Benefit eligibility and rate while the partner is in home detention

Where a client who has been in prison is released and is subject to a sentence of supervision, intensive supervision, or home detention and is subject to conditions (including post-detention conditions of a sentence of home detention) that prevent them from undertaking employment, there are two options for the client who is not in home detention.

This will depend on whether the client is living in the same house as their partner.

The client and partner may qualify for Jobseeker Support.

The client who is subject to home detention will qualify for Jobseeker Support because they would meet the eligibility criteria to be available for and seeking full-time work, except that they qualify for an exemption from these obligations.

The exemption reason is court imposed conditions.

The client who is not in home detention would continue to meet the qualifications to receive Sole Parent Support or Jobseeker Support at the sole parent rate if the couple's youngest dependent child is aged 14 or over.

The client who is in home detention would meet the qualifications to receive Jobseeker Support as they would meet the eligibility criteria to be available for and seeking full-time work, except that they qualify for an exemption from these obligations.

The exemption reason is court imposed conditions.

The rate of Jobseeker Support payable to the client in home detention is the half married rate for a couple with a dependent child.