Additional conditions of grant

Clients may need to meet additional conditions of grant before you can grant Emergency Maintenance Allowance. These additional conditions can mirror the obligations that would apply if the client was getting Sole Parent Support.

Note if the client is 65 years or older you should treat them the same as a client on Emergency Benefit.

If a client getting Emergency Maintenance Allowance has a youngest child under 3 years the conditions of grant should include work preparation obligations that mirror those that would apply if the client was getting Sole Parent Support.

When work preparation obligations are set as a condition of grant the client must:

• 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 and
  • rehabilitation (but not medical treatment)
  • an education programme

If a client getting Emergency Maintenance Allowance has a youngest child aged between 3 and 13 years the conditions of grant should include work obligations that mirror those that would apply if the client was getting Sole Parent Support. That is part-time work obligations.

When work obligations are set as a condition of grant the obligations the client must:

• be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain, suitable employment
• accept any offer of suitable employment, including temporary employment or seasonal employment

Note suitable employment can include employment that contains an employment trial.

• attend and participate in an interview for any opportunity of suitable employment to which the client is referred
• when required to attend and participate in any interview with Work and Income or on behalf of Work and Income
• when required to undertake planning for employment
• report to Work and Income on progress in meeting their work obligations as often as required 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)

If the client's youngest dependent child is aged between 3 and 13 years their conditions of grant should be part-time. This means they must be available for, and take reasonable steps to find, suitable employment of at least 20 hours per week.

For more information see:

• Sole Parent Support Work or work preparation obligations
• Consequences of failing to meet conditions

If you think that a client has circumstances that mean they will not be able to meet some or all of the obligations, you should:

• check the reasons that clients on Sole Parent Support can be exempt from meeting their work or work preparation obligations
• note the client's circumstances in CMS

For more information see:

• Sole Parent Support Table of Exemptions

At the time of grant you must advise the client if these additional conditions apply.