Commencing or returning to self-employment for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance and Austudy 102-08030000

Francis is in receipt of JobSeeker Payment (JSP). Francis is regarded as a computer whiz and has a good idea for setting up a computer consultancy business. Francis wants to know about available assistance. An appointment should be booked with a Service Officer for Francis to discuss available options.

Things to discuss with Francis

• The availability of Self-Employment Assistance and the possibility that such a program can provide the skills required to set up a business
• The availability of short courses if Francis is interested in skills upgrading
• Mutual obligation requirements must still be satisfied if Francis remains on JSP and operates a business at the same time, unless the self-employment can be approved as an activity to fully meet the mutual obligation requirements
• The effect any business income will have on JSP
• Explain Working Credits to Francis and how employment income is treated as Francis may have income other than from self-employment
• Tell Francis to declare any income from the business once operational
• Offer information about state based small business organisations
• If Francis continues to receive JSP, and is over 55 years of age, a principal carer, assessed as having a partial capacity to work (PCW) or receives Carer Allowance (CA) and is working in the business 30 hours per fortnight and the net business income after allowable deductions is equal to or greater than the minimum wage, Francis will be as assessed as fully meeting their requirements and becomes Centrelink managed
• If Francis does not want to be on JSP any longer, advise that the payments will be cancelled

Actions to take for Francis

• If Francis wants to participate in Self-Employment Assistance, see Self-Employment Assistance
• If Francis wants to know if the self-employment can be approved as an activity to fully meet the mutual obligation requirements, see Self-employment as an approved activity to satisfy mutual obligation requirements
• If Francis' self-employment is not an approved activity:
• apply the mutual obligation requirements
• reclassify Francis's Job Seeker Snapshot result, see Conducting a Job Seeker Snapshot interview
• assess Francis' business income once operational
• explain to Francis how the income test works, see Income Test for single allowance customers
• if Francis no longer wishes to remain on JSP, then cancel the payment