What your commitments are
There are things you must do to keep getting your JobSeeker Payment.
Mutual obligation requirements
If you live in Greater Brisbane, Queensland
Mutual obligation requirements are temporarily paused for job seekers in Greater Brisbane from Friday 8 January to Sunday 17 January 2021.
This applies if you live in 1 of the following local government areas:
- Brisbane
- Logan
- Redland
- Moreton Bay
- Ipswich.
During this period, no payment suspensions or financial penalties will apply if you don’t meet your requirements.
You still need to do both of these:
- report your income
- tell us about any changes to your circumstances.
You can read more about:
- Coronavirus COVID-19 information for job seekers on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website
- the affected areas on the Queensland Government website.
If you live in other territories and states including the rest of Queensland
Mutual obligation requirements are tasks and activities you agree to do while getting JobSeeker Payment from us.
You must meet all of your mutual obligation requirements.
This means doing the tasks and activities in your Job Plan. Suspensions and penalties apply if you don’t.
This may also apply if you’re getting both JobKeeper Payment and JobSeeker Payment.
If you’re in online employment services, you need to do the tasks on your dashboard.
You must attend all appointments with your provider. You can do this in any of the following ways:
- over the phone
- online
- in person, if safe to do so.
You can opt-in to get face to face services by contacting your provider. If you do, you’ll go to appointments and activities in person, if it’s safe to do so.
If you don’t want face to face servicing, you may be able to do these over the phone or online.
Read about mutual obligation requirements.
When penalties apply
There are demerits and financial penalties for not meeting your mutual obligation requirements.
This applies to you if you’re with 1 of these:
- online employment services
- jobactive
- Disability Employment Services
- ParentsNext.
If you’re in the Community Development Program, the penalties are different.
When exemptions apply
You may be exempt from mutual obligation requirements in certain circumstances. This includes if you’re:
- impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)
- a sole trader or self employed.
Read about what exemptions may apply.
Report employment income
If you get an income support payment from us, you must report any income you and your partner get. This includes JobKeeper Payment. You need to report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0. This is so we pay you the right amount.
Before you get your first payment, you need to report your and your partner’s income.
You can report your income by:
- using your Centrelink online account through myGov
- using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
- calling 133 276 (13 EARN).
You can check your reporting dates through your Centrelink online account.
When you report your income each fortnight, you’re confirming you’re meeting your mutual obligation requirements.
Read about income reporting and get help using our Centrelink online account guides.
Change of circumstances
You must tell us if things change as it may affect your JobSeeker Payment.
You can tell us using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app or your Centrelink online account through myGov.
Read about what you need to tell us.
Complete the following steps to claim JobSeeker Payment. Before you start, check if you can get it.
Page last updated: 12 January 2021
This information was printed 15 January 2021 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/jobseeker-payment/what-your-commitments-are. It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/site-notices when using this material.