Length of Sustainable Employment Trial

The length of a Sustainable Employment Trial is for a period agreed with the case manager to establish whether the client can sustain the employment. The agreed period can be for a period up to 26 weeks (6 months) in length.

While the Sustainable Employment Trial cannot be approved for a period greater than this, the job itself may continue past the end of the Sustainable Employment Trial.

You and the client need to agree to an appropriate period for the Sustainable Employment Trial.

The length of the Sustainable Employment Trial should be driven by what the client believes is a reasonable period for them to establish whether they can regularly maintain their employment. You need to agree that this is reasonable.

When you and the client are determining the length of the Sustainable Employment Trial, the following factors may be considered:

• the expected length of employment
• the period the client suggest they need to establish whether they can sustain the employment
• whether it is appropriate for the Sustainable Employment Trial to be granted for a shorter period of time and then reviewed to consider extending the Employment Trial

Note if the client has completed a Sustainable Employment Trial of 26 weeks, the Sustainable Employment Trial cannot be extended. However, if the agreed period of the client's Sustainable Employment Trial was less than 26 weeks, and their employment is continuing, the client may wish to extend the Sustainable Employment Trial for a further period if they need more time to establish whether they can sustain the employment.

For more information see:

• Stopping the Sustainable Employment Trial early
• End of Sustainable Employment Trial interview