Good and sufficient reason before initiating an activity obligations failure

You need to be satisfied that the young person does not have a good and sufficient reason for failing to meet their activity obligations, based on the information you have, before you initiate an activity obligations failure.

The guiding principle in determining 'good and sufficient' reason is one of 'reasonableness'. Having considered the circumstances, was it reasonable for the young person not to have met their obligations?

Good and sufficient reasons may include (but are not limited to), that the young person:

• was temporarily medically unfit and they have a medical certificate that shows this
• had a death or illness in the immediate family
• could not realistically transport themselves on the day, due to unforeseen circumstances
• was dependent on the provision of assistance by Work and Income 'in-house' service or the service provider to complete the activity, and that assistance was not supplied
• had an unexpected event occur on that day, such as providing care for a sick relative

Decide in favour of the young person if any doubt remains.

If you are aware that the young person has a good and sufficient reason, do not initiate an activity obligations failure.

Note the Youth Service Support Unit (YSSU) makes the final decision to apply an activity obligations failure.

If the young person does not have a good and sufficient reason, see:

• Sanctions for sole parents
• Sanctions for couples - one person fails
• Sanctions for couples - both fail

A young person can dispute the decision to initiate the activity obligations failure or the sanction. For more information see:

• Disputes and reviews of an activity obligations failure