Commencing or returning to work 102-09010000

Under Continuing Inability to Work (CITW) qualification provisions, DSP recipients must be unable to work for 15 hours per week at award wages or above or 30 hours per week if in the DSP grandfathered group or the DSP transition group before their first review from 1 July 2006. However, customers engaged in Disability Employment Services (DES) under the Employment Support Service program who are receiving moderate or high ongoing support, are exempt from these hours per week restrictions.

When customers commence work or have a change to their participation in DES, it will be necessary to check their continuing eligibility. Customers who return to work (or have an increase in income which precludes payment) may have their payment suspended if they advise within the notification period or cancelled (but deemed suspended) if they advise outside the notification period.

In most cases DSP is suspended for two years when a customer commences employment. During this period the customer is able to claim an alternate income support payment if they meet all the eligibility requirements. Note: from 1 July 2012, DSP customers may work up to 30 hours per week and indefinitely remain on DSP (previously this was 15 hours), irrespective of the date of grant, as long as they remain otherwise qualified, such as meeting the income test. DSP customers who were previously suspended or cancelled due to working over 15 hours per week can test their eligibility for payment under the new rules allowing work of up to 30 hours per week. If these customers contact within 13 weeks of 1 July 2012, their payment may be restored from 1 July 2012. Customers who contact after 13 weeks of 1 July 2012 will be restored from the date of contact.

CP customers do not lose eligibility due to work until the total duration of all work, study or training activities exceeds 25 hours per week (including travel time.) If a CP recipient advises of commencement of work, it will be necessary to check their continuing eligibility.

CA customers, who advise commencing or returning to work, must still be providing care and attention on a daily basis in the home of the carer and the care receiver in order to continue to qualify for the payment. Further information is in the Social Security Guide at 1.1.C.10 'Care and attention on a daily basis (CA)'. The References page contains a link to the Guide.

FTB customers must revise their current income estimate and be advised of choices available to help reduce the chance of an overpayment during the reconciliation process. Parents must also advise a return to work after a period caring for a child to benefit from the FTB Part B quarantine.

JSP customers must advise whether they are now fit to perform the full duties of their last job. If the customer is undertaking a graduated return to work, JSP may still be paid subject to the Income Test.

SpB recipients have a direct deduction income test with no income free area. Customers receiving SpB are not eligible for Working Credit because they are subject to a different Income Test.