Social Security Act 2018, Sched 2 (definitions of “part time work”, “part-time work-tested beneficiary”, “work-tested spouse or partner”), ss 121–125
If you have dependent children, the work-test requirements for you and your partner (if you have one) will depend on the age of the youngest child:
Sole parents of children 14 or older – You’ll be required to be available for and looking for full-time work (at least 30 hours a week – this is the “full-time work test”).
If you have a partner – You’ll be required to be available for and looking for full-time work, and
if the youngest child is 14 or older, your partner will also be required to be available for and looking for full-time work
if the youngest child is three or older but under 14, your partner will be required to be available for and looking for part-time work, which means at least 20 hours a week
if the youngest child is under three, Work and Income may require your partner to undertake work preparation activities from time to time, which could include, for example, training or education.
Note: If you’re a sole parent and your youngest child is under 14, you’ll qualify for Sole Parent Support rather than Jobseeker Support, see “Adult parents with younger children (Sole Parent Support)” in this section.
Rules about having another child while on the benefit have changed
Before 8 November 2021, if you had another child while on a work-tested benefit, from the child’s first birthday, Work and Income would usually make you start looking for work as if you didn’t have the child. New rules from 8 November 2021 mean that Work and Income will now always consider the age of your youngest child when setting work obligations and to decide whether you are eligible for Sole Parent Support.