What your commitments are

Mutual obligation requirements

Mutual obligation requirements are tasks and activities you agree to do while getting JobSeeker Payment from us.

If you live in an area with lockdown restrictions

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), we’ve temporarily paused mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants that live in the following areas only:

State, Territory or Local Government Areas (LGAs)	Duration of suspension period
NSW Metro LGAs: City of Sydney Waverley Randwick Canada Bay Inner West Bayside Woollahra.	25 June 2021 to 31 August 2021
Greater Sydney and all of the following LGAs: Blue Mountains Central Coast Wollongong Shellharbour. Read more about restrictions in Greater Sydney on the NSW Government website.	27 June 2021 to 31 August 2021
South-East Queensland: Brisbane Moreton Bay Gold Coast Ipswich Lockyer Valley Logan City Noosa Redlands Scenic Rim Somerset Sunshine Coast.	31 July 2021 to 12 August 2021

During this period, no payment suspensions or financial penalties will apply if you don’t meet your mutual obligation requirements.

You should continue to check when your requirements are due after the temporary pause of mutual obligation requirements end. If you’re unable to meet your job search requirements after the temporary pause ends, you need to call either:

• your provider
• the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s Digital Services Contact Centre.

You can find more information about:

• mutual obligation requirements on the jobactive website
• advice for job seekers on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

If you live in other Australian states and territories

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.

If you’re in online employment services, you need to do the tasks on your dashboard.

You must attend all appointments with your provider.

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 one 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).

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. 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.

Next: How to claim

Complete the following steps to claim JobSeeker Payment. Before you start, check if you can get it.