Residence assessment for customers claiming JobSeeker Payment (JSP) 001-19051536
Expand allLone parent exemption examples
Scenario 1
Olivia, her partner Grace and their 15 year old daughter Amelia were granted permanent residence visas and moved to Australia to live on 15 March 2025. On 11 December 2026 Olivia lodged a claim for JobSeeker Payment (JSP) advising she had separated on 1 December 2026 and she was now the principal carer of Amelia.
Olivia is eligible for a lone parent exemption as she:
- was not a lone parent on the start date of her current period as an Australian resident (15 March 2025), and
- is the principal carer of a dependent child, and
- separated from her partner after the start date of her current period as an Australian resident
Olivia meets the residence requirements for JSP as she is an Australian resident (she holds a permanent residence visa and is residing in Australia) and has an exemption from the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) under the lone parent exemption.
Scenario 2
Leo and their 16 year old child Archie, permanent residence visa holders, moved to Australia to live on 19 June 2024. Leo became partnered to Jack on 5 September 2024 and they moved in together on 6 January 2025. They then separated on 1 March 2026. On 5 March 2026 Leo submitted a claim for JobSeeker Payment (JSP).
Leo is not eligible for a lone parent exemption. Although Leo is not a member of a couple and is the principal carer of a dependent child, they cannot meet the lone parent exemption as they were a lone parent on the start date of their current period as an Australian resident.
Leo is required to serve the NARWP or have an exemption from the NARWP for another reason, before being eligible for JSP.
Scenario 3
Evelyn, her husband Robbie and their 15 year old son Gilbert were granted temporary visas and came to Australia on 5 September 2025, with the intention to live in Australia indefinitely. When they arrived, they applied for permanent residence visas. On 21 August 2026, Evelyn and Robbie separate and Evelyn becomes the principal carer of Gilbert. On 10 October 2026 Evelyn’s permanent visa is granted, and on 15 October 2026 she claims Parenting Payment Single (PPS).
Evelyn is not eligible for the lone parent exemption. She became an 'Australian resident' on 10 October 2026 when she was granted her permanent visa (as she was also residing in Australia) – this is the start date of her current period as an Australian resident. Therefore, as Evelyn separated from Robbie on 21 August 2026, she was a lone parent before the start date of her current period as an Australian resident.
Evelyn is required to serve the NARWP or have an exemption from the NARWP for another reason, before being eligible for PPS.