Chapter 10. Relocation Assistance

Supporting Documents for this Chapter:

• System step — Refer to the TtW System Steps Guide.sign-in required (sign-in required)

Relocation Assistance provides financial assistance to Participants who relocate to participate in employment.

Relocation Assistance is funded through a demand-driven pool for TtW Providers.

This Chapter outlines the eligibility requirements and process for seeking reimbursement for Relocation Assistance.

(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 79.4, 134)

Participants will be eligible for Relocation Assistance immediately on commencement in Transition to Work.

In assessing a Participant’s request for Relocation Assistance, Providers have discretion to consider the individual circumstances of the Participant and their suitability to relocate for work.

Providers may assist a Participant taking up a job in another location with Relocation Assistance if the Participant has accepted an offer of employment more than 90 minutes away from their current residence.

Before offering Relocation Assistance to a Participant, the Provider must verify the placement details with the Employer and enter a Vacancy in the Department’s IT Systems. The Provider must also ensure the Placement is not a Non-Payable Outcome, self-employment or commission based.

Relocation Assistance can be used to pay a supplier directly or reimburse a Participant for costs incurred prior to and after relocating. Payments are flexible and can be used to help a Participant:

• prepare to move

• move

• settle into the new location.

Relocation Assistance can include, but is not limited to:

• removalist costs

• travel costs (including for verified dependents)

• disturbance costs (e.g. utility connections, license and/or vehicle registration transfer costs where they are moving interstate)

• prepaid cards (excluding prepaid debit cards) to support Participants during their relocation, for example with fuel or food for the journey, and

• short-term (up to a maximum of two weeks’) accommodation costs.

Before agreeing to provide Relocation Assistance, Providers must ensure that any support offered meets the following principles:

• provides value for money

• supports compliance with any work, health and safety requirements under the relevant state or territory legislation

• withstands public scrutiny

• will not bring the Services, the Provider or the Department into disrepute.

To ensure the above principles are met, Providers must exercise discretion and only agree to reasonable costs that are proportionate to the Participant’s circumstances. This means that Providers can choose not to provide support or offer a lower amount of support in order to meet the principles.

Examples:

• A Participant wants to move from Sydney to Newcastle to accept a casual job in a fast-food restaurant. The Provider confirms the position details with the Employer including that only limited shifts will be available for the Participant each week. The Provider agrees to pay for the Participant’s bus fare to relocate to Newcastle.

• A Participant in Adelaide is offered ongoing employment at a new abattoir facility in Darwin. The Participant has two school aged children who will be moving with them. The Provider confirms the position details with the Employer who confirms the position is full time and ongoing. The Provider agrees to support their relocation with airfares for the Participant and their children, removalist costs and one weeks’ accommodation until the Participant’s new home is available.

In determining whether a Relocation cost is appropriate, Providers may request a Participant provide one or more quotes, prior to making payments.

Relocation Assistance must not be used for:

• assisting Participants to relocate overseas

• rental bonds

• Pre-paid debit cards

• ongoing costs (e.g., utilities or school fees)

• purchasing assets (e.g., whitegoods), or

• a Participant who is a member of a couple as defined in 1.1.M.120 of the Guide to Social Security Law, and the other member has received relocation assistance for the same relocation.

A dependent may include a member of the Participant’s household who is a:

• dependent child/children under 24 years of age who is:

• financially dependent on the relocating Participant; or

• is the dependent child of the partner of the Participant where they are a member of a couple under social security law and the partner is receiving a government payment related to the child or children.

• spouse/partner of the Participant who is also receiving an Australian Government Income Support Payment or pension

• an elderly parent/s who:

• has reached Australian Pension age

• lives in the same residence as the Participant

• is dependent on the Participant for day-to-day care

• is relocating to reside with the Participant.

Where the dependent of the Participant does not meet these requirements, Providers can assess whether there is a genuine dependency relationship, for example if the Participant has legal caring responsibilities for an adult child with a disability.

Prior to claiming Reimbursement, Providers must ensure they have paid the Supplier and/or reimbursed the Participant in full, from their own funds.

Providers must submit a claim for Reimbursement within 56 days of the purchase/payment date.

• Documentary evidence — To claim reimbursement for Relocation Assistance, all relevant information and evidence must be entered into the Department’s IT Systems. This includes items that in combination clearly identifies:

• prior payment from a Provider to the Participant or supplier which reflects payment in full or a zero outstanding balance the details of the supplier (including ABN)

• the details of the items purchased and/or details of the service delivered

• whether the purchase was GST inclusive or GST free

• if quotes were requested, copies of the quotes

• the date the payment was made, and

• if a prepaid card was purchased for the Participant, evidence that the card was issued to the Participant (for example, the date issued, amount, card reference number).

Where a Participant receives assistance to relocate with a dependent, the Provider must retain a file note outlining the reason for their approval, based on their assessment of the genuine dependency of the relationship.

• System step — To claim Relocation Assistance:

• from the Payments Hub landing page, select Request payment

• select TtW6 Relocation Assistance Payment

• enter the Contract ID

• add Payment Details (Jobseeker ID, Vacancy ID and Amount)

• upload Documentary Evidence

• review the Declaration and accept and submit. This will create an Unconfirmed Relocation Assistance Payment claim which needs to be reviewed and processed by your Provider Lead

• send an email to your Departmental Provider Lead advising that a Request Payment claim has been lodged and include the Payment ID to assist them to identify and process the claim.