Work or work preparation obligations - partners

Partners of clients receiving Emergency Benefit have full-time or part-time work obligations or work preparation obligations depending on the age of their youngest child.

Full-time work obligations apply to:

• partners with no children and
• partners with a youngest dependent child aged 14 years or over

Partners with full-time work obligations must be available for, and take reasonable steps to find suitable employment of at least 30 hours or more per week.

Part-time work obligations apply to:

• partners with a youngest dependent child aged between 3 and 13 years

Partners with part-time work obligations must be available for, and take reasonable steps to find suitable employment of at least 20 hours per week.

Work preparation obligations apply to:

• partners with a youngest dependent child aged under 3 years

Note if the partner is getting Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit, these children are not considered dependent children for rates purposes but they are treated as dependent children for setting work or work preparation obligations.

Young partners (aged 16 to 19 years old) of clients getting Emergency Benefit have youth activity obligations and not work or work preparation obligations if they are:

• aged 16 or 17 years old without dependent children or
• aged 16 to 19 years old with a dependent child or children and
• married, or in a civil union or a de facto relationship with a person getting Emergency Benefit