Youth Allowance Student (18-24) — How Much & Am I Eligible?
You are aged 18-24 and studying full-time at university, TAFE, or another approved institution. Current rates as of March 2026.
Your Payment Rate
$415.50/fortnight (at home) or $604.50/fortnight (away from home / independent)
Maximum base rate before the income test. Actual payment depends on your personal income and parental income.
Max Rate
$415.50
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: 18-24
- ✓Australian resident or eligible visa holder
- ✓Aged 18 to 24
- ✓Studying full-time at an approved educational institution
- ✓Meeting the parental income test (unless independent or 22+)
- ✓Meeting course requirements (at least 75% of full-time study load)
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:
- •Aged 22 or over (automatically independent)
- •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
Away From Home Rate
Students aged 18-24 can get the away-from-home rate if their parents' home is too far from their educational institution (generally 90+ minutes travel). Students aged 22+ are automatically independent and receive the away-from-home rate regardless of where they live.
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
When you turn 25, you transition from Youth Allowance to Austudy if still studying. Austudy pays $762.70/fn (single), which is higher than the YA at-home rate but similar to the independent/away-from-home rate.
Get a personalised estimate with your exact details
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General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.