Hours you can work If you get DSP, you can have paid work up to 29 hours a week. You can do this without losing your DSP payment providing you meet the income test. You must tell us if you or your partner have started work within 14 days. You must also tell us the details of that work.
You can meet your mutual obligation requirements through any of these: 30 hours per fortnight of approved voluntary work. 30 hours per fortnight of suitable paid work where the income is equal to or more than the minimum wage.
You have to report any employment income you or your partner have been paid, even if it's zero, and any other changes to your circumstances every fortnight before we can pay you. You can find your reporting dates in your Centrelink online account.
If you get DSP, you can have paid work up to 29 hours a week. You can do this without losing your DSP payment providing you meet the income test.
The Work Bonus income bank is useful for pensioners who wish to work, particularly those who undertake intermittent or occasional work. Note: from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances.
Bank interest reviews. We check your bank account information is up to date. We do this to check we paid you the right payment and amount in the past.
A reduced capacity means you can't work at least 30 hours a week. This may be due to an ongoing medical condition. This can result in you not being able to meet some or all of your mutual obligation requirements. If you're not able to work due to a medical condition, you'll need to tell us.
In this example, if you're doing at least 15 hours per week you're full time. If you're doing less than this you're part time.
Under Australian laws, employees work up to 38 hours in a week, or 7.6 hours (7 hours, 36 minutes) each day. These are classed as regular hours of work, and time worked outside of these hours can attract overtime, higher rates of pay (“penalties”), or be counted as time off in lieu to be taken later.
Income test
The amount you can earn before your payment reduces to zero depends on your family situation. $1,232.84 for your income. $2,298.17 for your partner's income when you have income less than $150. Depending on your circumstances, there may be different rates of income you can earn.
You may get JobSeeker Payment if any of the following apply: you're unemployed. you're not in full time work, for example you're doing part time or casual work.
If you leave Australia to live in another country, your payment will stop when you depart. If your travel is short term, your payment will stop when you depart, unless you're travelling for an approved reason. To get Special Benefit while you're overseas, you must travel for an approved reason.
We use your medical certificate to work out if you need an exemption from your mutual obligation requirements for a certain time. This is so you can keep getting JobSeeker Payment.
One common type of fraud is providing false information, such as a fake name or address, to obtain Centrelink payments. Another type is undeclared income, where individuals fail to declare all of their income to Centrelink to receive additional benefits.
It's important to remember that if you do receive winnings, either as a lump sum or periodic payments, you need to let Services Australia know. You can tell us about your changes online, using your Centrelink account through myGov or on your Express Plus Centrelink app.
Your home is not counted as an asset when calculating pension or payment, but it does affect how your pension or payment is assessed under the assets test. If you are a homeowner your asset value limit is lower than someone who does not own their residence.
The Government announced on 1 February 2022 that an aged care workforce bonus of up to $800 will be paid to eligible aged care staff in Government subsidised home care and residential care.
The Carer Supplement is an annual payment of $600 which is attached to each Carer Allowance. The Supplement is paid in July each year.
This measure extends the increase to 31 December 2023. The Work Bonus concession of $300 per fortnight will stay the same. Eligible pensioners now have until 31 December 2023 to use their bigger Work Bonus balance. Any Work Bonus balance above $7,800 after 31 December 2023 will reset to $7,800.
Job seekers getting Youth Allowance
If you get Youth Allowance as a job seeker you can earn money and still get your payment. We'll start to reduce your payment if your income is more than $150 a fortnight. Your payment will reduce by 50 cents for each dollar of income you have between $150 and $250.
You may have your payment suspended and get a demerit if you don't meet your mutual obligation or participation requirements. Before your payment can start again, you'll need to either: talk to your provider. call the Digital Services Contact Centre if you're with Workforce Australia Online.
You can have paid work up to 29 hours per week. You can do this without losing your Disability Support Pension payment providing you still meet the income test. You must tell us if you or your partner have started work within 14 days. You must also tell us the details of that work.