How to meet your mutual obligation requirements

Find out how to meet your mutual obligation requirements so you can keep getting your payment.

Meeting your requirements

To meet your mutual obligation requirements, you need to do everything you’ve agreed to do in your Job Plan. This may include:

  • participating in appointments with your employment services provider, if you have one
  • applying for jobs, if your provider requires this.

If you have job search requirements, you’ll also need to do all the following:

  • go to all job interviews
  • accept any offer of suitable paid work
  • not leave a job, training course or program, unless you have a valid reason approved by your provider
  • report any job searches you’ve completed.

Find out more about what activities you can do to fully meet your requirements.

The points target

If you have a Workforce Australia provider, you’ll have a points target.

To meet your requirements, each month you need to meet a points target. Your provider can calculate these based on your personal circumstances and local labour market conditions. You earn points for doing tasks and activities that help you to find and keep work, such as:

  • applying for jobs
  • participating in training
  • going to job interviews.

Your points target may include a minimum job search requirement. If you don’t meet your requirements, you may get a demerit or a penalty.

You can find your points target and track your progress using your Workforce Australia online account either by:

You don’t have a points target if you’re a participant in any of the following:

  • Transition to Work
  • The Remote Australia Employment Service
  • Inclusive Employment Australia.

Find out more about your points target on the Workforce Australia website, including information in your language.

Fully meeting your mutual obligation requirements

You may be able to fully meet your requirements through any of the following:

  • paid work
  • approved study
  • voluntary work
  • a combination of these activities
  • other approved activities.

If you’re fully meeting your requirements

If you’re fully meeting your requirements, you don’t need to be connected with an employment services provider, however you can choose to volunteer with one. You’ll need to negotiate a Job Plan with us.

You’ll also need to report to us about your participation in activities set out in your Job Plan each fortnight.

If you choose to volunteer with an employment services provider, you can contact one of the following services to talk about your situation:

If you get Carer Allowance

If you get Carer Allowance, you can meet your requirements by doing at least 30 hours of approved activities per fortnight. Find out more about meeting your requirements if you’re a job seeker and get Carer Allowance.

If you can’t meet your requirements

If you can’t meet your requirements, you’ll need to either:

  • let your employment services provider know, if you have one
  • call us on your regular payment line.

If you have an employment services provider, you can contact:

  • your Workforce Australia provider
  • the Digital Services Contact Centre if you’re in Workforce Australia Online
  • your Remote Australia Employment Service provider, you can find their details on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website
  • your Inclusive Employment Australia provider, you can find their details on the JobAccess website.

Paid work you can’t do

You don’t have to accept an offer of work that isn’t suitable.

This includes where you’re a principal carer any of the following apply:

  • appropriate child care isn’t available during work hours
  • the travel time from home to work is unreasonable, for example it’s more than 60 minutes one way.

Read more about what is unsuitable paid work.

Income reporting

You’ll need to report any employment income you and your partner get paid every 14 days, even if it’s $0.

You need to report your income before you can get a payment. If you have a partner, you must also report their income.

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can check your reporting dates and payments online.

Sign in to myGov

You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.

Page last updated: 27 October 2026.
QC 84764