Youth Allowance At Home, Single — How Much & Am I Eligible?
You are single, under 22, and living at home with your parents while studying or looking for work. Current rates as of March 2026.
Your Payment Rate
$345.10/fortnight (under 18) or $415.50/fortnight (18+)
Maximum base rate before the income test. Actual payment depends on your personal income and parental income.
Max Rate
$345.10
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 (students/apprentices) or 16-21 (job seekers)
- ✓Australian resident or eligible visa holder
- ✓Aged 16-24 and studying full-time, OR 16-21 and looking for work
- ✓Living with at least one parent or guardian
- ✓Single with no dependent children
- ✓Meeting the parental income test (unless independent)
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
- •Unable to live at home due to extreme circumstances
- •In State care or an orphan
- •Married, in a de facto relationship, or have a dependent child
- •Aged 22 or over (automatically independent for student YA)
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.
Compared to JobSeeker
Job seekers under 22 receive Youth Allowance instead of JobSeeker. The at-home rate ($345.10-$415.50/fn) is lower than JobSeeker ($762.70/fn for single no children). If you turn 22 while on Youth Allowance as a job seeker, you transfer to JobSeeker Payment.
Turning 25? Consider Austudy
If you are 25 or older and studying full-time, you would apply for Austudy instead of Youth Allowance. The Austudy rate ($762.70/fn) is higher than the at-home Youth Allowance rate.
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General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.