Centrelink Payments for Students in 2026: Youth Allowance, Austudy & ABSTUDY
Complete guide to student payments from Centrelink in 2026 — eligibility, rates, income tests, and how to maximise your support while studying.
Youth Allowance for Students Under 25
Youth Allowance (Student) is available to full-time students aged 16 to 24 undertaking an approved course at university, TAFE, or a registered training organisation. The maximum rate depends on your living situation: if you are single and living at home, you receive up to $377.40 per fortnight. If you are single and living away from home, the rate jumps to $632.40 per fortnight. Single with children living away from home receives $762.70 per fortnight. To be considered independent (and get the higher away-from-home rate), you generally need to prove you cannot live at home, have worked full-time for at least 18 months in a 2-year period, or are over 22. The parental income test applies if you are dependent — your payment starts reducing if your combined parental income exceeds $58,108 per year, decreasing by 20 cents per dollar over that threshold.
Austudy for Students Aged 25 and Over
If you are 25 or older and studying full-time, you apply for Austudy rather than Youth Allowance. The maximum Austudy rate for a single person is $762.70 per fortnight (the same as JobSeeker). Unlike Youth Allowance, there is no parental income test for Austudy — only your own income and assets are assessed. You can earn up to $150 per fortnight before your payment reduces, with a 50-cent taper between $150 and $256, then 60 cents per dollar above $256. Your course must be an approved course leading to a qualification at Certificate III level or higher. Austudy recipients also receive the Energy Supplement of $9.30 per fortnight and can access a Health Care Card. If you are partnered, the combined income test applies and the rate is $697.50 per fortnight each, reduced by your partner's income above $1,162 per fortnight.
ABSTUDY for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students
ABSTUDY provides payments and benefits to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians studying or doing an Australian Apprenticeship. ABSTUDY has several components: the Living Allowance (same rates as Youth Allowance or Austudy depending on age), Incidentals Allowance of $20.80 per fortnight to cover study costs, and a Pensioner Education Supplement of $31.10 per fortnight for those also on an income support payment. Unique to ABSTUDY are additional entitlements: the Away from Base allowance covers travel, accommodation, and meals when you need to attend residential blocks; the Relocation Allowance pays $304.84 for the first time you move for study; and the School Fees Allowance covers compulsory fees at primary and secondary school level. ABSTUDY does not have an age limit — you can be any age and study at any level.
Rent Assistance and Accommodation Support
Students receiving Youth Allowance (away from home rate), Austudy, or ABSTUDY Living Allowance can claim Commonwealth Rent Assistance. For a single student with no children, CRA pays up to $188.20 per fortnight once your rent exceeds $135.20 per fortnight. This means a student paying $250 per week in rent ($500 per fortnight) would receive the full $188.20 CRA on top of their base payment. Students in share houses can claim CRA based on their individual share of the total rent — you do not need to be on the lease, but you do need evidence of your rental contribution such as a written agreement with your housemates. If you live in on-campus accommodation, this also counts as rent for CRA purposes. Combined, a single student away from home could receive $632.40 (Youth Allowance) plus $188.20 (CRA) equals $820.60 per fortnight.
Working While Studying: Income Bank and Student Earning
Students on Youth Allowance or Austudy have access to the Student Income Bank, which allows you to accumulate unused income-free area credits. You build up $150 in credits each fortnight you earn under $150, accumulating up to a maximum of $11,250. This means if you work during semester breaks (like the summer holidays), you can earn significantly more before your payment is affected. For example, if you have not worked during semester and built up $3,000 in your income bank over 20 fortnights, you could earn $3,150 in one fortnight before any reduction. This system is designed so that students who work seasonally or casually are not penalised. Report your income each fortnight even if it is zero — failure to report can result in payment suspension and potential overpayments that Centrelink will recover.
HECS-HELP and Student Loans
Student payments from Centrelink are entirely separate from HECS-HELP student loans. You can receive both simultaneously — Youth Allowance or Austudy covers your living costs, while HECS-HELP covers your tuition fees as a deferred loan. As of 2026, the HECS-HELP repayment threshold is $54,435 per year — you do not start repaying until your income exceeds this amount. The indexation rate on HELP debts has been capped at the lower of CPI or the Wage Price Index following recent reforms. If you are studying a Certificate III or IV at TAFE, many courses are now fee-free under the Fee-Free TAFE initiative, so you may not need HECS at all. Centrelink student payments are not taxable income, but any wages from part-time work are — ensure you claim the tax-free threshold from your employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill.
Applying and Study Load Concessions
Apply through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. You will need your course enrolment details including the course code, institution, start date, and study load. Full-time study is generally defined as 75% or more of the normal full-time load (for most universities, this means 3 out of 4 subjects per semester). If you have a disability, illness, or caring responsibilities, you may qualify for a study load concession allowing you to study at 66% of the full-time load (2 out of 4 subjects) and still receive payment. You must remain enrolled and making satisfactory progress — if you fail more than 50% of your subjects, Centrelink may review your eligibility. Notify Centrelink within 14 days of any changes to your study load, course, or institution to avoid overpayments.
Try these free tools
Official resources
General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.
Related articles
Complete guide to Youth Allowance eligibility in 2026, covering student and job seeker streams, independence criteria, parental income test, and payment rates.
JobSeeker vs Youth Allowance 2026: Which Payment Is Right for You?Compare JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance rates, eligibility, income tests, and extras. Find out which Centrelink payment pays more and who qualifies for each.
How Much Is JobSeeker Payment in 2026? Current Rates & Income TestFind out the current JobSeeker Payment rates for 2026, including fortnightly amounts for singles and couples, how the income test works, and when rates next increase.
Centrelink Income Test Explained: How It Affects Every PaymentUnderstand how Centrelink's income test works across JobSeeker, Age Pension, Family Tax Benefit, and other payments. Learn about free areas, taper rates, and deeming rules.