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A young person may satisfy the YA activity test if they are:
Young people aged under 21 will generally be unable to satisfy the activity test by undertaking job search activities in their EPP, unless they have completed the final year of secondary school or an equivalent qualification (Certificate level II or above).
An early school leaver (1.1.E.05) may volunteer to undertake job search in addition to their EPP activities, but will not be required to report job search efforts.
Early school leavers already in receipt of YA (job seeker) prior to 1 July 2009 will have their EPP activities amended to have an education focus. This transition period is from 1 January 2010 ending 30 June 2010.
Note: YA full-time Australian apprentices do not have an activity test but are required to have a current Commonwealth registration number (1.1.C.208) in relation to a full-time Australian apprenticeship in order to maintain qualification for YA.
Act reference: SSAct section 544B YA Employment Pathway Plans-terms, section 544DA Youth Allowance Employment Pathway Plans-early school leavers
YA recipients who fail to notify that they have ceased full-time study within 14 days are in breach of their notification requirements. They may have their payments cancelled for their failure to notify and for failing to meet the activity test through studying. A debt should be raised for the YA received while they were not meeting their student activity test requirements. A YA recipient cannot be considered as a YA (job seeker) for a period that they received YA as a full-time student.
YA early school leavers who fail to satisfy the terms of their negotiated EPP are in breach of the SSAct and may have penalties imposed on their failure to notify and for failing to meet their activity test requirements. A debt should be raised for the YA received while they were not meeting their EPP activity test requirements.
Example: Jill commenced studying a Bachelor of Social Science in early 2006 and finished studies in February 2008. Jill was receiving YA as a full-time student and continued to receive YA as a full-time student until April 2008. In April 2008 an enrolment check showed that Jill was not enrolled at the university and was contacted by Centrelink. Jill advised that she finished studies and had commenced looking for work in February 2008 and had maintained records of her job search. Jill was not qualified for YA from February 2008 to April 2008 because she did not advise of her cessation of studies to Centrelink. YA received during this period is an overpayment and should be raised as a debt.
Act reference: SSAct section 541(4) People who cease undertaking full-time study, section 541A Failure to satisfy the activity test
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Category of Australian apprentice |
Activity test status |
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Full-time Australian apprentice |
No activity test but must remain qualified by having a current Commonwealth registration number in respect to a full-time Australian apprenticeship. |
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Attending school for part of the week. |
Considered as Australian apprentice if their Commonwealth registration number is of full-time status. |
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Part-time Australian apprentices undertaking a full-time training/study block. |
Considered full-time students. |
| Full-time Australian apprentice undertaking a full-time training/study block. |
Considered as an Australian apprentice rather than a full-time student. A current Commonwealth registration number would be required. |
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Part-time Australian apprentices who are studying or training part-time. |
May need their activity test requirements adjusted to make up a full-time load without jeopardising their apprenticeship. |
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Part-time Australian apprentices aged under 18, who are not attending school. |
May be exempt from the full-time education/training requirement, if that would cause them to give up their apprenticeship. These recipients will need to undertake other approved activities in order to make up a full-time activity test load. |
A wide range of activities may satisfy the YA activity test. If a young person has not completed a Year 12 or equivalent qualification (Certificate level II or above) then they are unable to satisfy the activity test by undertaking job search.
If the young person is not an early school leaver (1.1.E.05) and is not undertaking full-time study, they may satisfy the activity test by combining job search with other activities. Some young people may only be required to look for part-time work or temporary work (if not an early school leaver) or other approved activities while undertaking activities such as part-time study or training.
Note: A person cannot satisfy the YA activity test if they have ceased full-time studies and failed to comply with notification provisions to advise Centrelink.
Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.8.50 What Can be Included in an Employment Pathway Plan, 3.2.9 Activity Testing for NSA/YA Job Seekers - Suitable Activities, 3.1.13 Activity Test Compliance Framework for Participation Payments
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Last reviewed: 1 February 2010
