Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients may be employed but within an income test limit; the ABS classifies a person as "employed" if, among other things, he or she has worked for one hour or more during the survey period. Timing The timing of collections of the series are different: DSS reports monthly average numbers of people both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). These monthly averages are calculated using figures collected for each Friday throughout the reference month. ABS numbers are based on a sample survey which interviews occupants of selected dwellings covering around 0.33% of the total Australian population. These persons are generally interviewed during the two weeks beginning the Sunday between the 5th and 11th of each month and the information obtained relates to the week before the interview takes place. Treatment of partners The ABS series includes unemployed persons whose spouse is working, irrespective of income, whereas Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients are subject to an income and assets test for themselves and their spouse. Pensioners The ABS series includes persons being paid a pension but looking for work (eg. sole parents in receipt of Parenting Payments looking for work). Non job seekers The overall Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series includes persons who are not required to undertake jobsearch. These persons are separately identified in Tables 2 and 3, and have then been excluded in subsequent tables. These people may be undertaking training, the development of self-employment opportunities, voluntary work or a combination of voluntary and part-time work which excludes them from jobsearch obligations. They may also be incapacitated or have another temporary exemption from jobsearch. Waiting periods The ABS series includes persons who are serving a waiting period before being granted Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (other), or whose allowance was deferred. Survey The ABS figures are derived from a Labour Force Survey which is a sample survey, whereas the DSS statistics are a complete count of those both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). For More Information Labour market information Other statistics on recipients of labour market related payments are available on request.
Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients may be employed but within an income test limit; the ABS classifies a person as "employed" if, among other things, he or she has worked for one hour or more during the survey period. Timing The timing of collections of the series are different: DSS reports monthly average numbers of people both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). These monthly averages are calculated using figures collected for each Friday throughout the reference month. ABS numbers are based on a sample survey which interviews occupants of selected dwellings covering around 0.33% of the total Australian population. These persons are generally interviewed during the two weeks beginning the Sunday between the 5th and 11th of each month and the information obtained relates to the week before the interview takes place. Treatment of partners The ABS series includes unemployed persons whose spouse is working, irrespective of income, whereas Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients are subject to an income and assets test for themselves and their spouse. Pensioners The ABS series includes persons being paid a pension but looking for work (eg. sole parents in receipt of Parenting Payments looking for work). Non job seekers The overall Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series includes persons who are not required to undertake jobsearch. These persons are separately identified in Tables 2 and 3, and have then been excluded in subsequent tables. These people may be undertaking training, the development of self-employment opportunities, voluntary work or a combination of voluntary and part-time work which excludes them from jobsearch obligations. They may also be incapacitated or have another temporary exemption from jobsearch. Waiting periods The ABS series includes persons who are serving a waiting period before being granted Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (other), or whose allowance was deferred. Survey The ABS figures are derived from a Labour Force Survey which is a sample survey, whereas the DSS statistics are a complete count of those both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). For More Information Labour market information Other statistics on recipients of labour market related payments are available on request.