age out of youth service
young people might be able to stay a little bit longer with youth service
most common reason why payments stop
Payments stop when the young person:
- ages out of youth service, e.g. turns 18 (Youth Payment) or 20 (Young Parent Payment) and
- received payments for a minimum of six months
Whichever is later.
Continue in youth service or exit
Depending on their situation at the time payments stop, young people may be able to continue in Youth Service or exit and move onto their next destination.
Before payments stop
We will notify the young person four weeks before their payments stop and advise them to get in touch with you to discuss their options.
Take active steps
You will receive an ART notification at the same time the young person is notified. This should prompt you to contact the young person.
why must young people receive payments for a minimum of six months
Completing a minimum period of six months ensures the young person is given time to plan, prepare and participate in an activity that will move them towards a qualification.
Qualifying for another benefit
Young people who have been granted youth service payments who have not received payment for six months cannot qualify for another main benefit, until after this period.
Exception
The only time a young person does not need to complete the minimum six months in receiving payments is when they, or someone they are caring for, has a significant health condition, injury or disability that would qualify them for the Supported Living Payment.
To learn more about Supported Living Payment and how to apply, click here.
Scott is 17 years old and is granted Youth Payment on 14 February. The minimum six month will end 14 August. Scott will turn 18 years old on 3 September.
When will payments stop?
Scott will continue to receive payments past 14 August and stop when he turns 18 years old on 3 September.
Ngaire is 17 years old and is granted Youth Payment on 18 March. The minimum six month will end 18 September. Ngaire will turn 18 years old on 8 June.
When will payments stop
Ngaire will continue to receive payments past her 18th birthday and stop once she has completed receiving payments for the minimum of six months ending 18 September.
continuing in youth service
Young people can continue to receive payments past the maximum age for YP/YPP and the minimum six months of receiving payments, but they must still be (and remain) in education, training or work-based learning and choose to continue in Youth Service.
Why?
Choosing to continue in youth service gives the young person a chance to complete the qualification they started while enrolled in Youth Service.
Payments will then stop
- when the activity ends, e.g. course ends on 25 November, or
- if the activity finishes in December, payments will continue to 31 March the following year and stop on 1 April.
Before payments stop
We will notify the young person four weeks before their payments stop and advise them to get in touch with you to discuss their options.
Take active steps
You will receive an ART notification at the same time the young person is notified. This should prompt you to contact the young person.
Scott was 17 when he was granted Youth Payment on 14 February. He had also been attending high school since 25 January. His six months ended 14 August. He turned 18 years old on 3 September and payments stopped.
If payments stop
Scott can choose to continue in youth service. His payments will be resumed and he will continue to be paid until 31 March the following year.
If payments continue on automatically
YSSU may have captured this information and updated their system when payments were granted. Scott's payments will automatically continue on (past his age out and six months) until 31 March the following year and stop 1 April.
Ngaire was 17 when she was granted Youth Payment on 18 March. She turned 18 years old on 8 June. She enrolled and started attending a course on 4 July. The course will finish later in November (or December). Her six months ended 18 September and payments stopped.
If payments stop
Ngaire can choose to continue in youth service as she is still attending her course. Her payments will be resumed, but the outcome of where payments will stop depends on when the course finishes.
Course finishes before December
Payments will stop when the course stops.
Course finishes in December
Payments will continue until 31 March the following year and stop 1 April.
If payments continue on automatically
YSSU may have captured this information when you updated the Education Activity. Ngaire's payments will automatically continue on (past her age out and six months) until 31 March the following year and stop 1 April.
young person changes activity after choosing to continue payments
If after choosing to continue in youth service the young person changes their activity, e.g. stops attending school or changes over to a course, payments must stop immediately. This is because their payments were continued on the basis they maintained attendance and did not change.
You will need to update the young person's activities and notify YSSU. You will also need to support the young person onto their next destination and exit them from your service.
young person doesn't want to continue in youth service
Some young people just want to move on until the right destination comes to them.
You will need to support these young people to find their next destination and provide them with as much information and options on where they can go.
If you have exhausted all options and they still need continued financial support, you can transition them over to a Work and Income main benefit.