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.

3.1.7.30 Calculating the SWPP

Summary

The calculation of the SWPP varies depending on the claimant's circumstances. This topic explains the calculation.

SWPP - whole weeks

The SWPP is always rounded down to the next whole number of weeks. If the result is zero or negative, the SWPP is not applied.

Single person

The following table shows the steps in calculating the SWPP for a single claimant.

StepAction
1Calculate the AWOTE weeks (1.1.A.375).
2Calculate the seasonal/intermittent work weeks (1.1.W.15).
3Calculate the intervening weeks.
4Add the weeks from Steps 2 and 3 to get the self-supported weeks.
5Subtract the self-supported weeks from Step 4 from the AWOTE weeks at Step 1.

Members of a couple - only ONE member of the couple is a seasonal worker

Where either member of a couple is a seasonal/intermittent worker, the SWPP is applied to both members of a couple when they claim an income support payment, even if the recipient is not a seasonal worker. The following table shows the steps in calculating the SWPP for these recipients.

StepAction
1

Calculate the earnings from work that the non-seasonal worker member of the couple earned during their partner's relevant periods of seasonal work.

Note: Gross earnings are used.

2Add these earnings to the other member of a couple's seasonal/intermittent work earnings to give the couple's combined earnings.
3Calculate the AWOTE weeks for the couple.
4Calculate the claimant's seasonal/intermittent work weeks.
5Calculate the claimant's intervening weeks.
6Add the weeks from Steps 4 and 5 to get the self-supported weeks.
7Subtract the self-supported weeks from Step 6 from the AWOTE weeks at Step 3.

Members of a couple - BOTH seasonal workers

If both members of the couple are seasonal/intermittent workers, and will be subject to the SWPP, the SWPP must be calculated for BOTH the claimant and their partner independently. The higher of the 2 results, if positive, is applied to both individuals.

The following table explains this calculation using labels A and B to indicate the members of the couple.

For the …the AWOTE weeks equal …
calculation for claimant A
  • claimant A's seasonal/intermittent work earnings
  • PLUS the earnings of their partner during the period of A's seasonal/intermittent work
  • DIVIDED BY twice the relevant AWOTE.
calculation for claimant B
  • claimant B's seasonal/intermittent work earnings
  • PLUS the earnings of their partner during the period of B's seasonal/intermittent work
  • DIVIDED BY twice the relevant AWOTE.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.7.10 Who is affected by the SWPP

Last reviewed: