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Why you need to give us a medical certificate
You need to meet your mutual obligation requirements if you’re getting Youth Allowance for job seekers.
If you’re sick or injured, you may get a temporary incapacity exemption from your requirements. You’ll need to give us a medical certificate so we can work out if we’ll either:
- give you an exemption
- reduce or change your requirements.
Read more about what happens when you give us a medical certificate.
If you can’t work or study because of coronavirus (COVID-19) you don’t need to give us a medical certificate.
We’ll give you an exemption for up to 14 days if you’re either:
- self-isolating
- caring for someone who needs to self-isolate.
Call us on the Youth and Students line to let us know. We may ask for a medical certificate after 14 days if you still need to isolate.
What information you need to give us
Your medical certificate must include all of the following information:
- what the sickness, injury or disability is
- how long it will take for you to recover
- the period you’ll be unable to work, participate or study.
It also needs to tell us if you‘re unable to do these things for at least 8 hours per week.
Types of medical certificates
There are 2 types of medical certificates you can give us, either a:
- Centrelink Medical Certificate form
- non-Centrelink medical certificate.
The preferred evidence is a Centrelink medical certificate form. This helps us assess your exemption request faster. You can get a Centrelink Medical Certificate from your doctor.
Who can complete a medical certificate
Only authorised medical doctors may complete and sign the Centrelink Medical Certificate form. A medical doctor is a person with recognised medical qualifications, such as a general practitioner, physician or surgeon. If you live in a rural or remote area without a doctor, a community nurse can complete your medical certificate.
Centrelink Medical Certificate form
Your doctor can either:
- fill the Centrelink Medical Certificate form online, or print it and complete it by hand
- give us a Centrelink Medical Certificate online using Health Professional Online Services.
Non-Centrelink Medical Certificate
Your doctor may choose to use their own form. We’ll accept it as long as it has the required details and your doctor signs it.
When to give us a medical certificate
You can do this if you’re sick or injured and you’re either:
- making a new claim for Youth Allowance for job seekers
- already getting Youth Allowance for job seekers and you’re unable to meet your mutual obligations requirements.
Applying for an exemption when you claim Youth Allowance for jobseekers
If you’re applying for an exemption when you claim, you need to let us know if either of these apply:
- you’re still doing paid work or study but you’re doing less hours because of your sickness or injury
- you’re unable to look for work because of your sickness or injury.
You can submit your medical certificate as one of your supporting documents. Read about how to submit your documents.
Applying for an exemption if you’re already getting a Youth Allowance for job seekers
You can apply for an exemption at any time.
Your medical certificate will help us work out if your sickness or injury affects your ability to either:
- do any suitable work
- participate in other activities such as online training.
How to give us your medical certificate
If your doctor gives you the completed medical certificate, you can submit it online.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to submit your medical certificate.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
If you can’t submit it online, you can either:
- send it to us
- submit it at your local service centre.
While we assess your request for an exemption, you need to keep meeting your mutual obligation requirements. This includes attending appointments with your employment services provider.