Commencement date

To decide when the Emergency Maintenance Allowance can start you must first find the entitlement date. This is usually the date that a person no longer has a means of support.

For a list of these dates see:

• Entitlement Date

The Emergency Maintenance Allowance is generally subject to an initial stand-down of up to a maximum of 2 weeks after the entitlement date.

Generally, the commencement date is:

• the day after the initial stand-down ends or
• the application date

whichever is the later.

However, if a client applies for Emergency Maintenance Allowance within 28 days of their entitlement date, the commencement date rules are different, see:

• Twenty-eight day rule

There are some situations when an initial stand-down is not imposed. When no stand-down applies, the commencement date of the benefit is:

• the entitlement date or
• the application date

whichever is the later.

For more information see:

• Core policy Application for benefit
• Severence payments
• Redundancy payments
• Employment ceased
• Initial stand-down
• No stand-down applies