Sex work will count as ''gainful'' employment when it comes to the federal government considering whether or not a young person should have to wait six months to get unemployment benefits.

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has moved to clear up confusion over who would be subjected to government plans to make people under 30 wait for 26 weeks before receiving unemployment payments.

The policy, which is due to start from January 1 2015, would not apply to all young people seeking Newstart or Youth Allowance. Those who have previously been employed may qualify for a waiver of at least four weeks.

However, it had appeared sex workers would be treated differently from other workers if they found themselves unemployed.

The bill that contains the six-month waiting period passed the lower house in June and has since been introduced into the Senate.