Returning incentive payment as a result of an activity obligations failure for young partners

If a young partner has a grade 1 or grade 2 sanction and they are receiving an incentive payment, these payments are also suspended until the young partner recomplies with the obligation they failed.

If a young partner has a grade 3 sanction imposed, any incentive payment they are receiving is cancelled.

Grade 1 and 2 sanctions

Incentive payments can be returned from the date the young person has started their recompliance activity.

Grade 3 - Failure to comply with education obligation

Where the failure that led to the cancellation of the young partner's portion of the benefit was due to failing to comply with their obligation to be in education, training or work-based learning, the education incentive cannot be regranted if the main benefit is regranted.

The young partner must earn this incentive again by completing another 6 months commitment to education, training or work-based learning.

Example

A young partner fails their activity obligations for a third time because they did not go to school. They are receiving incentive payments for education and budgeting. When they undertake a 6 week approved activity their portion of the main benefit is restarted and their budgeting incentive is returned at the same time. The education incentive is not returned and the young partner must re-earn this incentive by completing a further 6 months of education or training.

For any other failure reason, the incentive payment for budgeting and education can be regranted when the young partner recomplies.

Example

A young partner has earned the budgeting and education incentives. They fail activity obligations for a third time for refusing to attend their budgeting discussions with their service provider. The young partner undertakes a 6 week approved activity and their Youth Payment is restarted and both the budgeting and education incentives are returned at the same time.