What is Youth Allowance? Financial support for young students
Youth Allowance is a government income support payment for Australian students and Australian apprentices.
What is Youth Allowance?
Youth Allowance is a form of financial assistance provided by Services Australia. It is available to young people aged 16 to 24 who are engaged in full-time study of an approved course or Australian Apprenticeship. This allowance helps cover the costs associated with living and studying, such as accommodation, food and transportation and does not need to be paid back.
Who qualifies to get a Youth Allowance?
Eligibility for Youth Allowance is determined based on several criteria. The primary factors include age, residency status, and the type of course or training program being undertaken. Generally, individuals aged 16 to 24 who are full-time students, Australian residents, and enrolled in courses at approved education providers or the Australian Apprenticeship program are eligible. On the day you claim you must be living in Australia, generally physically in Australia, and an Australian resident. To keep getting your payment, you must be living in Australia as an Australian resident. You must also meet the income and asset test.
Income and asset test
The income and asset test assesses the earnings of you and/or your family to determine your payment rate. Your payment will start to reduce if your personal income is over $509 a fortnight, and at a certain income (depending on your situation), your payment will reduce to $0. If you are a dependent (as in, living with your parents), your Youth Allowance payment will be calculated using either the personal income test or the parental means test (which includes parental income and maintenance). If you’re independent, you’ll be tested on both your personal income and assets. If you have a partner, their income will also be taken into consideration.
How much do you get from Youth Allowance?
The amount of Youth Allowance you can receive varies based on your circumstances, including your living arrangements and whether you have dependents. The base rates for Youth Allowance are updated on January 1 every year.
The amount of Austudy payment varies based on individual circumstances. Austudy takes into account whether you have dependent children, living arrangements, personal income and assets.
| Your situation | Your maximum fortnightly payment from 1 January 2024 |
| Single, no children, younger than 18, and live at your parent’s home | $395.30 |
| Single, no children, younger than 18, living away from your parent’s home to study, train or look for work | $639.00 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older and live at your parent’s home | $455.20 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older and need to live away from your parent’s home | $639.00 |
| Single, with children | $806.00 |
| Principal carer of a dependent child granted an exemption from mutual obligation requirements | $987.70 |
| A couple, with no children | $639.00 |
| A couple, with children | $691.80 |
Keep in mind that this amount will change based on your income and assets. You can use Centrelink’s Payment and Service Finder to work out how much you are eligible for.
Disclaimer: Torrens University does not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of the information given. The information is intended to be general and educational in nature. Torrens University strongly recommends that you seek advice from Services Australia to determine the suitability of Youth Allowance for you and whether you satisfy their eligibility criteria. This information is correct as of 11/07/2024.
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