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Jobseeker Support : Contents

Clients aged 65 years and over

Clients aged 65 years or older may receive Jobseeker Support provided they meet all the qualifications, including work or work preparation obligations and the 26 week reapplication process.

For Jobseeker Support granted on the grounds of a health condition, injury or disability, they must confirm they would be available for and seeking full-time work, if not for a health condition, injury or disability.

If the client has circumstances which mean an exemption or deferral from their work obligations should be granted, this must be considered.

Work and work preparation obligations for Jobseeker Support

Clients aged 65 or older who are eligible for Jobseeker Support have the same obligations as other clients. Clients may have:

  • full-time work obligations
  • part-time work obligations (for those granted on the ground of a health condition, injury or disability where they have capacity to work part-time)
  • work preparation obligations (for those granted on the ground of a health condition, injury or disability where their obligations have been deferred)

MSD will determine appropriate activities for the client to undertake to meet their work and work preparation obligations depending on their circumstances. Generally it is unlikely that MSD would assign activities to clients aged 65+. However, the client is still subject to the obligations and may be assigned activities where appropriate.

Client is not available for or seeking full-time employment

When a client is not available for or seeking full-time employment (and does not qualify on other grounds such as a deferral due to a health condition) Jobseeker Support cannot be granted or continued.

If the client does not qualify for Jobseeker Support or any other benefit, Emergency Benefit may be considered in substitution of Jobseeker Support.

The client will need to meet all of the qualifications for Emergency Benefit including the hardship test. This must be decided on a case-by-case basis, taking the clients full circumstances into consideration.

For more information see:

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