Period over which to charge income

Income must be charged against the benefit for the week that it is earned or the period it represents for example:

• a client gets interest payments from their term deposit once every 6 months. This represents the interest earned over the previous 6 months:
  • MSD will charge this payment against their benefit over the previous 6 months that the payment represents
  • if it is an ongoing investment the payment amount will also be added as ongoing estimated income for the next 6 months
• a client works 13 hours every week and gets paid fortnightly. MSD will charge their fortnightly income for each week the wages represent
• a client works 2 days a week and gets paid their wages weekly. MSD will charge their income for the week that it is earned
• a sole trader who mows lawns invoices their customers monthly. MSD will charge their net profit before tax as income for the actual period it represents

If income does not represent a specific period or if MSD cannot determine the actual period it represents, MSD must determine the most appropriate period to charge the income. This may be the week it is received, provided or supplied.

In most cases, determining the period will be straightforward. If you are unable to determine the period that the income represents you should discuss the payment with Helpline.

Note sole parents whose Jobseeker Support Student Hardship commenced before 1 July 2025 may be able to have their income charged annually.

For more information see:

• Sole parents whose benefit commenced before 1 July 2025

For more information on specific types of income and how to charge them, see:

• Types of income

If a client has income from multiple sources that are paid for the same periods of time, then all of the payments are added together.

The total income will be charged against the Jobseeker Support Student Hardship over the period that the income represents.