Jobseeker

Meeting your Mutual Obligations
Did You Know
​​
​Volunteering is not only a great way to help your community, it could also help you meet your Jobseeker Mutal Obligation Requirements.

You may even make new friends along the way.
Here is What You Need to Know
Mutual obligation requirements are tasks and activities you agree to do while in receipt of Jobseeker payments from Centrelink.
​Penalties may apply if you don’t meet them.
Centrelink provide many types of payments depending on your specific circumstances and each of these has their own eligibility, rules and regulations that apply. On this page we only focus on the Jobseeker payment and those that are eligible to undertake volunteering as a way of meeting their mutual obligations, which is if you are 55 years of age or over. ​For a more extensive overview of Centrelink payments please click on the link below.
For a more extensive overview of Centrelink payments please click on the link below.
Link to Services Australia
What Are Mutual Obligations Requirements?
​​Mutual obligation requirements are tasks and activities you agree to do, to help you find a job.
Your Job Plan will outline what activities, i.e. volunteering and will includes the details such as how any hours.

To keep getting your payment, you need to do all of the following
  • agree to a Job Plan
  • meet the requirements of your plan
  • go to appointments with your employment services provider, if you have one.

You may also need to complete and report your job searches

​You may need to look for work as a requirement to keep getting your payment. You’ll need to do all of the following:
  • go to all job interviews
  • accept any offer of suitable paid work
  • not leave a job, training course or program, unless you have a valid reason.
If you don't meet your requirements, demerits and financial penalties may apply.
​You may even have your payment stopped.
You have different requirements if you're:
You can Volunteer to Meet your Mutual Obligations 
If you are 55 years old
​If you’re 55 or older you can meet your full-time mutual obligation requirements through:
  • paid work
  • self-employment
  • approved voluntary work
  • a combination of these activities.
Your mutual obligation requirements depend on your age and circumstances.

Employment Services Providers
From 1 July 2024, if you’re fully meeting your requirements by volunteering, you don’t need to connect with an employment services provider. You can choose to volunteer and still connect with an employment services provider if you would like to continue to search for paid work.  If you do, you can contact one of the following services:
The Employment Providers Role
If you stop meeting your requirements
Centrelink will refer you to an employment services provider to help you look for work.
For more information about the changes, you can either:
Not on Jobseeker - Apply Here
Find a local Employment Services Provider
When your between 55 and 59 years old

​Your options for meeting your mutual obligation requirements depend on how long you have been in receipt of the Jobseeker payment. 

12 Months or Less on your current income support payment

You can meet your mutual obligation requirements by working 30 hours per fortnight of either:
  • suitable paid work where the income is equal to or more than the minimum wage
  • self-employment where your net business income is equal to or more than the relevant national minimum wage
  • a combination of approved voluntary work and suitable paid work including self-employment.

At least 15 hours of work done must be paid work if you decide to do a combination of:
  • approved voluntary work
  • suitable paid work
  • self-employment.

If you want to do voluntary work, you will need to talk to Centrelink or your employment services provider about it. Centrelink must agree that both:
  • the volunteering work is suitable
  • the voluntary work organisation meets the relevant criteria.

You can use the Verification of Voluntary Work form to seek approval from Centrelink.
12 Months or More on your current income support payment

You can meet your mutual obligation requirements by working 30 hours per fortnight of any of the following:
  • approved voluntary work
  • suitable paid work where the income is equal to or more than the minimum wage
  • self-employment where the net business income is equal to or more than the relevant national minimum wage
  • a combination of approved voluntary work and suitable paid work, including self-employment.

If you want to do voluntary work you need to talk to Centrelink about it. Centrelink must agree that both:
  • the volunteer work is suitable
  • the organisation is an approved voluntary work organisation.

​You can use the Verification of voluntary work form to seek approval from Centrelink.
When you are 60 or older
You can meet your mutual obligation requirements by working 30 hours per fortnight of any of the following:
  • approved voluntary work
  • suitable paid work where the income is equal to or more than the relevant national minimum wage
  • self-employment where the net business income is equal to or more than the relevant national minimum wage
  • a combination of approved voluntary work and suitable paid work, including self-employment.
If you want to do voluntary work you need to talk to Centrelink about it. Centrelink must agree that both:
  • volunteer work is suitable
  • the voluntary work organisation meets the relevant criteria.

