Applying mutual obligation requirements during an Income Maintenance Period (IMP) 001-09020070

Job seekers granted an exemption from mutual obligations requirements:

• do not require a Job Plan, and
• will display as Centrelink managed

Does the Activity and Exemptions Summary (AEX) screen display an exemption of more than 14 days in duration?

• Yes, mutual obligation requirements cannot be applied until the end of exemption. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 2

If a job seeker is on a:

• reduced rate of pay due to an IMP, they will be required to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements. Procedure ends here
• nil rate of pay due to an IMP, they do not need to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements for that period. Go to Step 3

With the exception of the Ordinary Waiting Period (OWP), job seekers serving a waiting period are not required to satisfy mutual obligation requirements during this period.

Check the Income Maintenance Period (IMP) screen to determine the length of the IMP.

Is the duration of the IMP less than 2 weeks?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, go to Step 5

If the IMP is 2 weeks or less, check the Key Information on the Participation Summary to:

• action any outstanding Action Items
• determine who the customer is managed by

If the job seeker is:

• Centrelink managed and fully meeting their requirements in an approved activity, negotiate a Job Plan if required. See Negotiating Centrelink Managed Job Plans
• Provider managed, make a referral to an employment services provider

Procedure ends here.

If the IMP is more than 2 weeks, check if the customer is meeting their mutual obligation requirements by participating in an approved activity.

Is the job seeker fully meeting their mutual obligation requirements in an approved activity?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, go to Step 7

If the job seeker is:

• not fully meeting their requirements in an approved activity, they will need a referral to an employment services provider. Go to Step 7
• fully meeting their mutual obligation requirements by undertaking an approved activity, they will be Centrelink managed

Job seekers may choose to negotiate a Job Plan now or at the end of their IMP.

If the job seeker:

• chooses to negotiate a Job Plan now, see Negotiating Centrelink Managed Job Plans. Procedure ends here
• chooses not to negotiate a Job Plan:
  • place the job seeker management activity on hold until the job seeker's start date of payment
  • record a note confirming the job seeker has deferred entering into a job plan until they become subject to mutual obligation requirements. Go to Step 8

If the job seeker is Provider managed, a referral to an employment services provider is voluntary.

Check if the customer is eligible for a referral to an Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) provider.

If the job seeker:

• chooses to engage with a provider:
  • action any outstanding Action Items
  • refer the job seeker to an employment services provider and book the next available appointment via the online diary
  • procedure ends here
• chooses not to engage with a provider:
  • place the job seeker management activity (JSR/UPD with ESPREF keyword) on hold until the job seeker's start date of payment
  • record a note confirming the job seeker has deferred the offer of a referral to an employment services provider until they are subject to mutual obligation requirements. Go to Step 8

Job seeker management activities will come off hold and be allocated to a suitably skilled Service Officer.

Service Officer needs to:

• contact the job seeker once they have served their IMP and subject to mutual obligation requirements, and
• book the next available appointment with an employment services provider via the online diary, or
• negotiate a Job Plan