Centrelink.gov.au Online services offer Centrelink Youth Allowance Application forms and Rates calculator for 2010

Youth Allowance means an income which you receive if you are young person, studying, undertaking training or an Australian Apprenticeship, looking for work.

Eligibility: You may eligible if you are

• 16–20 years old and looking for full-time work or undertaking a combination of approved activities, or have a temporary exemption from the participation and activity test requirements. If you do not have a Year 12 certificate or an equivalent qualification (Certificate level II or above) you will generally be expected to undertake study or training to meet the activity test.
• 16–24 years old and studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship full-time.
• If you turn 25 you can keep getting Youth Allowance until you finish your course or Apprenticeship.
• You may also eligible if you are 15 years old and you are considered independent, looking for work, studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship full-time.

Independence Test: When you apply for Youth Allowance then you have to specify that you are independent or dependent.

• You may be considered independent if:
• In the last 2 years you have worked full-time minimum for 30 hours a week) for at least 18 months.
• Since leaving school you have worked part-time minimum for 15 hours a week for at least 2 years.
• You are legally married, in a registered relationship or you are living in real relationship with another person for minimum 12 months as couple.
• If you have parents but they cannot understand their responsibilities.
• You are not able to live at home because of family breakdown, cruelty in the home, or serious threats to your health.

You will need to do 2 things to receive Youth Allowance

1) Extra study or training:

Until you get year 12 or a Certificate II qualification, you have to do some study or training. When you start looking for a job than this higher level of education will help you.

2) Extra activities

If you are full time student or trainee then you will not to do extra activities. But if you are part-time student or trainee then you have to do an extra activity to be paid Youth Allowance. Extra activity like part time work, volunteer work, youth programs. The total number of hours you will usually need to do is 25 hours each week.

If you qualify for Youth Allowance, then you may also receive an extra payment or benefits like

• Advance Payment
• Fares Allowance
• Low Income Health Care Card
• Pharmaceutical Allowance
• Remote Area Allowance
• Rent Assistance
• Telephone Allowance
• Work for the Dole supplement
• Youth Disability Supplement

Study Load:

Full-time student: If you receive Youth Allowance then you are considered a full time student. You are studying an approved course at an approved institution

Part time student: If you have study load of less than 75% of a full-time workload then you considered as part time student. If you drop one subject you may considered as part time student. If you are part time student then you have to do extra activities to make up a full-time workload.

Special payment rates: The special rates are applied if you are over 21 years, commencing full time study and you are

If you are	The maximum fortnightly payment is
single and living at home	$300.10
single and not living at home	$451.10
partnered with no children	$407.80

For more information click here

Tags: 2010, Student