The Australian government financially supports the younger generation who are studying, looking for a job, or doing an Australian Apprentice through Youth Allowance. The Australian youth receives this fortnightly payment, the recipients must be expecting their September payments.
Centrelink Youth Allowance
The Australian youth who require financial support can claim the Youth allowance if they meet the eligibility requirement. The government of Australia started the Youth allowance with the intent of reducing the financial stress of young people studying, Australian apprentices, or looking for a job.
The Centrelink Youth Allowance is different for students or Australian apprentices and Job seekers, so the younger generation can apply for the appropriate one as per their eligibility.
The Australian youth who have claimed the Youth allowance as per their eligibility recovers the allowance every two weeks, The payment dates may differ for each recipient as the first payment date is based on when you lodge the claims and your claim is approved.
However, if the payment dates fall on public holidays or weekends the payout date may shift to the working day. The Centrelink allowance recipients must be expecting their upcoming September payments based on the last disbursed fortnightly payments.
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Centrelink Youth Allowance Eligibility criteria
As mentioned earlier, the youth allowance is entitled to the student or an Australian Apprentice, or youth seeking a job, hence the Australian who meets the below eligibility requirement is entitled to receive the allowance:
For Student or Australian apprentices:
- When you are studying full-time, your age range is around 18 to 24 years.
- When you are doing a full-time Australian Apprentice and your age range is around 16 to 24 years.
- When you are age between 16 to 17 years old, need to live away from home to study and live independently
- When you are studying a full-time course, the age should fall between bracket 16 to 17 years, and you have completed the year 12 or equivalent
- You must meet the Australian Residency rules, that is living in Australia and being an Australian resident.
- You must be doing an approved course or Australian Apprentice to receive the allowance
- You must meet the income and asset test requirements for the allowance, for instance, if you are independent, the authority will test your income and assets and if you are living with parents, the authority will test your income and parental means
For Job seekers:
- Your age must be between 16 to 21 years and you must be looking for full-time work or you can’t work temporarily.
The Australian youth can get both youth allowance for Australian apprentices and job seekers if they meet the eligibility requirements.
How much do you receive through Centrelink Youth Allowance?
The Australian government revised the payment rates for each year at different times, this year, the government revised the payment on 01 January 2024. Australian citizens whose Youth allowance is approved as Students or Australian apprentices receive the payment depending on their circumstances, here’s the payment rates for the Student or Australian apprentice youth allowance:
| Your Circumstance | Maximum payment |
| Individuals, under 18, live at their parent’s homes and have no children | $395.30 |
| Single, under 18, no children, looking for work training, and living away from home to study | $639.00 |
| Single, 18 years old or older, living with parents, and have no child | $455.20 |
| Single, 18 years old or older, need to live away from home and have no children | $639.00 |
| Single with children | $806 |
| Couple with no child | $639 |
| Couple with children | $691.80 |
| Caring for a depending child granted the responsibility as per the court order | $987.70 |
The payment rates may change for the individuals living with parents based on their parent’s circumstances changes or change in their situation. The payout under the Centrelink Youth allowance may change from person to person based on their circumstances and income assets.
When to claim the Centrelink Youth Allowance?
Australians certain of their eligibility for the Youth allowance can claim their allowance as a student or an Australian apprentice up to 13 weeks before they begin their apprenticeship or course.
You can claim the youth allowance within 13 weeks when:
- You are doing full-time Australian Apprenticeship
- You have plans to study the approved course full-time.
- If you wish to claim the allowance as an independent when you are turning 22, you must submit the claim before your birthday up to 13 weeks.
You will need the following documents when you claim the Centrelink Youth allowance:
- Your Tax File Number
- Your bank account details
- Your income & assets details
- Your parent’s income & assets details (when you are claiming the allowance as dependent)
- Your address details
- Your relationship details, such as partner details or separation details
- Your course or Apprentice detail
- Your work or employment detail
- Other documents that support your claims in the youth allowance application