Social Security Regulations 2018, r 205, schedule 6
If it works out better for you, you can choose to have your income assessed annually rather than weekly if:
you are a sole parent, or
you are getting Supported Living Payment.
Calculating your income annually means you can smooth out your income against the past 52 weeks. You can earn $8,320 before tax each year before your benefit is reduced.
Work and Income default to an annual income test, but depending on how much you earnt and the period you earnt it, this can result in debt. If Work and Income has decided to review your income annually, but you think you would be better off on a weekly income test, you can request to review that decision (see: “Challenging Work and Income decision: Reviews and appeals”).