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Commencing, returning to work or self-employment Parenting Payment (PP) 102-07030090



This document outlines the details a customer getting Parenting Payment Partnered (PPP) or Parenting Payment Single (PPS) must provide when they and/or their partner start or return to work. It also explains:

  • the effect their employment will have on their payment
  • any extra help that may be available

Customer advises of employment details and income

Table 1

Step

Action

1

PP customer and/or their partner has started or returned to full-time, part-time or casual employment + Read more ...

When a customer or their partner starts work, and are:

  • a notification reporter, they must advise Services Australia within 14 days
  • a statement reporter, they must advise on their Entitlement Period End Day (EPED) of any paid employment income

Discuss the importance of reporting correctly, including:

  • declaring the gross amount paid if they are employees, and
  • notification obligations if they are self-employed

Family assistance and income support reporting obligations are different:

  • Income support customers must report actual income paid, not just an estimate. Service Officers must:
    • discuss income reporting requirements at every opportunity
    • update both actual income paid and family assistance income estimates (when required)
  • If either member of a couple is receiving family assistance, their estimate must include:
    • income support payments received
    • employment income
    • any other components of adjusted taxable income (received or expected) for the financial year for both members of the couple

The customer may be eligible for an employment income nil rate period if PP is reduced to nil and some of the income is employment income. Advantages include that:

  • payments continue without the need to reclaim if the customer's income reduces and they become eligible for at least a part rate of PP
  • payment of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is at the non-income tested rate
  • customer stays entitled to a concession card

The customer may be entitled to a Special Employment Advance (SEA) if they or their partner have started working.

If the customer contacts and advises they have started:

2

Customer requests cancellation of PP + Read more ...

If the customer and/or their partner has started work/self-employment and asks to cancel their PP:

  • make sure the customer understands the benefits of employment income nil rate period and using their Working Credit balance
  • if known, code the employment income
  • code the cancellation via the Benefit Action (BA) screen using reason CLR (Withdrawn/Voluntary Surrender) with the correct date of effect (DOE). This is the Entitlement Period Start Day (EPSD) of the period the customer has requested their payment to stop. For more details, see Cancellation of Parenting Payment (PP)
  • if the customer is partnered and the partner receives a payment, consider the impacts to their payment and any follow up that may be needed
  • record details on a DOC on the customer's record detailing all action taken. Clearly state:
    • customer has been advised of possible entitlement to employment income nil rate period but insisted on cancellation, and
    • reason for decision to cancel
  • complete the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen

Procedure ends here.

3

Customer and/or their partner started or returned to self-employment + Read more ...

When the customer and/or their partner advises they have started or returned to self-employment employment, Service Officer must first establish if they are self-employed or an employee by considering the Factors to determine self-employment.

Is the customer and/or their partner self-employed?

4

Customer and/or their partner has started work other than self-employment + Read more ...

Is the customer and/or their partner advising employment income on or after their current Entitlement Period End Day (EPED) date?

5

Customer advising income for future Entitlement Period End Day (EPED) + Read more ...

If the customer’s employment income pay date is not within the current entitlement period but they have started work:

Are they Parenting Payment Single (PPS) customers?

6

Employment details available on EPED date and/or for previous periods + Read more ...

If the details are available:

  • record the employment details, see Recording and correcting employment income details
  • place the customer on reporting if they are not already a statement reporter, see Reporting screens
  • update their Families Estimate if their income has changed since the last estimate was provided. Note: it must include employment income, income support payments and any other income

Are they Parenting Payment Single (PPS) customers?

7

Employment details not available on EPED date and/or for previous periods + Read more ...

If the details are not available:

  • place the customer on statement reporting, see Reporting screens
  • tell the customer they must report their employment income before their next payment can be made
  • discuss how to report employment income online or via the phone self service line. See Employment income options online and Reporting using phone self service
  • discuss eligibility for Special Employment Advance (SEA) if they are receiving Parenting Payment Single (PPS) payment

For customers who have started work and were paid earnings for previous EPED/s:

  • issue a Request for Information (RFI), requesting payslips from the date they started employment. See Requesting information (CLK)
  • suspend the payment if the customer did not provide employment income details within the time allowed to respond. See Suspension of Parenting Payment (PP)
  • record a DOC on customer's record detailing all action taken and reason for decision to suspend

Procedure ends here.

8

Parenting Payment Single (PPS) customer subject to Mutual Obligation requirements + Read more ...

PPS customers are subject to compulsory part time mutual obligation requirements when their youngest child turns 6 years old.

To fully meet their mutual obligation requirements they must undertake part time paid work (PTW) of at least 15 hours per week at the national minimum wage or above.

When the customer advises they have started work, they may be required to update their job plan. For: