What counts as work
Work is either:
- paid work on a day when you have worked for at least one hour
- paid leave, such as sick leave, annual leave and paid maternity leave.
We won’t count unpaid leave or paid out leave entitlements. This includes unpaid maternity leave.
Apart from full time work, you could also do any of the following:
- be a part time, casual or seasonal worker
- be a contractor or self-employed
- have multiple employers
- have recently changed jobs or left a job
- have worked overseas
- work in a family business.
If you work for a family business, you can include your work hours even if the business doesn’t make an income. You must be working for financial gain or benefit, even if you’re not getting paid.
All of the following also count as work:
- previous periods of Parental Leave Pay or Dad and Partner Pay - each day you’re paid counts as 7.6 hours
- jury service
- Defence Reservist work
- periods of workers or accident compensation related to your employment
- Supported Employment at an Australian Disability Enterprise
- operating a business under Self-Employment Assistance.
Read more about:
- Supported Employment on the Department of Social Services website
- Self-Employment Assistance on the Workforce Australia website.
When you claim online you'll need to add up your hours of work and any other activities that count as work. This will help us figure out if you meet the work test requirements.