You can use the Verification of voluntary work form to seek approval from Centrelink.
Verification of Voluntary Work Form (SU462)
Exemptions from Mutual Obligations
​ 
What exemptions may apply
You may find it hard to meet your requirements in certain circumstances. If so, you can ask Centrelink for a temporary exemption.

You may get a temporary exemption if you’re experiencing a crisis such as:
  • the death of an immediate family member
  • family and domestic violence
  • being homeless.

You may also get a temporary exemption in other situations such as:
  • you’re sick or injured and have an approved medical certificate
  • disaster such as fire or flood has affected you
  • you have short term caring duties
  • you’re pregnant and the expected date of birth is less than 6 weeks away
  • you had a baby less than 6 weeks ago
  • you’re a principal carer of 4 or more dependent children.

If you’re sick or injured, you may be temporarily exempt from your requirements. You’ll need to provide an approved medical certificate. You can do this by either:
The medical certificate must state why you’re unfit to work and for how long. You’ll need to provide a medical certificate if you’re getting any of the following:
If you’re not sick or injured and you need an exemption, call Centrelink on your regular payment line. You’ll need to provide proof of your circumstances

While Centrelink will assess your request for an exemption, you will need to keep meeting your requirements until you have been notified of the outcome of your request. This includes attending appointments with your provider or continuing with your activities as stated on your agreed Job Plan.
How Your Income Changes Your Payment

If you're single and not a principal carer
​The income rules if you’re single and not a principal carer of a dependent child younger than 16.

Your income per fortnight                                                  Amount your payment reduces
​Up to $150                                                                                    $0
Over  $150                                                                                    50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256
Over  $256                                                                                    60 cents for each dollar over $256

If you're single and a principal carer
The income rules if you’re single and a principal carer of at least one dependent child younger than 16.

Your income per fortnight                                                    Amount your payment reduces
​Up to $150                                                                                      $0
Over  $150                                                                                      40 cents for each dollar between $150

​If you have a partner who receives a pension from Centrelink

Half of your combined income per fortnight                 Amount your payment reduces 
​Up to $150                                                                                         $0
Over  $150                                                                                         50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256
Over  $256                                                                                         60 cents for each dollar over $256

If you have a partner who doesn't receive a pension from Centrelink
​
Your income per fortnight                                                        Amount your payment reduces
​Up to $150                                                                                          $0
Over  $150                                                                                          50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256
Over  $256                                                                                         60 cents for each dollar over $256

How your partner's income reduces your payment
Your payment will generally reduce by 60 cents for each dollar of income your partner has over the income cut off.

Your partners situation                                                                    Income cut off per fortnight
Your partner is between 22 and Age Pension Age           $1,368.00
Your partner is under 22, no children                                       $1,284.00
Your partner is under 22, with children                                   $1,377.00

The point at which your payment reduces may also be different if your partner is on a payment from us and getting Pharmaceutical Allowance or Rent Assistance.
What are the Cut Off Points
If your income in a fortnight goes over specific cut-off points, Centrelink won’t pay you for that fortnight.
Your cut-off point may be higher if you get the Pharmaceutical Allowance or Rent Assistance.

Cut off points per fortnight if you are single

Your situation                                                                                                                                       The income cut off point
Single, no children                                                                                                                          $1,479.00
Single, 55 or older, on a payment for at least 9 months continuously                $1,583.50
Single, principal carer of a dependent child younger than 16                                  $2,273.75
Single, principal carer of a dependent child younger than 16                                  $2,715.75
no mutual obligation requirements
Single, with a dependent child younger than 16, but not the principal carer    $1,572.17

Cut off points per fortnight if you are partnered

Your situation                                                                                                                                        The income cut off point
You have a partner who doesn’t get a pension                                                                $1,368.00 - your income
Your partner doesn’t get a pension and your income is less than $150             $2,568.34 - your partner’s income  You have a partner who gets a pension                                                                               $2,736.00 - combined income

Income
Most types of income count in your income test. Centrelink use this and your assets test to assess if you can get a payment, and to calculate your rate of payment.

Click Here To Learn More on Mutual Obligations
 www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/obligations
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