Striking workers

Where a single client is not employed because of a strike, they can get Temporary Additional Support.

However, you should consider whether they have deprived themselves of income and, if so, assess entitlement to Temporary Additional Support by taking into account pre-strike earnings.

This approach will ensure that clients already getting Temporary Additional Support do not qualify for a higher rate as a result of going on strike.

If the client meets the qualifications for Temporary Additional Support and their partner is on strike, the client can still get Temporary Additional Support. They are assessed as married, civil union or de facto couple with all their combined income, allowable costs and assets included in their calculation. The full rate payable should be paid to the client.

In these cases you can:

• assess Temporary Additional Support for the couple as both the client and the partner qualify for Temporary Additional Support and
• you should consider whether the partner has deprived themselves of income and, if so, assess entitlement to Temporary Additional Support by taking into account pre-strike earnings