You have a work gap if you are not in full-time employment. You also have a work gap if you are working but earning less because of a health condition or injury, for example, if you are not working at all or working fewer hours. If someone else is working in your place because you are sick or injured, you can count the money they earn as money you would have earned.

If you are losing earnings because of a health condition or injury, you can include money earned by someone who is working in your place. This can be considered as a loss of your earnings. You can find more information about this by looking at the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 and section 88B(1), (6), (7) of the 1964 Act.

You can have a work gap for other reasons too, but these are the main ones. It is good to know what a work gap is so you can get the right help. The rules about work gaps are part of the Social Security Act.