Exemptions for young partners
Exemptions from youth activity obligations recognise that there are a number of common reasons why it is unreasonable to expect a young partner to meet their activity obligations for a specified period.
The service provider or Work and Income 'in-house' service can recommend that a young partner is granted an exemption.
Young partners without dependent children
Young partners without dependent children can be granted a full or partial exemption from their youth activity obligations for the following reasons:
- Family violence young partners
- Young partner would qualify for Supported Living Payment - health condition, injury or disability
- Caring for foster child under 12 months old
- Caring full-time for a spouse or partner with a health condition, injury or disability
- Young partner would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability
- Court imposed conditions
Young partners with dependent children
Young partners with dependent children can be granted a full or partial exemption from their youth activity obligations for the following reasons:
- Family violence young partners
- Young partner would qualify for Supported Living Payment - health condition, injury or disability
- Caring for a child with special needs
- Caring for foster child under 12 months old
- Caring full-time for a spouse or partner with a health condition, injury or disability
- Young partner would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability
- Court imposed conditions
The young partner can be granted a temporary exemption from some or all of their activity obligations. Proof may be required before an exemption is granted.
For more information see:
SWIFTT process
Exemptions for young partners are processed by Service Centres.
If the young partner is granted an exemption, add the exemption on the SWTDA screen using the appropriate reason code. You must also add an expiry date.
Duration of the exemption
Each exemption has a specific duration for which it can be granted. In some cases these can be extended if appropriate.
For an overview of the exemptions see:
Legislation
- Exemptions: work-preparation, work-test, and other obligations sections 157-161 Social Security Act 2018
- Regulations: specific obligations: work-test obligations, and deferrals of, or exemptions from, specified obligations section 431 Social Security Act 2018
- Exemptions from work-preparation or work-test obligations regulation 97 and regulation 98 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Exemption from obligations under section 162, 164, 166, or 167 of Act: youth support payment recipients and spouses and partners of specified beneficiaries regulation 105 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Regulations may specify categories of exempt persons and grounds for exemption section 157 Social Security Act 2018
- Failure to comply with obligation under this Part section 105 Social Security Act 2018
- When obligations apply section 110 Social Security Act 2018
- When education obligation or training obligation begins for young parent section 163 Social Security Act 2018
- Obligations of young person granted young parent payment section 164 Social Security Act 2018
- Interpretation section 169 Social Security Act 2018
