Effect of a non-entitlement period on financial assistance
When a client is subject to a non-entitlement period, their benefit is cancelled and they have no entitlement to a benefit for 13 weeks unless they recomply.
Clients with dependent children have 50% protection applied during a non-entitlement period.
50% protection for sole parents and couples with dependent children
Sole parents or couples with one or more dependent children, who are subject to a 13 week non-entitlement period do not have their whole benefit affected.
Instead, a maximum sanction of 50% of the main benefit may be imposed. The balance payable is known as 50% protection.
Example
A sole parent with 50% protection has only 50% of their rate of benefit cancelled before any income reduction.
During the cancellation, they are entitled to receive a 50% rate of that benefit with the income test applied, but at half the rate of the income test.
Grade 3 sanction for couples without dependent children
If one partner of a couple with no dependent children is subject to a grade 3 sanction, this is only applied to half the couple's benefit.
The non-sanctioned partner is entitled to half the couple rate of benefit, with any income reduced at half the rate of the income test that applies.
If both partners of a couple with no dependent children are subject to a grade 3 sanction, the benefit is stopped (as 50% is stopped for each partner who failed).
