Title: What is JobSeeker Payment while you build your business? > Stay on JobSeeker Payment while you plan and start a small business. Your net business profit is set as an annual amount and spread across each fortnight, Source: https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/jobseeker/ Checked: 25 September 2026 Keep an incomeJob search required # What is JobSeeker Payment while you build your business? Stay on JobSeeker Payment while you plan and start a small business. Your net business profit is set as an annual amount and spread across each fortnight, and your Job Plan still applies. ## The key facts - $824.90 a fortnight if you’re single with no children; $883.30 with a dependent child, or at 55+ after 9 months on payment; $755.10 if partnered (from 20 September 2026) - The first $150 a fortnight is free, then it drops 50c per $1 up to $256 and 60c per $1 above (single, no children) - Business profit counts after allowed costs, as an annual amount divided over 26 fortnights; tell Centrelink within 14 days of any change - Your Job Plan continues unless your business passes the sufficient work test (profit ÷ $26.44 minimum wage = hours counted) ## What you must do to keep getting it Job search required ### Job search On JobSeeker Payment you agree to a Job Plan and meet it: go to appointments with your employment services provider and, with Workforce Australia, earn your monthly points target, which may include a minimum number of job searches. You must also report to Centrelink every 2 weeks. **Your business work can count.** Self-Employment Assistance earns points: an Exploring Self-Employment Workshop 20, Business Plan Development 25, and Small Business Training replaces your job search requirement for up to 8 weeks. If you already work for yourself, contacting clients, pitching for work or applying for a grant can count as job searches (5 points), and a meeting with a potential client as an interview (25 points). Your business fully meets your requirements only if it passes the sufficient work test: hours = profit ÷ $26.44 minimum wage, and most people need 70 hours a fortnight (30 if you’re 55+, a principal carer or have a partial capacity to work). ### What you must do to keep getting it - Report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0, or your payment stops. Leave business income out of this report. - Tell Centrelink within 14 days when you start a business, or when its income or assets change: Business details form (MOD F) and a Profit and Loss Statement (SU580). - New business: give an estimate first, then an interim profit and loss statement after 3 months and every 3 months, until a tax return covering 6+ months is available. - Give Centrelink your tax returns and financial statements within 14 days of them being prepared. - If the business gets in the way of your job search or activities, you may no longer count as unemployed. - 12 fortnights in a row paid $0 and your payment is suspended or cancelled. ### If you earn money From your own income, $150 a fortnight is free, then your payment drops 50c for each $1 up to $256 and 60c for each $1 above (single principal carers: 40c for each $1 over $150). Business profit is net of the costs Centrelink allows (not donations, borrowing costs, prior-year losses, your own super or instant asset write-offs), set as an annual amount and divided across fortnights. Wages from a job go in your fortnightly report; business income does not. **If you take or turn down a job:** You must go to job interviews, accept any offer of suitable paid work and not leave a job without a valid reason. Not meeting your requirements can bring demerits and financial penalties. ## The other route You can’t be on both at once. Compare them before you choose. - [What is Youth Allowance while you build your business?If you’re 16 to 21, Youth Allowance as a job seeker can support you while you plan and start a business. Busin…](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/ya/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-ya/) - [What is Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance?Part of Self-Employment Assistance: 12 months of mentoring to launch your business, with no mutual obligation …](https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sbc/)[Compare side by side →](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-sbc/) ## Add this to my plan We’ll track your must-dos and deadlines for you, and keep your job-search record. [Add this to my plan](https://pontia.xyz/au/start/?from=guide&scheme=au-jobseeker&status=have) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 - [servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-jobseeker-payment-you-can-get](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-jobseeker-payment-you-can-get) - [servicesaustralia.gov.au/mutual-obligation-requirements?context=51411](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/mutual-obligation-requirements?context=51411) - [servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-test-for-jobseeker-payment?context=51411](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-test-for-jobseeker-payment?context=51411) - [servicesaustralia.gov.au/sole-trader-or-partnership-income?context=51411](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sole-trader-or-partnership-income?context=51411) - [guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/70](https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/70) - [guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/20](https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/20) - [guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/4/7/1/20](https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/4/7/1/20) - [workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/obligations/learn/meet-your-obligations/self-employed](https://www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/obligations/learn/meet-your-obligations/self-employed) This guide explains the official rules in plain words. It isn’t advice about your own claim: your adviser decides. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Cite this page "What is JobSeeker Payment while you build your business?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/jobseeker/ (updated 25 September 2026) ## Related guides and tools - [Start your business and keep your payment](https://pontia.xyz/au/) - [Mutual obligation points, without the admin](https://pontia.xyz/au/mutual-obligation-points/) - [JobSeeker self-employed calculator](https://pontia.xyz/au/jobseeker-self-employed-calculator/) - [Young and not working yet? Your idea could be your first job.](https://pontia.xyz/au/young-people/) - [Australian State Small Business Support Index 2026](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-state-support-index/) - [Months of benefit while starting up: Australia vs 8 countries](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-support-months/) - [Australia start-up support for job seekers: figures 2026](https://pontia.xyz/au/datasets/au-startup-support/) - [JobSeeker Payment while you build your business vs Youth Allowance while you build your business](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-ya/) - [JobSeeker Payment while you build your business vs Small Business Coaching and Self-Employment Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-sbc/) --- Pontia is free and independent. It is not a government service and not financial, tax, legal or benefits advice; always check the official source linked on the page. Some tool links are affiliate links: we may earn a fee at no cost to you, and free options come first. 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