Key words

Abatement– The reduction in the amount of your benefit due to your income. The rate of abatement varies depending on how much you earn and your circumstances.

Cash assets – Money in the bank or other assets that can easily be converted into cash.

The house that you live in is not considered an asset, even if you own it. However, it may include a house or flat that you own but are not using as your home (because that property could be sold and converted to cash).

Dependent child – A young person under 18 who is a member of your family and is under the responsibility of you (and your partner) to look after and financially support, or an individual over 18 years old who is still financially dependent on you and attending school or tertiary study.

Discretion/Discretionary – Discretion is often expressed in law by the use of the word “may” as opposed to the use of “shall” or “must”. Discretion provides Work and Income with the ability to be reasonable and consider your wider circumstances when making a decision. The extent of the discretion available depends on the particular wording of the law. Discretion is not available for all decisions that Work and Income make.

Exceptional circumstance – An exceptional circumstance is something that is different or unusual compared to others in a similar position. Work and Income don’t have a list of what these circumstances are, they decide on a case by case basis. Work and Income have to look carefully at your circumstances when deciding if you have an exceptional circumstance or not.

Full time work – 30 hours or more per week.
Good and sufficient reason – A ‘good and sufficient reason’ depends on what reasonable when considering your wider life circumstances.

Hardship payments – One off or short-term payments to meet an immediate and essential need. Depending on what the payment is for, you may need to pay the money back to Work and Income (this is called a ‘recoverable’ payment).

Health practitioner – A person who is registered with an authority as a practitioner of a particular health profession. Health practitioners include medical practitioners (such as doctors, dentists, and specialists), and nurse practitioners.

Income – Generally defined as any money you receive that is not a one-off capital payment (e.g., a gift, a donation, a sale of an asset, an inheritance).

Main benefits – include:

• Jobseeker Support
• Sole Parent Support
• Supported Living Payment
• Emergency Benefit
• Youth Payment
• Young Parent Payment

Open employment – Employment that isn’t “sheltered” employment.

Part time work – 15 hours or more per week.

Principal caregiver – The person who has the main responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child.

Sheltered employment – Employment conditions that have been specifically designed to cater for the needs of a person’s disability or illness.

Suitable employment – What is considered “suitable employment” is a discretionary decision. This means it will be decided on a case by case basis depending on your current life circumstances. For example, whether it is reasonable for you to accept a job will depend on level of expertise, and the availability of childcare and transport options.

Working age – 18 years old to 64 years old.