Provisional benefit and end of non-entitlement period

You can grant or increase a provisional benefit from the date the client starts the approved activity or programme of suitable activities.

The benefit continues to be provisionally paid while the client is satisfactorily participating in the approved activity. Payment continues until:

• the 6 week activity period ends or
• the 13 week non-entitlement period ends

whichever is earlier.

Some examples of this:

• a client participates in an approved activity from the beginning of week three of the non-entitlement period. The client participates for a continuous period of 6 weeks and the remaining period of the 13 week non-entitlement is cancelled. After the follow up appointment with the client the benefit ceases to be paid on a provisional basis
• a client participates in an approved activity from the beginning of week 10 of the non-entitlement period. The client participates in the approved activity for the remainder of the 13 week non-entitlement period (for 3 weeks). At the end of the 13 week non-entitlement period, the client's benefit ceases to be paid on a provisional basis

At the end of the approved activity or programme of suitable activities a follow up appointment is required (in approximately 6 weeks time).

You should discuss with the client whether they:

• have satisfactorily participated in the approved activity and
• can still meet the qualifications and obligations of the benefit

Note that if the client does not recomply, they must reapply at the end of the 13 week non-entitlement period to receive a benefit.

If a client leaves early or does not satisfactorily participate in the approved activity or programme of suitable activities, without a good and sufficient reason, their provisional benefit must be reduced or stopped from the date it was increased or granted.

The amount of benefit that was provisionally paid during the 13 week non-entitlement period must be established as a debt and recovered.

For more information see:

• Recompliance
• Unable to recomply