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In order to satisfy the activity test, job seekers must be actively seeking and willing to undertake any paid work that is not unsuitable (1.1.U.55). Job search activities will be the primary activity for most recipients of working age payments. To satisfy the activity test job seekers must generally seek work in a variety of fields, not just those in which they have qualifications or experience.
Job seekers are expected to look for any level of suitable work. While job seekers are encouraged to take on part-time and casual work, this is normally regarded as a stepping stone to obtaining full-time employment, except where job seekers only have part-time requirements due to their circumstances.
Example: Job seekers with a partial capacity to work are required to look for part-time work of at least 15 hours per week (3.2.9.40).
Job search may also be combined with other approved activities. Job search and any other approved activities are set out in a person's EPP.
If a job seeker is required to register with a JSA provider, then remaining connected with their provider forms part of the job seeker's requirement to look for work. A job seeker who is required to register with a JSA provider cannot satisfy the activity test without doing so, regardless of the level of job search they may undertake without JSA provider assistance. Generally, payments cannot be made until the job seeker is registered. The JSA provider registers the job seeker's resume on www.jobsearch.gov.au and provides immediate assistance to help them find a job as quickly as possible.
Job seekers who are required to connect with providers other than JSA providers, must also seek work, with the assistance of the provider, as determined by the provider and stipulated in their EPP.
People who are enrolled in a course commencing in the future or who have employment commencing in the future are still required to look for work.
The job seeker would generally be required to look for work available that would not affect their ability to start the job or course of study. The job seeker should be encouraged to seek temporary, part-time or casual work, even if only for a short period. The rationale for this is in case the course or job does not eventuate as expected. It keeps the job seeker in the market for other vacancies and perhaps better offers.
Job seekers who are classified under SSAct section 16B as having a partial capacity to work because of a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment must also look for work to their capacity but are taken to satisfy the activity test if they work at least 30 hours per fortnight.
Job seekers with part-time work requirements (including principal carer parents and people with a partial capacity to work) who meet their participation requirements on an ongoing basis by working 30 hours per fortnight but then who fail to meet their fortnightly requirement, and do not have a reasonable excuse for failing to meet their requirements, will be immediately referred to a JSA provider if they are not active with a provider.
Reasonable excuse could include such reasons as a sick child, a cancelled shift, a short term reduction in hours due to public holidays, pupil-free days or failure of special disability related transport, with an expectation that working hours will return to normal in the next fortnight.
If a job seeker in this category does have a reasonable excuse they should be monitored to ensure that they return to 30 hours work in the next fortnight, unless they have a reasonable excuse for failing to meet their requirements.
Job seekers who are ill, injured or have temporary medical conditions which limit their capacity may be able to take part in services to help them prepare for a job, even if they are temporarily unable to work. If job seekers are able to participate in suitable job preparation activities they will be expected to do so.
Act reference: SSAct section 16B Partial capacity to work
Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.11.10 Activity Test Exemption - Temporary Incapacity, 1.1.P.56 Partial capacity to work (NSA, YA (job seeker), PP & SpB (NVH), 3.2.9.40 Setting Job Search Requirements - Job Seekers with Part-time Requirements
Job seekers who are 55 or more years of age (regardless of whether they are also principal carer parents or people with partial capacity) are taken to satisfy the activity test if they undertake 30 or more hours of voluntary work, or a combination of voluntary and paid work in a fortnight. These job seekers are required to remain connected with a JSA provider and will not have any job search requirements if they are fully satisfying the activity test by the above means. Job seekers that do not meet these requirements will be required to look for work.
Further information relating to job search requirements for mature age NSA recipients aged 55 years and over is in 3.2.9.40.
A part-time job search requirement will apply to principal carer parents who meet ALL the following criteria:
Principal carer parents with part-time job search requirements are generally subject to an obligation to seek suitable paid part-time work of at least 15 hours per week. They are not required to seek or accept employment of more than 25 hours a week, although they may do so if they choose.
