Charging income

A client (and their partner, if any) getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship have their income assessed and charged weekly.

MSD must charge income for the period it is earned or relates to.

If a payment 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.

When a client declares any income MSD must:

• determine the source and the amount of income
• check the client still qualifies for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship and meets the job search requirements
• check if the client qualifies for Family Tax Credit or Best Start tax credit

Clients whose weekly income is over $160 gross per week will have their benefit reduced by 70 cents for every $1.00 of income that is over that amount per week.

If a client is getting a half-married rate of benefit because their partner is:

• granted a main benefit in their own right or

• not entitled to get a benefit because they have a 13 week non-entitlement period, are subject to an obligations failure, or they are on strike

Then, their benefit will be reduced by 35 cents for every $1.00 of the total combined income that is over $160 gross per week.

For more information see:

• Charging income example - single clients and couples

Sole parent clients whose weekly income is over $160 gross per week will have their benefit reduced by:

• 30 cents for each $1.00 of income that is between $160 and $250 gross per week
• 70 cents for every $1.00 of income that is more than $250 gross per week.

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
• Charging income example – sole parents

If a sole parent has to pay childcare costs because they are working, they can get an income exemption.

For more information see:

• Childcare cost income exemption - sole parents

Information share Child Support payments are treated differently than other types of income as they are automatically charged forward as income for a period of 4 or 5 weeks.

For more information see:

• Information share Child Support payments
• Automated income charging rules