Mutual Obligation Requirements
Mutual Obligation Requirements are the tasks and/or activities clients agree to do in return for their income support payment.
Clients will have mutual obligation requirements (obligations) if receiving certain income support payments. Payments include:
Jobseeker Payment
Youth Allowance for job seekers
Parenting Payment after your youngest child turns six (6)
Special Benefit paid under certain conditions.
Obligations are tasks and activities clients agree to do to help find a job and receive their payment. Mutual obligation requirements apply to both clients with Workforce Australia Online and Workforce Australia Employment Service Providers.
Clients agree to their obligations when they agree to their Job Plan. Penalties may apply if they do not meet them.
Services Australia may temporarily suspend a client’s obligations in certain circumstances. Check Pause of Obligations for further information.
Better Targeted Assistance for Clients with Employment Barriers
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has been conducting research with employment service participants who have identified barriers to employment. The research aims to better understand their issues and needs.
Outcomes from this research informs continual improvement in the delivery of services under Workforce Australia.
This research has seen the implementation of the changes below to service delivery.
Principal Carer Parents (PCP), Clients with a Partial Capacity to Work (PCW), and Clients who are 55 years and over
Clients in these cohorts:
who are fully meeting their obligations through approved activities (paid work, approved study, volunteering, or a combination of these activities), and
the activity is expected to continue for at least 13 weeks
will be exited from employment services (unless they choose to remain connected to their provider to continue receiving employment services support as a voluntary client).
Clients in Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) will also be affected. However, those in IEA services who are eligible for ongoing and post-placement support would not be removed from their provider’s caseload.
These clients will be supported by Services Australia and will continue to meet their mutual obligations through a Services Australia Job Plan. They will also report directly to Services Australia – and not anyone else – on their participation in their activities. They will no longer be contacted by employment services providers or referred to other activities.
Newly Arrived Refugees
Newly arrived refugees receiving activity tested income support are not required to participate in Workforce Australia Services in their first 12 months in Australia, but they can volunteer if they wish.
Newly arrived refugees can choose to participate in employment services with a provider at any time, including during the 'Refugee First 13 weeks in Australia' exemption period. However, clients in Workforce Australia Online cannot commence in that service until after the 13 weeks exemption.
In both cases their participation in employment services is not compellable during the first 12 months on income support.
After the first 12 months, normal mutual obligations may apply and most individuals will be required to participate in Employment Services, including agreeing to their Workforce Australia Job Plan.
At the Initial Appointment, Workforce Australia Services Providers can identify a newly arrived refugee if they are currently assisted by a Humanitarian Settlement Program provider.
In addition, they should have a Refugee First 13 weeks in Australia exemption, a Services Australia Job Plan and a Refugee Activity coded on the referral history screen.
The Refugee Activity will also display on the Mutual obligations screen found in the Servicing and Eligibility section.
If Providers identify a newly arrived refugee without an approved Services Australia Job Plan and/or missing an appropriately coded Refugee Activity, they should contact their Provider Lead to have these coded onto their record. Failure to do so will make the person subject to Mutual Obligations including PBAS inappropriately.
If a newly arrived refugee wishes to voluntarily participate in Workforce Australia Services, they can be commenced simply by recording their attendance at an initial appointment. Providers must not replace the Services Australia Job Plan with a Workforce Australia Services Job Plan (If this occurs, contact the Provider Lead).
Newly arrived refugees who do not wish to voluntarily participate in Workforce Australia Services during this period can be exited by your Provider Lead.
The same arrangements apply to people who are Nominated Visa holders in their first 13 weeks, who will be identified on the Referral history screen with a Newly Released NVH (First 13 wks) exemption.
For more information visit Better targeting of assistance for participants with employment barriers - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government
Points Based Activation System (PBAS)
For individuals getting income support with mutual obligation requirements, Workforce Australia includes a Points Based Activation System (PBAS).
PBAS gives clients more choice and flexibility in how they meet their obligations each monthly reporting period. They will complete tasks and activities to earn the points they need to meet their individually tailored points target.
The month of a client’s reporting period will vary for each individual. Clients can confirm their reporting date via MyGov or with their provider.
The PBAS does not apply to clients in Transition to Work, Parent Pathways, Inclusive Employment Australia or the Community Development Program.
A full list of PBAS Activity Values and examples of activities can be found at How to Earn Points
A Provider may increase the values of these tasks or Activities through a personal circumstances credit to reflect the individual circumstances of the client and the task or Activity they are doing.
The minimum Job Search Requirement can be tailored for clients undertaking these Activities based on the individual circumstances of the client. This needs to be discussed with the provider at a client’s appointment.
Clients undertaking these Activities are not required to complete the minimum Job Search Requirement. This requirement will be automatically reduced in the Department’s IT Systems upon confirmation of the first day of attendance at the Activity.
Clients will receive a once-off bonus the first time an applicable activity is booked. This applies to Workforce Australia Online clients only.