Sanctions for couples - both fail

If both people in a married, civil union or de facto couple fail their activity obligations for the first or second time, each person's in-hand allowance (or $50 for those who are not subject to youth money management before the failure) and any incentive payments are suspended until they recomply with the obligation they have failed (or obligations if they have failed to comply with one or more of their obligations).

The couple can continue to get any Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support to which they are entitled. They continue to get the full couple rate of the Winter Energy Payment as they are still getting a qualifying benefit.

If either young person has not recomplied within four weeks, they will both have their Youth Payments, incentives and supplementary assistance (including Winter Energy Payment) suspended.

Their benefit will remain suspended until they recomply or the payment is automatically cancelled after 13 weeks.

For more information see:

• Recompliance (Grade 1 and 2)

If both people in a married, civil union or de facto couple fails their activity obligations for a third time:

• each person's Youth Payment, and any incentive payments, is cancelled immediately
• Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support is cancelled and
• they are both subject to a non-entitlement period for 13 weeks from the date of cancellation

Winter Energy Payment cannot continue to be paid as they are not getting a qualifying benefit.

The young person may get a provisional benefit if they start a six-week approved activity.

If the young person does not start a six-week approved activity, they must reapply at the end of their non-entitlement period to get a benefit.

Note Disability Allowance can continue to be paid during a non-entitlement period.

For more information see:

• Recompliance (13 week non-entitlement period)
• Definition of second and third failures
• Effect of sanctions on assistance