Information for workers - Portable Long Service Authority

Roles providing support to people living with disability or who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or in crisis including:

• training and employment support or employment placement
• financial support or goods for assistance
• accommodation or accommodation related support services
• home care support services
• community legal services, community education services or community advocacy services
• community development services
• fundraising assistance for community groups

Other services prescribed as community service work, including:

• social work, welfare work and youth work services
• home care support services provided in a private residence, irrespective of the age of the client
• crisis counselling
• emergency material relief
• custodial or supportive care and social welfare
• assessment of individual of family needs
• social and community development, education and advocacy
• family support services
• youth services
• housing and homelessness services
• family violence prevention and response
• neighbourhood houses
• drug and alcohol services
• migrant and refugee support services

From 1 January 2020, an activity that is funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is prescribed to be community service work and a service provided by a licensed children's service under the Children's Services Act 1996 or an approved provider under the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria) (except an entity that is also a registered school within the meaning of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006) is prescribed to be community service work.

Can I move between jobs in the Community Services sector?

Yes, it is possible to change jobs within the community services sector and continue to be eligible to accrue portable long service benefits. The jobs will need to be jobs that are included in the scheme.

There is a description of the kinds of roles included in community services here. It is also important to note that you need to be employed by a defined community services employer and from 1 October 2020 covered by one of the awards included in the Long Service Benefits Portability Regulations 2020.

For more information, check out our page on community services.

Contract Cleaning is work that has the only or main function of bringing of premises into a clean condition or keeping a premises in a clean condition. Premises include land or structures but do not include boats/aircraft/trains/vehicles.

Roles include:

• housekeeping
• cleaning commercial premises
• window and gutter cleaning
• graffiti removal
• swimming pool cleaning
• cleaning public areas
• high pressure cleaning
• general cleaning (mopping, vacuuming, dusting, sweeping)
• carpet cleaning
• cleaning and sanitisation of food processing areas

A contract cleaning worker is an individual who is employed by an employer for the contract cleaning industry and includes an apprentice or person whose employment requires the individual to learn or be taught cleaning work and a person employed on a casual or seasonal basis.

For more information, check out our page on contract cleaning.

Security work is described in the Act as work performed in the security industry or an activity prescribed to be security.

Class A and Class B Security Services in which a person is either licensed or registered to perform security work are included in the scheme.

Class A Security Services (requires a license)

• acting as an investigator
• acting as a body guard
• acting as a crowd controller
• acting as a security guard, including the following sub categories:
  • while exercising control over a dog
  • while armed with a firearm
  • while unarmed
  • collecting/transferring/delivery cash or valuables while armed
• the protecting, guarding, watching of any property by monitoring or operating a security system

Class B Security Services (requires registration)

• acting as a security equipment installer, including:
• a person who is employed or retained to install, repair, service or maintain security equipment including:
  • security camera systems
  • security audio systems
  • security audio or visual recording systems
  • security alarms
  • security alarm monitoring systems
  • safes
  • vaults
  • security intrusion detectors including motion, infrared, microwave or contact detectors
  • electric, electro-mechanical, magnetic or biometric access control devices
• acting as a security advisor

Workers should be licensed or registered to carry out security work.

The exception is for apprentices or a worker whose employment agreement requires them to be trained in security work. See a list of approved training courses.

Examples of security work

Rahul performs investigation work on behalf of an insurer. He obtains information about insurance claimants which is used by the insurer to determine claims liability. Rahul is acting as an investigator. This is Class A security activity and Rahul is required to hold a license under the Security Act.

Suzie works at events as a crowd controller. Acting as a crowd controller is a Class A security activity and Suzie is licensed under the Security Act. She performs security work.

Giuseppe trains people to work as bodyguards in the security industry. Acting as a private security trainer is a Class A security activity and Giuseppe is licensed under the Security Act. He performs security work.

