Determining the reason for insufficient livelihood

The reason a client is in hardship must be considered to determine whether the grant of Emergency Benefit is justified. The following guidelines have been created to assist you (but are not limited to):

• What barriers specifically are preventing the client from working to earn a sufficient livelihood for themselves (and any dependent family)?
• If they did not have these barriers how would they be supporting themselves (and any dependent family)?
• How did the client expect to support themselves (and any dependent family)?
• What other options has the client pursued and what was the outcome of those options?
• Is there any other assistance that the client can access to alleviate their hardship?

Note the client may be in hardship because of a combination of reasons. You will need to get the client's full circumstances before you make a decision.

Take into account all the client's responses to establish:

• the circumstances preventing the client from earning an income
• the circumstances that placed the client in hardship
• options available to the client to alleviate their hardship
• whether the client contributed to their hardship and the extent to which they have contributed and
• on balance, consider whether payment of Emergency Benefit is justified

If hardship cannot be shown and/or the client has the ability to earn a sufficient livelihood, discuss the situation with the client. Consider other benefit assistance the client may be eligible for and decline the application for Emergency Benefit.

For more information see:

• Contributed to hardship
• Health condition, injury or disability
• Domestic circumstances
• Age
• Any other reason
• Example of equivalent benefit