Some benefit changes for 2025

The Social Security Amendment Bill had its first reading in Parliament on 13 December 2024. The Bill expands the traffic light system and introduces 26-week reapplications for Jobseeker Support. There are no new obligations as part of these changes.

Traffic light system

Changes for some people who don't meet their obligations

Currently, people have their benefit reduced by 50% if they don't meet their obligations for the first time without a good reason.

From 26 May 2025, people who have dependent children or a 'dedicated case manager' may not have their benefit reduced.

Instead they may have to:

• have 50% of their benefit go onto a payment card for 4 weeks to be used with approved suppliers, as well as complete an activity, or
• find and do at least 5 hours of community work experience each week, for 4 weeks.

If you don’t meet your obligations 

If you don't meet your obligations without a good reason (an 'obligation failure'), your payments will be affected. The number of times this has happened determines whether your benefit will reduce or stop.

Currently, each obligation failure counts against your benefit for 1 year. 

From 26 May 2025, any new obligation failures will count against your benefit for 2 years instead of 1.

Youth Payment and Young Parent Payment benefits

From 26 May 2025, if you get Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment, you will be in the traffic light colour system. There will be no change to the things you need to do, or what happens if obligations aren’t met.

The traffic light system helps you stay on track with your obligations.

Jobseeker profile

From 26 May 2025, you'll have to complete a Jobseeker profile if you're applying for Jobseeker Support or Sole Parent Support. You'll have to do this before your benefit can be approved. If you have a partner, they'll need to do this too.

We ask you to fill out a Jobseeker profile so we can help you find a job.

Jobseeker Support reapplications

From 1 July 2025, people can only get Jobseeker Support for 26 weeks (6 months) before they need to reapply. Currently people need to reapply every 52 weeks (1 year).

This means we'll check in with you more regularly to make sure you're getting the right support to find or prepare for work.

There will also be changes to the reapplication process:

• You may not have to meet with us after submitting your online reapplication, if you recently told us what you're doing to find or prepare for work.
• If you do need to meet with us, you may be able to choose between going to a seminar or one-on-one appointment.