Period over which to charge income

Income must be charged against the benefit for the week that it is earned or the period it represents, for example:

• a client gets interest payments from their term deposit once every 6 months. This represents the interest earned over the previous 6 months:
  • MSD will charge this payment against their benefit over the previous 6 months that the payment represents
  • if it is an ongoing investment, the payment amount will be added as an ongoing estimated income for the next 6 months
• a client works 13 hours every week and gets paid fortnightly. MSD will charge their fortnightly income for each week the wages represent
• a client works 2 days a week and gets paid their wages weekly. MSD will charge their income for the week that it is earned
• a sole trader who mows lawns invoices their customers monthly. MSD will charge their net profit before tax as income for the actual period it represents

If income does not represent a specific period or if MSD cannot determine the actual period it represents, MSD must determine the most appropriate period to charge the income. This may be the week it is received, provided or supplied.

In most cases, determining the period will be straightforward. If you are unable to determine the period that the income represents you should discuss the payment with Helpline.

Any income a client receives must be charged against the benefit for the period in which the income was earned or represents.

However, sole parent and grandparented Jobseeker Support clients whose benefit commenced (or last commenced) before 1 July 2025 can have their income charged annually until their next 52 week expiry date. This is a transitional arrangement.

For clients with annual income charging, MSD will estimate the prospective income that the client is likely to receive over the next 52 weeks and update income from the first available date. If the client declares a change in income, their prospective income should be reviewed.

If the client indicates their income is likely to vary week to week and prospective income cannot be estimated, then their income should be charged for the actual period it was earned or represents.

For more information see:

• Annual income for sole parent and grandparented clients before 30 June 2026

For more information on some specific types of income and how to charge them, see:

• Types of income
• Income from assets

If a client has income from multiple sources that are paid for the same periods of time, then all of the payments are added together.

The total income will be charged against the Jobseeker Support over the period that the income represents.

For more information see:

• Examples of overlapping income
• Income change
• Effect of income on Extra help
• Net profit