Sustainable employment criteria

A client must be in sustainable employment when they apply for Bonus Payment.

Note this requirement does not apply to the employment the client started while enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Sustainable employment means employment that is expected to continue for at least 3 months after the date the client applies for Bonus Payment. It does not have to be permanent employment and just because employment is permanent does not mean it is sustainable.

Deciding whether a client is in sustainable employment is based on what the client knows about their employment when they apply for Bonus Payment. If they expect to be in employment for at least 3 months, they meet the sustainable employment criteria.

In some situations, a client may have been in employment when they applied for Bonus Payment but are not in employment when their application is processed. For example, a client was in permanent employment when they applied but later lost their job in a restructure they did not know about at application. If it was reasonable for the client to expect their employment to last for at least 3 months from when they applied, they meet the sustainable employment criteria.

If a client has more than one job at the same time, their employment hours and employment income are based on the combined hours and the combined income from employment.

When a client applies for Bonus Payment, each job that counts towards the employment hours and employment income criteria must meet the sustainable employment criteria. For example, a client may work 15 hours a week in a permanent job and 15 hours a week in a temporary job that is due to end in 2 weeks. Only the permanent job meets the sustainable employment criteria.

Only employment the client is in when they apply for Bonus Payment can be used to meet the sustainable employment criteria. If a job starts after they apply, it cannot be included even if the client is employed continuously. For example, a client is in employment when they apply for Bonus Payment, but the job ends in 4 weeks. They have another job starting the day after their current job ends, and it is expected to continue for 6 months. The sustainable employment criteria would not be met because the job the client is in when they apply for Bonus Payment is not sustainable.

Example 1

Aria started full-time employment under a fixed-term contract and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

When Aria applies for Bonus Payment, her contract is due to end in 4 weeks.

Aria does not meet the sustainable employment criteria because she does not expect her employment to continue for at least 3 months.

Example 2

Cam started full-time employment and his Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while he was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Eleven months later, Cam left that employment and started a new permanent full-time job.

When Cam applies for Bonus Payment, he has been in his new job for 1 month. He is not aware of anything that would mean his job will end within 3 months of when he applies.

Cam meets the sustainable employment criteria because he expects his employment to continue for at least 3 months.

Example 3

Mere started full-time employment and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

When Mere applies for Bonus Payment, she is employed in a permanent position and is not aware of anything that would mean her job will end within 3 months of when she applies.

One month after Mere applies for Bonus Payment, her employer announces they are closing the business. Her employment ends 4 weeks later.

Mere met the sustainable employment criteria because when she applied, she expected her employment would continue for at least 3 months.

Example 4

Renee started employment of 35 hours a week and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Twelve months later, Renee applies for Bonus Payment. When she applies, she works 23 hours a week at a supermarket. She also works 15 hours a week in a temporary event coordinator role.

The temporary event coordinator role is due to end in 4 weeks. However, Renee is not aware of anything that would mean her supermarket job will end within 3 months of when she applies.

Renee's supermarket job meets the sustainable employment criteria. However, the temporary event coordinator role does not because it will end in 4 weeks.