Participation requirements for Disability Support Pension (DSP) customers under 35 years of age 008-03090000

Customers with compulsory participation requirements must participate in a compulsory work-focused activity designed to help them prepare for and find work. This is in addition to the requirement to attend regular participation interviews and enter into a Participation Plan. DSP payments may be suspended or cancelled if customers do not comply with their requirements.

To decide on activities the customer will do to improve economic participation they must:

• attend a DSP initial participation interview to receive information about payments, programs and local services in line with the customer's individual circumstances and capacity
• develop a Disability Support Pension (DSP) Participation Plan. The plan will include:
  • at least one compulsory work focused activity that the customer has agreed to participate in (such as Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA))
  • voluntary activities if the customer wants to include these in the plan
  • the requirement to attend follow-up DSP participation interviews
• attend follow-up DSP participation interviews as needed, and
• review the DSP plan at every participation interview or at the customer's request

DSP participation interviews are conducted:

• quarterly for the first 18 months (starting on the day of the first interview), and
• every 6 months, or
• every 12 months for customers who are working/reporting income

Exceptions for not attending DSP participation interviews include customers:

• with a temporary exemption from DSP participation requirements
• under 35 years of age without DSP compulsory participation requirements and volunteer to participate. For these customers, attendance at participation interviews, entering into a Participation Plan and participation in activities are not compulsory

DSP customers engaged in employment in the open labour market are required to attend an initial participation interview and agree to a DSP Participation Plan. The customer may need attend an annual follow-up participation interview. If no income has been reported for 6 weeks or more the customer will re-enter the normal participation cycle.

DSP customers who are studying need to attend:

• an initial participation interview and agree to a DSP Participation Plan
• interviews every three or six months depending on where they are in the interview cycle

DSP customers under 35 years of age without DSP compulsory participation requirements can choose to participate voluntarily. They may choose to develop a DSP Participation Plan with voluntary activities and attend participation interviews, however there is no compulsory requirement to do so.

Some customers may be eligible for other payments such as:

• Mobility Allowance
• Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
• Education Entry Payment (EdEP)