Exemptions from mutual obligation requirements for refugees 005-02050040

The holders of a refugee, special humanitarian or protection visa subclass will have a 13 week mutual obligation requirements exemption.

When the customer’s visa subclass is entered on the Legal Residence Information (RSLEG) screen and their Country of Residence (CRES) screen is updated during new claim processing, an automatic 13 week exemption from mutual obligation requirements code of 'REF' (refugee in first 13 weeks in Australia) appears on the Activity and Exemption Summary (AEX) screen.

See Refugee and special humanitarian visa sub-classes.

Note: a manual workaround is needed at the new claim interview to change the exemption to 11 weeks and 6 days. This will allow completion of the Job Plan at the 12 week appointment.

Service Officers are required to change the reporting frequency from the default of 2 weekly to 12 weekly, for refugee customers who have a 'REF' exemption on the AEX screen immediately following their grant of payment.

Note: the only time the frequency of reporting cannot be changed is if the customer contacts on their Entitlement Period End Day (EPED). If the customer contacts on their EPED:

• set up a review DOC so that variable lodgement can be actioned the following day
• record details on a DOC

Customers who have an exemption from mutual obligation requirements of two weeks or more applied within four weeks of the date of claim for:

• major personal crisis
• caring responsibilities
• Refugee first 12 weeks
• remote location, or
• Community Service Order

will be required to attend an appointment with a Service Officer to see if they may be eligible for further assistance such as:

• Social Worker
• Financial Information Officer

If the customer is enrolled in Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), the AMEP activity will update automatically on the AEX screen when the Job Plan is updated.

Note: a further 13 week exemption from mutual obligation requirements is available for holders of a refugee or special humanitarian visa who are in Special Preparatory Programme (SPP) for AMEP.