet the test.