Sanctions for a couple with dependent children - both fail their obligations

Couples with dependent children who both fail their obligations at the same time do not have their whole benefit sanctioned. Instead, a maximum financial sanction of 50% of the total benefit may be imposed. The balance of the benefit payable is known as 50% protection.

Note if a client has more than one obligation failure initiated on the same day, only 1 sanction will be imposed on the client. For the sanction to be lifted, the client must successfully dispute or recomply with all the obligation failures.

The effect of the sanction for a young partner depends on whether the client is youth money managed or not.

For more information see:

If both clients fail their obligations for the first time, each person's portion of the benefit is reduced by 50% unless they have a non-financial sanction imposed. The couple will continue to get a maximum of 50% of their married rate of benefit. 
While their benefit is reduced, the couple can continue to get extra help. This includes the Winter Energy Payment.

If the client or partner does not recomply within 4 weeks, they will have their portion of the benefit suspended. While part of the benefit is suspended, the couple can get 50% of any Extra help they are entitled to. However, they can get the full rate of the Winter Energy Payment as they are still getting a qualifying benefit.

Their benefit will remain suspended until they recomply or their portion of the benefit is automatically cancelled after 13 weeks. 

For more information see:

• Recompliance
• Non-financial sanctions 

If both clients fail their obligations a second time, 50% of the couple's benefit is suspended. The couple will continue to get a maximum of 50% of their married rate of benefit.

While part of the benefit is suspended, the couple can get 50% of any extra help they are entitled to. However, they can get the full rate of the Winter Energy Payment as they are still getting a qualifying benefit.

Their benefit will remain suspended until they recomply or their portion of the benefit is automatically cancelled after 13 weeks.

Note if a client has more than one obligation failure initiated on the same day, only one sanction can be imposed on the client. For the sanction to be lifted, the client must successfully dispute or recomply with all the obligation failures.

If both clients fail their obligations a third time, 50% of the couple's benefit is cancelled. The couple will continue to get a maximum of 50% of their married rate of benefit until they recomply.

If both clients have a non-entitlement period for 13 weeks, both clients may get a provisional benefit if they start a 6 week approved activity or programme of activities.

While part of the benefit is cancelled, the couple gets 50% of any extra help they are entitled to. However, they can get the full rate of the Winter Energy Payment as they are still getting a qualifying benefit.

For more information see:

• Recompliance

When both clients fail their obligations at the same time and a financial sanction is imposed for each person, the couple must continue to get a maximum of 50% of their married rate of benefit. This must be paid manually, and will depend on which client failed their obligations first.

For more information on this process see:

• Work and work preparation obligations [no link find out why]

If the primary client recomplies first, their portion of benefit and extra help must be resumed or regranted. The primary client will get the full couple rate of Winter Energy Payment. The partner's benefit must remain sanctioned until they recomply.

If the partner recomplies first, their portion of benefit and extra help is not able to be resumed or regranted as the primary record is not current.

For information on how to process this see:

• Work and work preparation obligations [no link find out why]

The 50% protection is applied to half the main benefit rate (eg the married rate) before any reduction of income. Any income will reduce benefit by 35 cents for every $1.00 of total income over $160 per week from the 50% protection payment.

For more information see:

• Charging income

If either client has not recomplied after 2 weeks, MSD will need to contact them to discuss financial assistance and recompliance. If they still have not recomplied at 4 weeks MSD will need to send a letter advising they need to attend an appointment to discuss ongoing entitlement to benefit.

For more information on this process see:

• Sanction period - Two week intervention [no link find out why]
• Sanction period - Four week intervention [no link find out why]