Youth Allowance Apprentice — How Much & Am I Eligible?
You are doing a full-time Australian Apprenticeship and receiving an apprentice wage. Current rates as of March 2026.
Your Payment Rate
$604.50/fortnight (single, away from home / independent) or $415.50/fortnight (at home, 18+)
Maximum base rate before the income test. Actual payment depends on your personal income and parental income.
Max Rate
$604.50
per fortnight
Income Free Area
$480/fn
earn before reduction
Parental Test
Yes
$58,108/yr threshold
Income Bank
Yes
Up to $12,000
Eligibility Criteria
Age: 16-24
- ✓Australian resident or eligible visa holder
- ✓Aged 16-24
- ✓Undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship
- ✓Registered in an approved apprenticeship or traineeship
- ✓Meeting income and assets tests
Personal Income Test
Example: Earning $600/fortnight
Parental Income Test
As a dependent young person, your parents' combined income is also assessed. The parental income free area is $58,108/year.
Above this threshold, your Youth Allowance reduces by 20c for every dollar of parental income over $58,108, up to a combined parental income of about $108,000/year. Above $108,000, the taper increases to 30c per dollar.
Siblings matter: If you have siblings in the parental income test family pool, the threshold increases by approximately $6,810 per additional child in the pool.
The parental income test and personal income test are applied separately. Your payment is the lower of the two results.
Independence Criteria
You are currently assessed as dependent. You can become independent if you meet any of these criteria:
- •Worked at least 30 hours per week for 18 months in a 2-year period
- •Supported yourself for at least 18 months through earnings
- •In State care or an orphan
- •Married, in a de facto relationship, or have a dependent child
Away From Home Rate
Apprentices can get the away-from-home rate if they need to live away from their parents' home to undertake their apprenticeship. The workplace must be at least 90 minutes travel from the parental home.
Student Income Bank
As a student or apprentice, you have access to the Student Income Bank. Each fortnight where you earn less than $480, the unused amount is credited to your Income Bank.
You can accumulate up to $12,000 in credits. When you earn more than $480 in a fortnight, the excess is first offset against your Income Bank balance before reducing your payment.
Example: If you have $3,000 in your Income Bank and earn $1,000 in one fortnight, the $520 over the free area ($1,000 - $480) is deducted from your Income Bank instead of reducing your payment.
Turning 25? Consider Austudy
Apprentices aged 25+ doing an Australian Apprenticeship can apply for Youth Allowance as an apprentice (not Austudy). This is one of the few exceptions where Youth Allowance is available over 24.
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General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.