Australia eyeing unemployed senior rules

SYDNEY, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Unemployed Australians age 55 or older should be treated exactly the same as younger unemployed citizens, a new report for the government suggests.

A draft report commissioned by the government says seniors seeking employment benefits should no longer be able to meet regulations through part-time or volunteer work, The Australian said in its Tuesday edition.

The report from Participation Taskforce suggests that the government impose identical regulations for both unemployed senior citizens and younger applicants, meaning those demographics must seek out full-time employment to receive any government benefits.

"Generally, age-based participation requirements should no longer apply. Mature-age job seekers should have standard job-search requirements as long as they are receiving an activity-test payment," the report said.

The Australian said among the groups that will face declined unemployment regulations under the new proposal, which is being reviewed by the government, are single parents and seniors with no work experience.

The newspaper said those demographics would be given some space regarding their job-seeking efforts under the proposed rules.