Mutual obligation requirements for principal carers of dependent children over the Christmas/New year period 001-09020090

Principal carer has not met their mutual obligation requirements.

If the principal carer has not met their mutual obligation requirements:

• in the fortnight that contains the Christmas Day public holiday, go to Step 2
• and advises that they will not have employment over the Christmas/New Year school holiday period, go to Step 3
• at any other time, see Reviewing mutual requirements for the principal carer of a dependent child

Principal carers have no mutual obligation requirements to undertake within the fortnight that the Christmas Day public holiday falls.

Advise customer that they will not be required to meet their mutual obligation requirements in the fortnight that contains the Christmas Day public holiday only.

Is the principal carer due to report?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 6

Customer advises of temporary closure of regular employment over Christmas/New Year school holiday period.

A principal carer meeting their requirements by undertaking part-time work or a combination of part-time work and study, who advises that they will not have any work over the Christmas school holiday period due to their employment temporarily closing down, may not be required to undertake other activities such as job search.

An allowable break provision will apply if:

• the customer has an approved activity of Paid Work (PTW) or Study and Paid Work (Combined) (SPW) on the Activity and Exemption Summary (AEX) screen
• the customer's employment temporarily ceases over the Christmas/New Year school holiday period
• the closure is out of the customer’s control
• the customer can expect to return to their normal hours of employment when business resumes in the new year
• verification can be provided by the customer that employment will resume. This can be verification from the employer or past employment history may be used to show a pattern of work

If the customer meets these conditions (regardless of whether the closure is foreseeable or unforeseen), advise that they will not be required to meet their normal mutual obligation requirements for the duration of the closure (up to a maximum period of 8 weeks).

Code the allowable break from the customer's approved activity on the AEX screen, using the code 'EAB' (Employment - Allowable Break). The start and end dates to use on the AEX screen are the start and end dates of the business closure. A maximum of 8 weeks across the whole holiday period for this code is allowed, meaning if there are multiple breaks coded, a maximum total of 8 weeks will be allowed.

Note: this is not an exemption, and the customer is still required to have a Job Plan in place.

Is the principal carer due to report?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 6

Check the Report is complete

A report must still be lodged for the fortnight to report any income earned, and any changes in circumstances.

However, the customer does not have to complete the required hours of their normal agreed activity, or the required number of job search contacts, to meet their requirements for the fortnight.

If the customer has met part of their requirements there will be no additional activities required for the fortnight, or any potential failure investigated.

Process Reporting Statement if required and go to Step 6.

Advise the customer of their mutual obligation requirements at the end of the holiday period.

Advise the customer that they will be required to return to fully meeting their mutual obligation requirements at the end of the Christmas Day public holiday fortnight, or employment closure period or at the end of the maximum 8 week period.

Customers who have not returned to their normal employment at the end of their maximum allowed break duration will no longer be able to be considered to be meeting their requirements and will be required to renegotiate their Job Plan.