The principal carer of a dependent child is unable to meet their agreed activities 007-04080020

As part of the Participation Interview, a job seeker's job readiness, competitiveness and capability to look for and accept work will be determined.

Principal carers with part-time mutual obligation requirements are required to enter into a Job Plan which details the activities the job seeker is required to undertake to help them find work. This may include looking for suitable paid work of at least 15 hours per week and participating with an Employment Services Provider.

Note: ParentsNext participants do not have mutual obligation requirements. For more information on exemptions from ParentsNext participation requirements, see ParentsNext exits and exemptions.

A principal carer a job seeker may fully satisfy their mutual obligation requirements through undertaking approved activities such as suitable paid work, approved study, or a combination of paid work and study, for at least 15 hours per week. Principal carers who fully satisfy their mutual obligation requirements will normally be suspended from their Employment Services Provider and be managed by Centrelink.

Other programs and activities such as voluntary work, Self-Employment Assistance and Work for the Dole (WFD) can be accessed and approved by the job seeker's Employment Services Provider.

An exemption from mutual obligation requirements for a certain period of time may be appropriate due to short term changes in the job seeker's circumstances.

Principal carers may also be granted a long term exemption due to special family circumstances.

Job seekers are not required to agree to a Job Plan while they are exempt from mutual obligation requirements.

Parenting Payment Partnered job seekers are not subject to mutual obligation requirements due to the age of their dependent children and may volunteer to participate in activities to prepare for work. There is no compliance action if they do not meet the Job Plan inclusions.

Where the job seeker advises they are unable to participate in their agreed activities, they will need to renegotiate their Job Plan with either Centrelink (if they are Centrelink managed) or their provider.

Service Officers may grant an exemption from mutual obligation requirements to both Centrelink and provider managed job seekers for a period of time, if the job seeker's circumstances support this decision. If an exemption is not a suitable option and the job seeker is provider managed, they should discuss their situation with their provider. The provider will decide whether it is appropriate to amend the Job Plan.

Some principal carers are deemed to be meeting their mutual obligation requirements through suitable paid work or other agreed activities. If a principal carer has mutual obligation requirements and can no longer fully meet those requirements, they must be referred to an Employment Services Provider.

Service Officers should consider the following when re-negotiating Job Plans for Centrelink managed job seekers:

• the reasons why the job seeker is unable to undertake their activities
• additional support that may be available to support the job seeker to undertake their activities
• alternate activities that will fully meet mutual obligation requirements

Job Seekers who cannot participate in the requirements agreed to in their Job Plan are required to contact Centrelink or their provider to discuss their situation and the reasons why they are not able to meet their requirements.

If the job seeker is Centrelink managed and unable to comply with requirements included in their Job Plan, consider:

• the reasons why the job seeker is unable to comply with the Job Plan, including both individual and family circumstances
• the job seeker's capacity to undertake participation activities
• if the terms of the Job Plan are reasonable, and
• additional support required to achieve participation outcome

If the job seeker is provider managed, they should discuss their mutual obligation requirements with their provider.

Job seekers with participation mutual obligation requirements who do not take reasonable steps to undertake requirements in their Job Plan and who do not have undisclosed vulnerabilities may face penalties.