Period over which to charge income

Income should be charged against the benefit for the week that it is earned or the period it represents for example:

• an interest payment is received once every six months representing the previous six months

1. This payment should be charged against the benefit over the previous six months that the payment represents.

2. If it is an ongoing investment you would then add it on as estimated income for the next six months.

• a client receives wages for working a fortnight. Income should be charged each week representing the wages that are paid for that week.
• a client works for two days of the week. Income should be charged in the week that it is earned.

For more information on charging weekend work see: Income from employment

In most cases, determining the period will be straightforward. For more information on some specific types of income and how to charge them, see:

• Core Policy Types of income

If the period of when the income was earned, or the period that it represents is still unable to be determined, discuss the payment with Helpline.

Where a client has income from a number of sources paid for the same periods of time, then all of the payments are added together. This total income will be charged against the Youth Payment over the period that the income represents.

For more information see:

• Example of overlapping income
• Income change
• Effect of income on Extra help
• Income for a past period