Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 62B

Refusal or failure to participate in prescribed schemes, programmes or courses relating to jobseeker's benefit

Section 62B sets out the escalating penalties that apply when a jobseeker refuses or fails, without good cause, to participate in employment schemes, work experience programmes, or education and training courses prescribed by the Minister.

• Initial refusal to participate in a prescribed scheme or course after assessment results in a reduced weekly rate of jobseeker's benefit.
• While receiving the reduced rate, the Minister may require the person to attend a further assessment or participate in another prescribed scheme or course.
• Continued refusal without good cause leads to complete disqualification from jobseeker's benefit for up to 9 weeks.
• After the disqualification period ends, the same provisions can be reapplied if the person still refuses to comply.