In some special family circumstances, it may be appropriate to apply a reduced job search requirement (3.2.11.50) if those family circumstances affect a principal carer parent's ability to meet their normal job search requirements for a period of time.
Job seekers classified under SSAct section 5 as a principal carer of a child must, unless exempted, satisfy the activity test by complying with approved activities outlined in their EPP (1.1.E.103).
A principal carer will meet their participation requirements if they are looking for suitable paid work where the work is of at least 30 hours per fortnight, and participating in any other activities as specified in their EPP.
A principal carer can also choose to fully meet their requirements by undertaking 30 hours per fortnight of (or any combination of) suitable paid work, approved study (where the total number of hours includes contact and non-contact hours) and in some circumstances voluntary work. If the principal carer is not fully meeting their requirements in this way they will generally be required to look for suitable work or undertake other suitable activities as part of their EPP until their requirements are met.
Principal carer job seekers who are meeting their requirements through paid work, study or a combination of paid work and study for a total of at least 30 hours per fortnight are not required to remain connected to their employment services provider or accept any offers of suitable paid work.
Principal carers who are undertaking approved study, by itself or in combination with other suitable activities, who do not fully meet their requirements will be required to accept any suitable paid work that fits around any study that is outlined in their EPP, and is appropriate in respect of their caring responsibilities.
Principal carers who are undertaking voluntary work by itself or in combination with other suitable activities to meet the activity test must remain connected to an employment services provider.
Principal carers who are also early school leavers must comply with the early school leaver policy and activities included in their EPPs must reflect these requirements.
Example: Maria is a principal carer parent on NSA with one child, Daniel. Maria works 18 hours a fortnight as a retailer in a local bookshop. Part-time work is a suitable activity but Maria is not undertaking enough to satisfy her activity test in full. Maria remains registered with her JSA provider of choice and is set a job search requirement of 3 job contacts a fortnight in order to find a further 12 hours of work a fortnight.
Note: Given that part-time work may be of a casual nature, with varying hours of employment, an assessment of whether a principal carer parent has met their part-time work requirements must be made on the basis of average hours across a fortnight. A principal carer parent will need to undertake a minimum of 30 hours of suitable paid work per fortnight to meet their activity test (including any job search component) for that fortnight.
Example 1: Vilma has begun work on a casual basis at a bicycle shop. Her hours of employment vary on a weekly basis depending on the workload of the business. In her first week of employment Vilma works 11 hours, and she works 21 hours in the second week. Since her total fortnightly hours are more than the 30 hours fortnightly minimum, Vilma has satisfied the activity test for that fortnight in full through undertaking this work.
Example 2: Margaret's hours of work vary each week. In the first week, she is required to work 12 hours, 6 hours in the second week, 9 hours in the third week and 20 hours in the fourth week. Since her total fortnightly hours (in either fortnightly period) are not greater than or equal to the 30 hours fortnightly minimum, Margaret has not fully satisfied the activity test through undertaking this work.
Further information relating to job search requirements for principal carer parents can be found at 3.2.9.40.
Act reference: SSAct section 5 Family relationships definitions-children
Each region has benchmarks for the number of job search contacts generally appropriate for the local labour market. These benchmarks identify any localities within the region that require special consideration as a result of isolation from work and transport.
Each Centrelink office has a benchmark level of unemployment, determined through statistical data on labour market conditions obtained from DEEWR and the ABS. Variations to benchmarks can be made to an individual Centrelink office with the written approval of the Area Manager.
Benchmarks can be adjusted in a particular area in response to:
Examples: Widespread flooding or the sudden closure of a very large employer.
Variations remain current until the:
Some geographical regions contain areas that, due to isolation disadvantage a large number of job seekers in their ability to look for work. Centrelink offices responsible for these areas MUST prepare an isolation of locality statement for assessing the number of job approaches those job seekers must make. The statement MUST contain:
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Last reviewed: 30 April 2012
