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Reproduced from Centrelink's "A Guide to Australian
Government Payments 1 July - 19 September 2010"
Basic Conditions of Eligibility
Residence Requirements
Basic Rates
Student Start-up Scholarships
Relocation Scholarships
Fares Allowance
Rent Assistance
Youth Disability Supplement
Parental Income Test
Personal Income Test
Full-time Student Income Bank
Assets Test
Family Actual Means Test
Basic Conditions of Eligibility
- Full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 16-24,
or students who are temporarily incapacitated for full-time
study aged 21-24.
- Students and Australian Apprentices aged 25 and over, getting
Youth Allowance immediately before turning 25 and remaining
in the same course of study or Australian Apprenticeship.
- Job seekers, aged under 21, looking for work or combining
part-time study with job search, or undertaking any other approved
activity, or temporarily incapacitated for work or study.
- Young people under 21 years of age without a Year 12 or equivalent
qualification will usually need to:
- participate in education and training full-time; or
- participate full-time (that is, for at least 25 hours
a week) in part-time study or training, in combination with
other approved activities, until they complete Year 12 or
an equivalent Certificate Level II or above qualification.
- Independent, aged 15 and above the school leaving age in their
state who are satisfying or are exempt from the activity test.
Residence Requirements
- Must be an Australian resident.
- Available to newly arrived migrants after 104 weeks in Australia
as an Australian resident in Australia (some exemptions may
apply).
- If exempt from activity test may be paid for up to 13 weeks
for temporary absence from Australia in certain limited circumstances.
The length of your last return to Australia may affect your
entitlement during the absence from Australia.
- May be paid for 13 weeks of temporary absence or longer if
the person has to travel to study or train as part of their
full-time Australian course or Australian Apprenticeship.
Basic Rates
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Single, no children: |
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- Aged under 18, at home |
$206.30 pf |
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- Aged under 18, away from home |
$377.00* pf |
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- Aged 18 and over, away from home |
$377.00* pf |
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- Aged 18 and over, at home |
$248.10 pf |
| • |
Single, with children
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$493.90* pf |
| • |
Partnered, no children
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$377.00* pf |
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Partnered, with children
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$413.90* pf |
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* Rent Assistance may be payable. |
| • |
Single, principal carer of a dependent child (granted an
exemption for foster caring/home schooling/distance education/large
families
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$601.30 pf |
| • |
Special rate for long-term income support or migrants studying
English aged 21 or over commencing full-time study: |
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- Single, living at home |
$304.60 pf |
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- Single, living away from home |
$457.90 pf |
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- Partnered, no children |
$413.90 pf |
| • |
Young people not considered independent must
be assessed to get the away from home rate. |
| • |
Pharmaceutical
Allowance may be paid. |
| • |
Education Entry Payment of $208 may be payable. Until 30
June 2010, a temporary supplement of $950 will be paid to
eligible recipients when Education Entry Payment is made. |
| • |
Payment is generally made to a parent for those
aged under 18 who are not independent. |
| • |
Advance of Youth Allowance of up to $500 may
be payable. |
| • |
Job seekers undertaking Work for the Dole (including
Full-time Work for the Dole and Drought force), Green Corps
activities and the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
may be eligible for an additional supplement of $20.80 per
fortnight. |
| • |
Youth Allowance (job seeker) assessed as having
a partial capacity to work will receive the Pensioner Concession
Card. |
Student Start-up Scholarships
- All full-time students in receipt of Youth Allowance, who
are undertaking higher education or preparatory course at a
higher education institution will receive the Student Start-up
Scholarship, paid in a maximum of two half-yearly instalments
of $650 (a total of $1,300 in 2010).
- Students already receiving a Commonwealth Education Costs
Scholarship (CECS) or indigenous CECS are not eligible to receive
a Student Start-up Scholarship.
Relocation Scholarships
- Full time dependent students in receipt of Youth Allowance
who have to live away from home to undertake a higher education
or preparatory course at a higher education institution will
receive a Relocation Scholarship..
- The Relocation Scholarship is also available to to independent
students who are disadvantaged by personal circumstances and
are unable to live in the parental home.
- Students already receiving a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship
(CAS) or Indigenous CAS are not eligible to receive the Relocation
Scholarship.
- The Relocation Scholarship will provide $4,000 to eligible
students in the first year of study and $1,000 in each year
thereafter.
- The Relocation Scholarship is payable in addition to the Student
Start-up Scholarship.
Merit and Equity-based Scholarships Exempt from
Means Testing
Students in receipt of equity and merit-based scholarships will
have the first $6,762 exempt from means testing. Any scholarship
in excess of this amount will be subject to means testing.
Fares Allowance
- Only paid to teriary students who have to live away from their
permanent home for study.
- Reimbursement of the cost of cheapest practicable form of
public transport, regardless of transport actually used.
- Not payable for daily travel.
Rent Assistance
| Family Situation |
Maximum payment per fortnight |
No payment if your fortnightly rent is less than |
Maximum payment if your fortnightly rent is more than |
| Single, no children |
$113.40 |
$100.80 |
$252.00 |
| Single, no children, sharer |
$75.60 |
$100.80 |
$201.60 |
| Couple, no children |
$107.00 |
$164.40 |
$307.07 |
| One of a couple who are separated due to illness, no children* |
$113.40 |
$100.80 |
$252.00 |
| One of a couple who are temporarily separated, no children |
$107.00 |
$100.80 |
$243.47 |
* Includes respite care and partner in prison.
