Meeting obligations

When you get a payment from us, you have obligations. Find out what you need to do to keep getting your payment.

We know looking for work can be hard, but we can help with payments and services.

Payments you can get

You may be eligible for one of our 3 main job seeker payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment is for when you’re looking for work and you’re 22 and over. It’s also for when you’re sick or injured and can’t do your usual work or study for a short time.
  • Parenting Payment is if you’re the main carer of a young child or children.
  • Youth Allowance for job seekers is for when you’re looking for work and you’re 16 to 21. It’s also for when you’re completing study or unable to work for a short time.

For more information about the support you can get when you’re unemployed, read about getting a payment.

Mutual obligation requirements

While you’re looking for work and getting a payment from us, there are tasks and activities you have to do. These are your mutual obligation requirements. These requirements will help you find a job.

If you’re referred to Workforce Australia, you may have to meet a monthly points target to meet these requirements.

If you’re job seeking

You’ll need to meet your requirements to keep getting your payment. Mutual obligation requirements are compulsory and there are penalties if you don’t meet them. Read more about how to meet your obligations.

If you’re a principal carer or aged 55 or over, you may have different mutual obligation requirements.

If you’re getting Disability Support Pension and are under 35, you have participation requirements.

If you’re a compulsory participant in ParentsNext, you’ll need to meet your participation requirements.

Meeting mutual obligation requirements while home schooling

Home schooling may affect your ability to meet your mutual obligation requirements if you’re getting certain income support payments from us.

If you’re a principal carer, and home schooling a dependent child, you may be exempt from these requirements. The exemption may be granted for up to 12 months at a time. Read more about exemptions from mutual obligation requirements for principal carers.

Meeting your requirements

To meet your requirements, you’ll need to regularly report your income to us and mutual obligation requirements to your employment services provider. If you’re self-managing through Workforce Australia Online, you can do this via your homepage on the Workforce Australia website.

If you’re referred to Workforce Australia, you may have to reach your points target each month to meet your requirements. You’ll earn points by doing tasks and activities.

The number of points you need to reach each month is based on your personal circumstances and local labour market conditions.

If you’re with a provider, they’ll set the monthly points target based on your personal circumstances.

Read more about your points target on the Workforce Australia website.

How to report to us

You can report your employment income:

Before you can use the Centrelink reporting line, you’ll need to create a voiceprint.

To learn how to report your employment income using your Centrelink online account, read Centrelink online account help - report employment income.

How to report to your employment services provider

If you have an employment services provider, you can contact them to report your requirements.

If you’re with Workforce Australia, you must report the completion of tasks or attendance at activities to earn points towards your points target.

You can report your points by using either:

  • your Workforce Australia homepage
  • the Workforce Australia mobile app.

You can sign in to your Workforce Australia online account through myGov.

You can also contact your Workforce Australia Employment Services Provider to report your points, if you have one.

You’ll get prompts in the Your tasks section on your Workforce Australia homepage reminding you to report your tasks and activities. You can sign in to your Workforce Australia online account through myGov.

You can also track your progress towards meeting your points target on your Workforce Australia homepage.

If you’re in Disability Employment Services or in the Community Development Program, you don’t have a points target.

Complete Centrelink updates online

You don’t always need to call or visit us to change your Centrelink details.

You can save time by completing updates online using either:

Other things you can do online include any of the following:

Page last updated: 16 September 2022