Jobseeker Support Student Hardship - partner's obligations

Child under 3

If you have a child under 3, your partner must prepare for work, eg, get their CV ready.

Child 3-13

If you have a child between 3 and 13 years, your partner needs to look for part-time work (at least 20 hours a week).

Child over 13 or no children

Your partner needs to look for full-time work (at least 30 hours a week), unless they're:

• at least 26 weeks pregnant
• ill
• caring for a special needs child
• caring for someone who would otherwise be in hospital
• home-schooling a child.

If your partner's a student, they need to register with Student Job Search

Don't need to meet work obligations

Your partner may not need to meet their work obligations in certain circumstances, eg they're 27 weeks pregnant, or less than 27 weeks and there are complications.

If you and your partner have another child, your partner will only need to prepare for work until your child turns 1.

How to tell us

• You need to fill out a change in circumstances form.
• You'll need to provide a verified copy of your child's birth certificate.
• Log in to Connect and upload your form and verified birth certificate.

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Getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship again

If you get Jobseeker Support Student Hardship again and your child has turned 1, your partner may have a change in their work obligations, depending on the age of your next youngest child.

If your next youngest child is:

• under 3, they'll need to continue to take practical steps to prepare for work
• between 3 and 13, they'll be expected to actively seek part-time work of at least 20 hours a week and accept any suitable job
• 14 or older, they'll be expected to actively seek full-time work of at least 30 hours a week and accept any suitable job.

Your partner needs to let us know about any change in their circumstances