Sanctions for sole parents

When sole parents fail to meet their activity obligations they do not have their whole payment sanctioned. Instead, a maximum sanction of 50% of the total Young Parent Payment may be imposed. The balance payable is known as 50% protection.

Sole parents who are sanctioned can continue to get full supplementary assistance, regardless of the grade of sanction. This includes the Winter Energy Payment.

A first or second activity obligations failure means suspension of the in-hand allowance (or $50 for those who are not subject to youth money management before the failure) and any incentive payments, until the young person recompiles with the obligation(s) they have failed.

The young person can continue to get any Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support to which they are entitled, as well as the full rate of Winter Energy Payment.

For a third activity obligations failure a sole parent is no longer entitled to get Young Parent Payment and the payment is cancelled. However they can get 50% of the sole parent rate of Young Parent Payment. They continue getting the full rate of Winter Energy Payment.

The young person may get a provisional benefit and have their payment increased to 100% if they start a 6-week approved activity.

For more information see:

• Definition of second and third failures
• Effect of sanctions on assistance

If the young person has not recomplied within 2 weeks, the service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service will need to contact the young person to discuss financial assistance and recompliance.

If they have not recomplied at 4 weeks, a letter will need to be sent requesting the young person attends an interview to discuss ongoing entitlement to Young Parent Payment.

For more information see:

• Recompliance (Grade 1 and 2)
• Recompliance (13 week non-entitlement period)