Provisional benefit and end of non-entitlement period

You can grant or increase a provisional benefit from the date the client or partner starts the approved activity.

The benefit continues to be provisionally paid while the client or partner is satisfactorily participating in the approved activity. Payment continues until:

• the 6 week activity period ends or
• the 13 week non-entitlement period ends

whichever is earlier.

Some examples of this:

• a client participates in an approved activity from the beginning of week 3 of the non-entitlement period. The client participates for a continuous period of 6 weeks and the remaining period of the 13 week non-entitlement is cancelled. After the follow up appointment with the client the benefit ceases to be paid on a provisional basis
• a client participates in an approved activity from the beginning of week 10 of the non-entitlement period. The client participates in the approved activity for the remainder of the 13 week non-entitlement period (for 3 weeks). At the end of the 13 week non-entitlement period, the client's benefit ceases to be paid on a provisional basis

At the end of the approved activity a follow up appointment is required (in approximately 6 weeks).

You should discuss with the client or partner whether they:

• have satisfactorily participated in the approved activity and
• can still meet the qualifications and obligations of the benefit

Note that if the client or partner does not recomply, they must reapply at the end of the 13 week non-entitlement period to receive a benefit.

If the client or partner leaves early or does not satisfactorily participate in the approved activity or programme of suitable activities, without a good and sufficient reason, their provisional benefit must be reduced or stopped from the date it was increased or granted.

The amount of benefit that was provisionally paid during the 13 week non-entitlement period must be established as a debt and recovered.

You cannot recover the provisional benefit if the client or partner does not complete the approved activity because they:

• transferred to a benefit with no work obligations or
• meet the criteria for a full exemption from their work obligations

For more information see:

• Recompliance 13 week non-entitlement period
• Unable to recomply