The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

1.1.Q.20 Qualifying work

Definition

A person performs qualifying work on a day if the person either performs at least one hour of paid work (1.1.P.20) on a day, or the person takes a period of paid leave of at least one hour on a day.

Paid leave has its ordinary meaning, and generally includes paid recreation, maternity, carer's or sick leave, or unpaid leave while receiving workers' compensation or accident compensation payments. Paid out leave (for example, a payment in lieu of annual leave or long service leave that is paid out to an employee on termination of their employment) is not qualifying work.

From 1 July 2020, any payable flexible PPL days for a previous child can also count as qualifying work for a new claim.

A person also performs qualifying work on a day that is in a jobkeeper payment period or COVID-19 Australian Government payment (1.1.C.166) period for the person. The COVID-19 disaster payment is the only payment currently classified as a COVID-19 Australian Government payment.

A person is taken to have performed 7.6 hours of work on a week day, and no hours of work on a Saturday or Sunday that is in a jobkeeper payment period or COVID-19 Australian Government payment period. If a person performs at least one hour of paid work or takes at least one hour of paid leave on a day that is in a jobkeeper payment period or COVID-19 Australian Government payment period, the person is taken to have performed the greater of the hours of work performed or paid leave taken, or 7.6 hours on a week day and no hours on a Saturday and Sunday.

Act reference: PPLAct section 6 The Dictionary, section 34 When a person performs qualifying work

PPL Rules Part 2 Division 3 Matters relating to the work test

Policy reference: PPL Guide 2.2 PPL scheme work test for PLP

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