What your commitments are

Mutual obligation requirements

Mutual obligation requirements are tasks and activities you agree to do while getting Youth Allowance as a job seeker.

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.

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to report your income.

Sign in to myGov

You can also report your income by:

• using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
• calling 133 276 (13 EARN).

You can check your reporting dates through your Centrelink online account.

Read about income reporting and get help using our Centrelink online account guides.

If you want to report your partner’s income online, you’ll need permission to enquire or have a nominee arrangement.

If you need to report employment income and it reduces your payment to $0, you’ll start a nil rate payment period.

What a nil rate payment period is

If you report employment income and your total income is over the cut off point, your Youth Allowance as a job seeker reduces to $0. We call this a nil rate payment period. You can have up to 12 fortnights in a row of $0 payment before we’ll suspend or cancel your payment.

This applies if you either:

• work more than 35 hours in a week
• take up full time work.

Your total income must include:

• your income
• your partner’s income
• your combined income.

If we pay you at least $1 before the end of the 12 fortnights, we won’t suspend or cancel your payment.

You must continue to report your income fortnightly to us so we can apply the nil rate payment period. If you have a partner, this applies to their income as well.

If your total income reported is below the cut off point within the nil rate payment period, we’ll automatically restart your payments. You won’t need to submit a new claim or serve any waiting periods.

If you’re getting a supplementary benefit or hold a concession card, these won’t be affected in a nil rate payment period.

To learn more about cut off points read about the personal income test for Youth Allowance as a job seeker.

Change of circumstances

You need to let us know if there’s a change in your circumstances. You should also regularly check the information in your Centrelink online account is correct. This is so we can make sure we pay you the right amount. If we pay you too much you’ll get a debt you need to pay back.

Changes may include:

• a change in your relationship status
• a change in your income
• moving house or changing living arrangements
• a change to your or your partner’s income or financial assets more than $2,000
• you or your partner open or close a bank account
• buying or selling a car, house or assets.

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to tell us about changes to your circumstances.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.

You can also tell us using Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

Read about what you need to tell us if your circumstances change.