Exceptional circumstances for cash assets

You can disregard some or all of a client's cash assets when you are looking at granting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship on grounds of hardship. You can only do this if you think that there are exceptional circumstances.

Things you need to consider:

• if you refuse to grant Jobseeker Support Student Hardship on grounds of hardship to a client, will it have a serious effect on the client's health or welfare
• if you refuse to grant Jobseeker Support Student Hardship on grounds of hardship to a client, would the likely alternatives cost the Government more
• can the client realise (that is sell or get access to their cash assets) for more than the appropriate cash asset limit
• is the need for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship temporary
• what is the total amount of the client's assets, including assets that are not cash assets and
• what are the other matters that you would consider relevant to determining whether hardship exists

Note where a student has put money aside during the year for next year's school fees we would not generally disregard this. Meeting their current living costs would be seen as a priority.

For more information see:

• Cash assets marked for fees