Failure to meet hardship obligations

Generally, clients who fail to meet their hardship obligations should have their application for a Special Needs Grant, Advance Payment of Benefit or Recoverable Assistance Payment declined.

This may be where they did not take reasonable steps or failed to complete a budgeting activity.

You may approve an application for a Special Needs Grant, Advance Payment of Benefit or Recoverable Assistance Payment for a client who failed their hardship obligations if there are exceptional circumstances. This includes circumstances that prevented a client from completing their obligations.

Acceptable exceptional circumstances include:

• unforeseen hospitalisation
• seriously sick or injured
• bereavement of immediate family
• emergency or adverse event
• victim of violent crime or family violence

If a client does not have any of the above reasons staff can consider whether the reason provided:

• is an unforeseen out-of-the ordinary event that could not be planned for or
• is beyond the client's control or
• sets the client apart from others in a similar situation