Income rules for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship
If you get any income, you need to tell us straight away as it could affect how much you get for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.
Important information
If you don’t tell us about your income, we may pay you too much and you'll have a debt to pay back.
Effect on payments
If you're single and don't have children, you can earn up to $80 a week before tax, before it affects your Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.
Once you earn over $80 a week before tax, your payment reduces by 70 cents for every extra $1 of income you earn.
Have a partner
If you have a partner and you're both getting, or entitled to get, a benefit in your own right (other than Veteran's Pension) then:
- you can jointly earn up to $80 a week before tax, before it affects your Jobseeker Support Student Hardship
- each of your benefits is reduced by 35 cents for every $1 of income you and your partner earn over $80 a week before tax.
Sole parents
If you're a sole parent, you can earn up to $100 a week before tax, before your benefit is affected.
Once you earn over $100 a week before tax any:
- income you get between $100 and $200 a week before tax will reduce your benefit by 30 cents for each $1 of income
- income you get over $200 a week before tax will reduce your benefit by 70 cents for every $1 of income.
If you're paying for childcare, you can earn up to $20 a week more than these limits before your payment is affected.
Example
If you get $150 before tax, the first $100 won't affect your benefit. The $50 you earn after this will reduce your benefit by 30 cents for each $1. This means your benefit will be reduced by $15.
How to tell us
Email us with 'Declare Income' as your topic or call us
You need to tell us each week that your income changes. You need to tell us by the Sunday of the week you earn it or you may have a debt to pay back.
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