screening call

screening call

YSSU will call the young person to discuss their individual circumstances and will:

• Check if the young person is safe
• Establish the reasons for applying for financial assistance, such as exiting Oranga Tamariki care, family breakdown, or caring for a dependent child
• If they are 16 or 17, determine if the young person has a partner and explain to them what additional information they need to provide
• Confirm the information provided in their application is correct.
• Reiterate the privacy statements and their youth activity obligations that they will be subject to if their application is granted
• Advise the young person that they will be referred to a Youth Service provider and that the provider will be in contact with them directly to arrange an appointment
• Remind the young person of the information and supporting documentation they need to bring to their appointment
• Arrange an appointment for the young person to undergo a Family Breakdown Assessment (FBA) with an Independent Assessment Provider (where applicable).

Note: YSSU will inform parents or guardians that their child has applied for YP or YPP whenever an FBA is required. This may impact their financial assistance.

If a young person refuses parental involvement without a good reason, and there is not enough information to grant their application, YSSU will decline their application.

face-to-face interview or phone interview

The independent assessment provider must make every effort to offer the young person a face-to-face interview as part of completing the FBA.

Phone interviews may only be conducted in exceptional circumstances where opting for a face-to-face interview could cause significant delays in the process.

These exceptional circumstances may include situations where the young person is in a geographically isolated location where the independent assessment provider does not have assessor coverage, natural disasters, or when the young person's personal circumstances make it challenging for them to attend a face-to-face interview.

The independent assessment provider will conduct interviews with the young person and their parents, guardians, or third parties to complete the FBA report, detailing their findings and recommendations.

The independent assessment provider has 10 working days, from date of referral, to send their report to MSD.

As part of this report, the independent assessment provider may recommend Family Reconciliation Counselling (FRC) where appropriate and advise if the young person and their parents or guardians have agreed to participate (as this is a voluntary service). If both parties agree to participate, YSSU will arrange the FRC.

Note: When FRC is recommended, the Youth Coach must encourage and support the young person to attend and complete their FRC sessions. FRC offers the young person and their parents or guardians an opportunity to potentially resolve their family breakdown and, when appropriate, reconcile. MSD will cover the cost of the FRC.

For more information about Family Breakdown Assessments, please refer to MAP on the Work and Income website.

previous family breakdown assessment reports

When a young person reapplies for Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment, they must complete the application process as if they are applying for the first time.

Previous family breakdown assessment reports

Where a young person was receiving Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment due to a relationship breakdown or another good and sufficient reason and an independent assessment provider report was completed, YSSU will need to:

• retrieve the original family breakdown assessment report
• ask the young person what circumstances have changed that has led to a new application
• decide whether it is appropriate to send the young person for another assessment with the independent assessment provider.

If the young person's circumstances are the same as their previous application, you do not need to request another assessment from the Independent Assessment Provider. 

Young person returns home

During enrolment in the Youth Service, a young person may reconcile with their parents or guardians.

To provide the young person with the best opportunity to reconcile the relationship, Youth Service may be able to use the previous family breakdown assessment.

• If the new application is within 90 days of the previous benefit being cancelled, the young person will not need to complete a new family breakdown assessment. 
• If the young person reapplies after 90 days of the benefit being cancelled, YSSU will ask the young person to complete a new family breakdown assessment.