Work that is NOT classed as security

Security work, that is NOT defined as security work by the Act and Regulations, is:

• installing a lock as part of work as a builder
• cutting unrestricted keys
• operating a prison or other correctional facility
• self-installing security systems

Examples of work that is NOT security work

Teddi is a locksmith who cuts keys. He does not perform security work.
Roger works in a retail store selling security systems which the purchaser installs themselves. Roger does not perform security work.

For more information, check out our page on the security industry.

The scheme is accessible for contract workers, however the way the long service credits and benefits are calculated is a little different.

More information will be provided here soon.

No, only the portable long service leave accrued after the Portable Long Service Scheme commenced on 1 July 2019, is portable. It may be possible that when you become eligible to claim your long service entitlement, to choose to be paid out from either your traditional long service leave accruals or portable long service benefits.

Yes, you can make that choice about how you want to claim your entitlement.

If you change employers, you just need to give your new employer your Worker ID and they’ll start including you in their quarterly returns and paying the levy based on your service with them.

Based on the information provided by your employer in their quarterly return, you’ll receive ‘service credits’ that make up your long service entitlement. 

At the end of each financial year, you’ll get a statement showing your recorded service for the year. 

You can check your entitlements at any time through the online worker portal. 

After 7 years of service, you can apply for your long service benefit. The levy your employer pays will be used to pay your benefit.

You can log in to the worker portal to check your balance or update your details at any time. However, your balance will only change each quarter after your employer lodges their quarterly return.

After 7 years of service, you can apply to have your portable long service benefit paid to you by submitting a claim form to the Authority, and showing proof of your identity. 

If you leave the industry for good, you can also apply to have your benefit paid to you, as long as you have accrued 7 years of service credits.

You will receive one lump sum payment from the Authority into your nominated bank account, not your usual weekly or fortnightly pay. Remember to factor this in when planning your leave from work as there will be no payments from your employer.

How you access your benefits depends on the industry that you work in. 

Contract cleaning and security workers

Once your employer has approved your request for leave, you can apply to the Authority for payment of your benefit.

Community services workers

Unlike contract cleaning and security, the community services scheme is a cash only benefit with no leave requirement attached to it. Instead, you can apply for your benefit once you have built up enough service credits, and don’t need to take leave to do so.

Your membership will continue to operate while you are employed in your industry. If you do not work in your industry for more than four (4) years, your membership will become inactive.

The Authority is required to keep information about businesses and workers under the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018.

Information includes:

• your full name, address and date of birth
• the name and address of your place of work
• your ABN if you are a contract worker
• the day you became registered under the Act
• the number of hours you have accrued under the Act
• the total ordinary pay you have been paid for work completed
• your entitlement to long service benefits (how many service credits you have)
• details of any long service benefits you have taken under the Portable Long Service benefits Scheme or any other long service leave taken.
• whether your Membership is Active or Inactive
• any other information the Registrar considers appropriate

You can add your mobile phone number and email address to your account via the worker portal to make it easier to receive information about your membership.

Work performed in Victoria is covered by the Portable Long Service Scheme, even if you also work in other states.

If you have concerns about your employer you can contact the Portable Long Service Authority for advice.

Most short term (up to 1 year), approved periods of leave from work, like maternity leave, will continue to count towards your long service credits.

If you stop working in your industry for more than four (4) years, the long service credits you have built up will expire.

As it does not meet the definition of an employer under the applicable legislation, the Authority does not pay superannuation or payroll tax when it pays a claim under the Long Services Benefits Portability Act 2018.

Your portable long service payment is subject to income taxation, which will be calculated by the Authority in accordance with ATO guidelines.The authority will remit the tax directly to the ATO and provide you with a PAYG payment summary when you take your leave. You may be asked for your Tax File Number when you make a claim. You do not have to provide your Tax File Number to the Authority. However, if you do not do so, your payment will be taxed at the highest marginal rate for individuals.

In the case of your death, the executor of your estate will be able to apply for your portable long service benefits by filling out a claim form, as long as you have accrued 7 years of service credits. You can contact the Portable Long Service Authority for advice.