Clause 17.1. Grants during stand downs, strikes, application process, or pre-benefit activities

17.1

Grants during stand downs, strikes, application process, or pre-benefit activities

17.1.1

MSD may make a recoverable Grant to an Applicant whose spouse or partner would otherwise qualify for a benefit but is not entitled to receive that benefit because-

(a)

the benefit is subject to a Stand Down; or

(ab)

(revoked)

(b)

section 26(b) of the Act applies to the Applicant's spouse or partner.

17.1.1A

MSD may make a recoverable grant to an applicant who has been required under regulation 166(1)(b) of the Social Security Regulations 2018 to provide any supporting evidence or has been required under regulation 110 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 to undertake 1 or more stated pre-benefit activities at any time,-

(a)

in the case of a requirement under regulation 166(1)(b) of the Social Security Regulations 2018, before the applicant's application for a benefit lapses under regulation 166(2) of those regulations; or

(b)

in the case of a requirement under regulation 110 of the Social Security Regulations 2018, before the application for benefit lapses under regulation 111(4) of those regulations but only if regulation 111(6) or 112(2) of those regulations does not apply to the applicant.

17.1.2

(revoked)

17.1.3

A Grant must not be made under clause 17.1.1 or 17.1.1A unless-

(a)

the Applicant is not entitled to a benefit in his or her own right (whether because of the application of section 230 of the Act or otherwise) and has one or more dependent children; and

(b)

the immediate family has no cash assets and cannot obtain credit facilities; and

(c)

the immediate family has taken all reasonable steps to reduce its fixed commitments; and

(d)

if the non-entitlement was because of the receipt of any redundancy payment (as defined in regulation 182 of the Social Security Regulations 2018), the redundancy payment was used to meet ongoing costs and not to reduce capital debts; and

(e)

in the case where the Applicant's spouse or partner is a striking worker, the immediate family is not receiving assistance, or sufficient assistance to meet the immediate family's basic needs, from any other source.

17.1.4

An Applicant is not entitled to a Grant under clause 17.1.1 or 17.1.1A where he or she is entitled to receive a benefit or part of a benefit at the rate in clause 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 4 or under any of sections 245 to 247 of the Act.