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Jobseeker Support Student Hardship : Contents

Would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability

This exemption may apply to a client or partner with work obligations.

If a client meets the qualifications for Jobseeker Support on the ground of a health condition, injury, or disability they can be exempt from meeting some or all of their work obligations until their capacity for work improves.

The client must be limited in their capacity to work because of a health condition, injury or disability and, depending on whether they have part-time or full-time work obligations be:

  • unable to look for part-time work of at least 15 hours per week or
  • losing earnings because they are unable to work for at least 15 or 30 hours a week

This is a partial exemption and the client is able to:

  • plan for employment and
  • undertake certain work related activities

Evidence

To support their exemption, the client is required to provide a Work Capacity Medical Certificate.

The medical certificate should be completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner, (or dentist or midwife where relevant).

The information required on the medical certificate is:

  • a diagnosis (what the illness, disability or health condition is) and
  • the impact of the condition on their ability to work and
  • the likely duration of the impact and
  • their capacity for work planning, training and part-time work and
  • any other information that is required

Duration

The period of time for an exemption is based on the reassessment date recorded on their medical certificate by their registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant).

This exemption should then be reviewed.

At the review MSD should consider the client's circumstances and whether it is appropriate to extend the exemption. MSD can ask the client to provide evidence of the reason why the exemption should be extended.

For more information see:

Exemptions [no link find out why]

Legislation

  • Exemption from work-test obligations: work-tested spouses or partners regulation 102 Social Security Regulations 2018
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Dentists can only sign medical certificates for conditions that have occurred because of dental work or dental conditions.

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All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

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All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

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