Studying or training on Sole Parent Support

Clients can get Sole Parent Support and undertake study or training as long as they:

• can meet their work or work preparation obligations at the same time or
• are eligible for an exemption from their work obligations in order to complete study or training

Clients on Sole Parent Support may be eligible for one of the following exemptions from their work obligations to study or undertake training:

• in approved full-time training
• in approved study before subject to work obligations
• in full-time study at level 4 or above

For more information about exemptions for study or training see:

• Exemptions
• Work test Exemptions [no link find out why]

When discussing study or training with a client on Sole Parent Support, you should consider:

• the requirements of the course of study or training. Is the course part-time or full-time? If the course is full-time, how much of the course work would take place on campus and how much would take place at home?
• whether they have part-time work obligations or work preparation obligations, and what steps they are currently taking to meet these obligations
• the ages of the children in their care
• whether they have an exemption and
• how long their period of study or training would be, and when they will transfer to Jobseeker Support

If the client is not confident that they can study and meet their part-time work obligations or work preparation obligations, you should explain to the client that they may be sanctioned if they fail an obligation as a result of their study commitments.

The client can also consider financial assistance from StudyLink if they do not want to have work or work preparation obligations.