I am a bit troubled by some of the advice in that article, by what it omits.

From what I can find out, after the 12 months you can nominate the caravan as your home to claim rent assistance, but when you do, your real estate home then becomes assessable for the means test while the caravan would be exempt. Most likely the asset test would result in greater loss of pension income than rent assistance would pay.

For example a single aged pensioner (classed as non home owner due to the above) can have a maximum of $579,500 in assessable assets before the pension reduces. The sweet spot is $650,000 in total assessable assets. Above that and the pension reduces by more than the rent assistance payment. For most home owners this would then fall into the "bad idea" category.

As a matter of interest, while researching for this I sought advice from AI. Gemini confirms the 12 month rule before rent assistance starts. However Copilot says it starts day 1 as long as the intention is to live in the van, and not be holidaying. Grey nomad lifestyle would be acceptable. With that conflicting advice I tried pasting various links to each but neither would budge from their answers, with Copilot saying all references to 12 months before qualifying refer to holidaying rather than living in it. On that basis, if correct, you could claim from day 1 based on intent to be long term and not holidaying.

Even if Copilot is correct, both agreed that the assets test as above would apply, making it unworkable for most home owners. For a non home owner with assets under the threshhold, this issue is probably not relevant. Provided they are not paying rent elsewhere they probably should qualify immediately. 

However maybe it is worse. Again, disagreements with the AI sources. POSSIBLY because your caravan is now assessed as your home, you would then be classed as a home owner for the assets test. The allowable assets value in that case is only $321,500 before pension starts reducing. I feel sure that is not correct (AI wrong again) but definitely worth checking.

The original question was about the process. Maybe someone else can help with first hand information, but I suggest going to one of their service centres anyway. In the meantime this is the way I believe it works:

You are supposed to advise within 14 days of any rate change, but that is impractical for someone who moves often. In that case you would advise the total amount paid for each fortnight ... 10 at $10 and 4 at $40 = $260. Just submit as $260. Submit again when the fortnight total changes. They will adjust any over/under payments already made. No receipts, bank evidence, etc need to be submitted but they may ask for proof at any time. Keep your receipts. If you pay cash/donation and have no receipt my guess is as long as it is reasonable and not too often there should be no problem. I don't think they are too draconian but you should ask. 

Current rates: Any fortnight with rent payments under $152 you get nothing, then 75% of any amount above that up to maximum payment of $215 per fortnight (based on rent ~ $440 per fortnight).

rmoor wrote:

---

A.I. is rubbish and not needed in many aspects of our lives.

---

 Despite the fact that it is frequently wrong, I find it very useful and use it most days. To get the benefit, treat it like asking someone questions knowing that the person will answer with a "factual" response despite perhaps misinterpreting its sources and maybe filling in the gaps with what seems plausible. The actual term is called "hallucinating".

I use it like "Help me get started on this. Give me links to the source material that you used so I can research this". After a while you get used to and accept these limitations. Somewhat like phoning a call centre about a problem and getting poor answers from someone on the other end.  Or asking for financial advice on an internet forum. 

But if you say "Give me a link to that in the official documentation" then you have a much better chance.  

Relating this back to the 12 month rule for qualifying for rent assistance, and using AI to narrow down the answer, it gave me this link from DSS website:

DSS 12 month rule to qualify for rent assistance

The heading is Holiday accomiodation. Does that mean if you are intending long term living as opposed to holidaying that section is not relevant? And if you holiday for more than 12 months you qualify anyway? Above my pay grade to make those determinations. Maybe researching further and pushing AI harder for more links something definitive would turn up. I will leave that to others.

rmoor wrote:

---

"Despite the fact that it is frequently wrong":

Well? What is the use of it then?
If one had a financial advisor that was frequently wrong, or
a doctor that was frequently wrong.

Would you use them frequently?????

---

 You missed the point about how to use it. Take the answer as guidance but don't rely on it. Use it to find a credible reference. It is a lot easier than trying to find some references yourself.

Finacial advisor: You said your recommendation qualifies for tax deduction. Show me the ATO reference.

Doctors are frequently wrong: You said I have condition x. Explain why it is not condition Y. Point to references for each so I can read all about it.

AI: You have said X. Show me the regulation that covers this.

Anyway, this topic is about rent assistance, not AI, so enough thread drift from me.