Financial assistance during non-entitlement period
If a client needs financial assistance during a non-entitlement period, they will need to recomply to be granted a provisional benefit.
Exemptions or transfers
In some instances it may be appropriate to consider an exemption or a transfer to another benefit that does not have work obligations.
For more information on transfers and exemptions see:
Special Needs Grants
Clients are not entitled to a Special Needs Grant if a sanction has been imposed, unless they become:
- sick or injured and
- incapable of participating in employment or an approved activity for at least 6 weeks
In this case, the client can get more than one Special Needs Grant, but the amount granted in any one week cannot be more than the combined total of:
- what the client would be entitled to that week if they were entitled to Jobseeker Support and
- the rate of Accommodation Supplement that the applicant would have gotten
For more information see:
Recoverable Assistance Payments
Generally clients will not be entitled to Recoverable Assistance Payments when they are subject to a non-entitlement period. This is because they will be contributing to their hardship through not recomplying. The client's first option is to recomply. A Recoverable Assistance Payment cannot be paid when the client has no means of repaying it.
Advance Payment of Benefit
Generally, clients whose benefit continues to be paid (i.e. clients with dependent children) will not be entitled to an Advance Payment of Benefit when they have a 13 week non-entitlement period imposed. This is because they will be contributing to their hardship through not recomplying. The client's first option to improve their financial situation is to recomply.
For more information see:
Legislation
- How non-entitlement period, etc, affects supplementary benefits, and spouse or partner section 230 Social Security Act 2018
- No entitlement to Special Needs Grant while benefit is suspended or cancelled clause 9.11 Special Needs Grant Programme
- Persons becoming sick during a non-entitlement period clause 17.5 Special Needs Grant Programme
