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Work homepage
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Overview
Find out what services we can offer to help you find work and when you start a new job.
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Looking for work
We have jobs available now in various industries and you can search on our job websites.
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Help with your job search
From advice on making a plan, to tips on where to look and following up leads.
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Training and experience
Our programmes can help you get ready for work with training and work experience.
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Job Connect on Facebook
Find out how we can help you get ready to work, find work, and support available while you're working.
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CVs and cover letters
We’ve got great templates and advice for writing your CV or cover letter, and filling out job applications.
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Help with work costs
Get help to pay for the things you need to start work
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Job support and advice
Get all the support and advice you need to stay in work.
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Health and disability
If you want to work, we can support you to find the right job for you.
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Start your own business
We can help you get your business up and running.
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Job interviews
Get advice about how to prepare for and deliver a great interview.
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Help for 16-19 year olds
We’ve got extra support for young people to get ready for work and find a job.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
Food, school costs, power, accommodation or other living expenses you need help with
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Relationship changes
You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
Counselling, prescription and GP costs, medical alarms and other costs we can help with
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
Dental, glasses, car repairs, fridge, washing machine, funeral or other urgent costs you need help with
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Payment issues
Fixing issues with Accommodation Supplement, Special Benefit and other payments we’ve made
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16-19 year olds
Education, training, work and benefit help for 16-19 year olds
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
Address, contact details, overseas travel, childcare, relationship or anything else that’s changed.
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Income
Declare income, wages deduction calculator and tables
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Re-apply
Re-apply for Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Temporary Additional Support and more
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Payments
Check or stop your payments, payment cards and other information
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Move house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Second opinions and designated health practitioners
Work and Income have established a panel of respected health practitioners to provide second opinions on medical information - designated health practitioners. The provision of a second opinion assists Work and Income to determine a person's capacity for work and entitlement to financial assistance. It also assists us with helping people to move towards employment.
The designated health practitioner is expected to provide an independent, medically based opinion to Work and Income
Second opinions are used when the information on a Work and Income medical certificate is inadequate, unclear or does not appear to align with other information the case manager may have available.
It may also be used where the supporting information provided by the person when applying for a Supported Living Payment is inadequate to determine entitlement.
When completing the medical certificate, the health practitioner is able to state a second opinion is appropriate. This will initiate a referral to a designated health practitioner.
A case manager may consider referring a person for an assessment by a designated health practitioner when:
- the practitioner has indicated on a Work and Income medical certificate that they are not best placed to provide the information
- the diagnosis is unclear
- the information provided in the medical certificate or other supporting health and/or disability information is ambiguous or conflicting
- a previous medical certificate contains a substantially different diagnosis or recommendation (where the person is applying for Supported Living Payment)
- the person is engaged in activities that appear to be at odds with recorded incapacities or with work capacity information
- capacity for work is unclear
- there is inadequate information in the medical certificate or other supporting health and/or disability information to establish medical eligibility to Supported Living Payment (where the person is applying for this benefit type)
- the person is unable to provide existing reports and/or medical certificate
- the person is applying for Supported Living Payment and they choose to see a designated health practitioner.
The referral will be accompanied by a copy of the original medical certificate and/or available supporting information and, where appropriate, the client's consent to the release of information.
The designated health practitioner is expected to meet with and assess the patient within 10 days of referral, and provide a completed medical certificate to Work and Income within five days of the assessment.
The designated health practitioner is encouraged to discuss any issues with the patient's usual practitioner if necessary or request a Host Doctor Report be completed.
The report completed by the designated health practitioner is used by Work and Income to determine a person's capacity for work and entitlement to financial assistance. It also assists us with helping people to move towards employment.
Work and Income, through the National Accounting Centre, provides a payment for the completion of a designated health practitioner assessment.
The National Accounting Centre checks in the person's Work and Income records to ensure that a report has been requested by the case manager before payments are made.
If a registered health practitioner is interested in becoming a Work and Income designated health practitioner, they should contact the local Health and Disability Team to discuss their application and fill out the form below.
Once completed the form should be returned to the Health and Disability Team.
If you're a designated health practitioner, please contact your local Health and Disability Team if you need further information. If you do not have their contact details, please call our General Enquiries number 0800 559 009 and one of our Customer Services Representatives will arrange for them to contact you.