Section 500WA — Social Security Act 1991: Ordinary waiting period

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), a person is subject to an ordinary waiting period unless: (a) at some time in the 13 weeks immediately before the person’s start day (worked out disregarding clause 5 of Schedule 2 to the Administration Act), the person received an income support payment; or (b) the Secretary is satisfied that the person is experiencing a personal financial crisis. Note 1: For income support payment see subsection 23(1). Note 2: For experiencing a personal financial crisis see section 19DA. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who: (a) is undertaking an activity specified in an instrument made under subsection (3); and (b) has been exempted from the application of subsection (1) by the Secretary. (3) The Secretary may, by legislative instrument, specify activities for the purpose of paragraph (2)(a). (4) If a person makes a claim for parenting payment during the period beginning on 1 April 2021 and ending at the end of 30 June 2021, then, despite subsection (1), the person is not subject to the whole of the ordinary waiting period.