JobSeeker Payment - Residence rules

We’ve removed the newly arrived resident’s waiting period for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit. This is due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you’re a newly arrived resident you may have a waiting period. This means you’d have to wait 2 or 4 years before getting this payment. There are some exemptions to the waiting period.

You must continue to meet the residence rules for as long as you get this payment.

You may be able to get JobSeeker Payment for 6 months, if you meet 2 conditions. These are that you:

hold a non-protected Special Category visa (SCV)
have lived in Australia without a break for at least 10 years right before you claim.

Non-protected SCV holders may only get JobSeeker Payment for a single period up to 6 months.

If you qualify this way, the newly arrived resident’s waiting period won’t apply.

Newly arrived resident's waiting period

If you've recently arrived as a resident in Australia, you may have to wait to get payments or concession cards.

Residence descriptions

You usually need to be an Australian resident to get a payment from us. This page explains how we define an Australian resident.

Page last updated: 27 March 2020