The Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period is now a requirement of FOUR years in Australia, on a Permanent Resident Visa, to be able to claim the Jobseeker payment (formerly Newstart Allowance). These are the terms used to refer to Unemployment Benefit.
However, with the COVID-19 related temporary changes to JobSeeker, the ‘Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period‘ was TEMPORARILY suspended on the 27th April 2020, and newly arrived residents have been able to claim JobSeeker allowances and Benefits, such as help in obtaining Employment.
It is important to note that these changes revert back to normal on the 27th September 2020.
JobSeeker Allowances, and other Benefits, for those who are within the original Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period, will end on that date, when the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period will be re-imposed.
Some Jobseeker recipients, who are now unexpectedly getting over $1,000 per fortnight, will revert back to zero on the 27th September 2020.
The $1,000 per fortnight is made up with the following:
Single Person, No Children
$ 565.70 Jobseeker Payment.
$ 550.00 Coronavirus Supplement.
$1,115.70 Total per fortnight.
Member of a Couple
$ 510.80 Jobseeker Payment.
$ 550.00 Coronavirus Supplement.
$1,060.80 Total per fortnight.
Those who are not subject to the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period, will only lose the $550 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement, and will still get the normal Jobseeker Payment.
Single Person, No Children
$ 565.70 Jobseeker Payment.
Member of a Couple
$ 510.80 Jobseeker Payment.
There is a question that is, at the moment, unclear.
When will a Newly Arrived Resident become eligible again for the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period?.
I have seen two opposing statements so far:
- A Newly Arrived Resident will become eligible again for the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period, 4 years and 6 months after they have been in Australia on a Permanent Resident Visa.
- A Newly Arrived Resident will become eligible again for the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period, 4 years after they have been in Australia on a Permanent Resident Visa, as the time spent receiving the coronavirus supplement will not impact your Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period.
I have seen nothing official that clearly states which is correct.
I would however expect that people will have to serve a full 4 years without benefits, during the 4 years and 6 months since becoming PR.
Prior to January 2019, the waiting period was only 2 years. Consequently those who were subject to the 2 year period (104 weeks), would need to read the 4 years and 6 months statement as 2 years and 6 months, etc.
Note: The 2 year waiting period has been increased to 4 years, for those whose residence visa or specified visa subclass is granted on or after 1 January 2019. (Centrelinks Newly arrived residents 104 week waiting period.)