The Salvation Army on parental assistance Jobseeker test

From Checkpoint, 4:47 pm on 22 May 2025

Out of work 18 to 19 year olds may be forced to rely on mum and dad for financial support with the government planning to effectively means test parents of unemployed teenagers before allowing young people to collect a benefit. From July 2027 there will be a parental assistance test for job seekers and emergency benefits. The government said it's a human tragedy that people under 25 on jobseeker support will spend an average of 18 years on the benefit over their lifetimes. The Salvation Army's Director of Social Policy Bonnie Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen.