Planning requirements

In some circumstances, you may want to consider whether an Emergency Benefit should include preparing for employment. Generally, where the equivalent benefit has work preparation obligations, as a condition of grant of an Emergency Benefit you should include requirements that are similar to those obligations.

You cannot apply the work preparation obligations or sanctions as such. You can grant the Emergency Benefit and require the client to meet certain conditions that look similar to work preparation obligations. Where a person fails to meet their conditions of grant, the Emergency Benefit may be stopped.

The conditions of grant may include (but are not limited to):

• when required to undertake planning for employment
• when required to report to Work and Income on progress in meeting their work preparation obligations as often as required
• when required to attend and participate in any interview with Work and Income or on behalf of Work and Income and
• when required by Work and Income undertake any activity to improve their work readiness and employment prospects, including:
  • any work assessment
  • any programme or seminar
  • any work experience or work exploration activity
  • any employment related training
  • rehabilitation (but not medical treatment)
  • an education programme

From time-to-time, a client's circumstances may change and the conditions of grant of Emergency Benefit may need to be reviewed.

Where a client has advised a change of circumstances review their eligibility and if necessary the conditions of grant.

For more information see:

• Equivalent benefit
• Benefit paid for a specific period
• Conditions of grant