Jobseeker Support reapplication changes

28 March 2025.

From 1 July 2025, there will be changes to the Jobseeker Support reapplication timeframe and process. There will also be changes for sole parents and 'grandparented' clients on Jobseeker Support.

These are proposed changes only. They are subject to the passing of the Social Security Amendment Bill.

From 1 July 2025, people will only get Jobseeker Support for 26 weeks (6 months) before they need to reapply. Currently people need to reapply every 52 weeks (1 year).

Information

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025, your next reapplication may still be at 52 weeks before you move to a 26-week reapplication. It depends on your situation.

There will be additional changes for 2 groups of people already on Jobseeker Support. These people are:

  • sole parents who are the primary caregiver and whose youngest dependent child is 14-18 years, and
  • people who are 'grandparented' - by this we mean people who:
    • were getting Domestic Purposes Benefit - Women Alone or Widow's Benefit before 15 July 2013, and
    • transferred to Jobseeker Support on 15 July 2013 and have remained on this benefit since then.

You can read about all the changes in more detail below.

From 1 July 2025, people will need to reapply every 26 weeks (6 months) for Jobseeker Support, instead of every 52 weeks. This means we'll check in more regularly to make sure you're getting the right support to find or prepare for work.

Information

We'll let you know when you need to reapply.

You'll get a notification in MyMSD 25 working days before you need to reapply and we'll send you a letter.

If you have a health condition, injury or disability, you would have provided a medical certificate. This change doesn't impact when you have to provide another medical certificate. That's based on the length of your medical coverage, not when you have to reapply.

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025, your next reapplication may still be at 52 weeks before you move to a 26-week reapplication. It depends on your situation.

For most clients, if your benefit was last granted:

  • before 4 February 2025, you will reapply at 52 weeks from when it was last granted, and then every 26 weeks after that.
  • on or after 4 February 2025, you will reapply at 26 weeks from when it was last granted, and then every 26 weeks after that.

If you're a sole parent who is the primary caregiver or a 'grandparented' client, you will reapply at 52 weeks from when it was last granted. Then you'll need to reapply every 26 weeks after that.

From 1 July 2025, there will be changes to the Jobseeker Support reapplication process.

If we've recently talked with you about your situation and what you're doing to find or prepare for work, then:

  • you may find some of the answers in the reapplication form are pre-filled, and
  • you may not have to meet with us after submitting your online reapplication.

If you do need to meet with us, you may be able to choose between going to a seminar or an appointment. If you have a partner who's also getting Jobseeker Support, you'll need to attend an appointment together.

From 1 July 2025, there will be additional changes for 2 groups of people already on Jobseeker Support. These people are:

  • sole parents who are the primary caregiver and whose youngest dependent child is 14-18 years, and
  • people who are 'grandparented' - by this we mean people who:
    • were getting Domestic Purposes Benefit - Women Alone or Widow's Benefit before 15 July 2013, and
    • transferred to Jobseeker Support on 15 July 2013 and have remained on this benefit since then.

These changes are:

  • the annual income assessment will become a weekly income assessment, and
  • the temporary employment period will no longer be available. Currently, this allows people in certain situations to work full-time for a temporary period and keep getting Jobseeker Support.

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025, these changes won't start until you next reapply for this benefit (at 52 weeks from when it was last granted).

Income assessments

An annual income assessment means we assess your income over 52 weeks. 

This will change to a weekly income assessment. You'll have to tell us about your income as you earn it. The amount you earn may affect your benefit payment.

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025

You will stay on an annual income assessment until you next reapply for Jobseeker Support (at 52 weeks). Then you will switch to a weekly income assessment. 

Declare income

Temporary employment periods

Generally, to get Jobseeker Support people must not be working full-time (30 hours or more a week). However, the temporary employment period means you can work full-time for up to 26 weeks and continue to get your benefit. You can do this as long as your income over a 52-week period doesn’t reduce your benefit to $0.

The changes mean this will no longer be available.

If you're already getting Jobseeker Support on 1 July 2025

If you’re working full-time for a temporary period, you can keep getting Jobseeker Support until you next reapply. After that, the temporary employment period will no longer be available. This means if you’re working full-time, you won’t be able to get Jobseeker Support.

Jobseeker Support