JobSeeker Payment 2026: Eligibility, Rates and Mutual Obligation Rules

Eligibility under the Social Security Act 1991

JobSeeker Payment is provided under Part 2.12 of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth). To be eligible, a person must be aged 22 or older and under the Age Pension qualifying age (currently 67). They must also be an Australian resident at the time of claim and physically in Australia.

Newly arrived residents are subject to a Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period of 208 weeks (4 years) before they can receive JobSeeker Payment. There are some exemptions to this waiting period. NES redundancy pay: section 119 scale

Eligibility is further determined by whether a person satisfies the income and assets tests administered by Services Australia.

Payment rates from 20 March 2026

Payment rates are adjusted twice yearly, on 20 March and 20 September, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. These adjustments ensure the JobSeeker Payment maintains its real value. National Employment Standards: 11 entitlements deep dive

From 20 March 2026, a single Jobseeker Payment recipient with no dependent children, aged 22 or over, will receive AUD 808.70 per fortnight. A single recipient with dependent children, or a single recipient aged 55 or over after 9 months on payment, or a principal carer with a mutual obligation exemption, will receive AUD 866.00 per fortnight.

Partnered Jobseeker Payment recipients will receive AUD 740.60 per fortnight each. These rates are subject to change at the next indexation on 20 September. National Employment Standards: 11 entitlements deep dive

Mutual obligation requirements

JobSeeker Payment recipients generally have mutual obligation requirements. These typically involve actively searching for and accepting suitable work, often documented within a Job Plan. A Job Plan outlines agreed activities with a Workforce Australia provider, and may include study, training or work experience. Casual employee definition: section 15A Fair Work Act

Failure to meet these requirements can lead to a demerit system. Accumulating 5 demerits within a six-month period will trigger a Capability Interview. Workforce Australia replaced JobActive on 4 July 2022 as the main employment services provider for mutual obligation.

Persistent failure to comply with mutual obligations may result in consequences such as payment suspension, cancellation of the payment, or financial penalties.

Exemptions and waiting periods

Certain circumstances can result in exemptions from standard mutual obligation requirements. These include temporary illness or injury, supported by a medical certificate, caring duties, experiences of family and domestic violence – where recipients may be eligible for Paid family and domestic violence leave: 10 days entitlement – and significant personal crises. Principal carers of children under 16 are subject to reduced mutual obligation requirements, undertaking 15 hours per week of approved activity.

A standard waiting period of one week applies to most new JobSeeker Payment claims, although this may be waived. A Liquid Assets Waiting Period can apply for up to 13 weeks if a recipient’s readily available funds exceed AUD 5,500 (for single recipients) or AUD 11,000 (for partnered recipients or those with dependents).

The Income Maintenance Period applies to recipients who have previously received employer leave payments or redundancy payments. This period affects the timing of JobSeeker Payment entitlement.