Connection failures
A connection failure may occur if a job seeker who is currently receiving a participation payment:
- does not go to an appointment with Centrelink or their employment services provider without a valid reason; or
- does not enter into an Employment Pathway Plan when asked to do so and does not have a valid reason; or
- does not meet their job search requirements, for example does not satisfactorily complete and return a Job Seeker Diary on the due date.
Where the job seeker does not go to an appointment, if they do not contact beforehand to advise why they were unable to attend, a connection failure may still apply even if they have a valid reason for not attending.
A job seeker's payment may be suspended if they do not attend an appointment with Centrelink or their employment services provider. If a suspension occurs Centrelink will arrange a new appointment and , payment will not be reinstated until the job seeker agrees to attend this appointment.
If the job seeker does not go to the new appointment payment may be suspended again and a reconnection failure may be applied. If this happens the job seeker may lose payment until they meet their requirements.
Can a job seeker appeal a connection failure?
Job seekers have the right to appeal decisions made by Centrelink. For more information about how to ask to have a decision looked at again, refer to Reviews and Appeals
More Information
- Read the Why it's important to meet your Activity Test or participation requirements factsheet.