Family breakdown

To receive a Young Parent Payment a single young person must meet all of the qualifications and have a parental support gap. A 16 or 17 year old is considered to have a parental support gap when:

• their relationship with their parents (or guardians) has broken down and
• none of them is prepared to support the young person financially

It is important that the relationship breakdown must be serious. Serious situations include:

• issues of health and safety
• sexual, physical or emotional abuse
• situations where the young person or their family would be at risk if they were to return home

Young people must be sent for an assessment with the Independent Assessment Provider to help you determine whether there has been a serious breakdown in the young person's relationship with their parents. For more information see:

• Independent Assessment Provider

Exception when a young person has been discharged from Oranga Tamariki or other authorised agency care they do not require an Independent Assessment. This is because the relationship breakdown has already been established by Oranga Tamariki.

If a young person is in approved Supported Housing for Vulnerable Teen Parents and has written verification from Oranga Tamariki confirming that they have been referred by them, the young person does not require an Independent Assessment. See:

• Approved Supported Housing for Vulnerable Teen Parents

For more information see:

• Parental support gap
• Discharged from care
• Unable to receive financial support from parents
• Definition of 'parents'
• Family Violence Intervention Programme [no link find out why]