- Rent Assistance for families with children is usually paid with Family Tax
Benefit. See Family
Tax Benefit Part A for current rates.
- Rent Assistance is not paid:
- to people paying rent to a government housing authority, although
in some situations sub-tenants may qualify for Rent Assistance.
- for residents of Australian Government funded nursing homes and hostels.
- to single Disability Support Pensioners under 21, without dependants,
living with parents.
- to other single people aged under 25, living with parents.
- Special rules apply to single sharers, people who pay board and lodging
or live in a retirement village.
- Rent Certificates are required to verify rent where the person does not
have a formal tenancy agreement or is not named as a tenant on a formal tenancy
agreement.
- Rent Assistance is paid as part of another payment. It may be reduced due
to the income test rules applying to that primary payment.
- Rent Assistance is subject to portability provisions where relevant.
- Rent assistance for single people without children may only
be paid to those who receive the away from home rate of Youth
Allowance.
- Where both members of a couple without children are getting
an allowance or benefit, Rent Assistance is shared.
Youth Disability Supplement
- Youth Disability Supplement of up to $106.70 per fortnight
is payable to Youth Allowance recipients aged under 21 who have
been assessed as having partial capacity to work.
- Youth Disability Supplement is added to the rate of Youth
Allowance and the rate payable cannot exceed the rate payable
to those over 21 on Newstart Allowance.
Parental Income Test
- If not independent, a parental income test applies.
- Rate reduces if parent's income exceeds threshold of $44,165.
- Rate reduces by 20 cents for every $1.00 over the threshold.
- After applying parental income test, a personal income test
is applied.
- The rate payable will be thhe lowest produced by the Family
Actual Means Test, parental income test or the personal income
test.
- The parental income and assets test does not apply if the
parent(s) hold a current low-income Health Care Card or they
receive a designated income support payment through either Centrelink
or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Family Actual Means
Test may still apply.
- In some circumstances, (where parental income decreases/increases
substantially) parent/s' income in the current tax year is used.
- The parental means test does not apply to Youth Allowance
(job seekers) assessed as having a partial capacity to work.
Personal Income Test
- Gross income is assessed.
- There is an income-free area of $62.00 per fortnight if unemployed
and $236.00 per fortnight for students and Australian Apprenticies.
- Income above the income-free area reduces payment unless credit
in Income Bank (for students and Australian Apprentices - see
below) or working credit.
| Family Situation |
For full
Allowance (pf)* |
For part
Allowance (pf) |
| Single, aged under 18, at home: |
| Students & Australian Apprentices |
up to $236 |
less than $593.17 |
| Job Seekers |
up to $62 |
less than $437.17 |
| Single, aged 18 or over, at home |
| Students and Australian Apprentices |
up to $236 |
less than $662.84 |
| Job Seekers |
up to $62 |
less than $506.84 |
| Single or partnered, no dependants, away from home |
| Students and Australian Apprentices |
up to $236 |
less than $877.67# |
| Job Seekers |
up to $62 |
less than $721.67# |
| Partnered, with dependants |
| Students and Australian Apprentices |
up to $236 |
less than $939.17# |
| Job Seekers |
up to $62 |
less than $783.17# |
| Single, with dependants |
| Students and Australian Apprentices |
up to $236 |
less than $1,072.50# |
| Job Seekers |
up to $62 |
less than $916.50# |
| Single, long-term unemployed aged 21 or over, undertaking full-time study or Australian Apprenticeship, at home |
up to $236 |
less than $757.00 |
| Single, long-term unemployed aged 21 or over, undertaking full-time study or Australian Apprenticeship, away from home |
up to $236 |
less than $1,012.50# |
| Partnered, long-term unemployed, no dependants,
aged 21 or over undertaking full-time study or Australian Apprenticeship,
no children |
up to $236 |
less than $939.17# |
| * |
For job seekers, fortnightly income between $62 and $250 reduces fortnightly
allowance by 50 cents in the dollar. Income above $250 reduces payment by
60 cents in the dollar.
For students and New Apprentices, fortnightly income between $236 and $316
reduces the fortnightly allowance by 50 cents in the dollar. Income above
$316 reduces payment by 60 cents in the dollar. For students and Australian
Apprentices the income test is subject to Income Bank credit.
Partner income which exceeds the cut-off point reduces fortnightly allowance
by 60 cents in the dollar. |
| # |
These figures may be higher if you are eligible for Rent Assistance
or Pharmaceutical Allowance. |
Income Bank
- Allows Youth Allowance recipients to accumulate up to $6,000
of any unused portion of their fortnightly income-free area.
- Allows Youth Allowance Australian Apprentices to accumulate
up to $1,000 of any unused portion of their fortnightly income-free
area.
- Income Bank credits can be used to offset any income earned
that exceeds the fortnightly income-free area.
Assets Test
- If not independent, family assets test applies (no personal
assets test):
- No payment can be made if the family's assets exceed $580,000.
- A 75 per cent discount for farm/business assets applies
to the family assets test.
- If independent:
Assets Test for Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single** |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $649,250 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $963,000 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $1,193,000 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $963,000 |
Transitional Homeowner
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $604,750 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $941,500 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $1,104,000 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $941,500 |
Assets Test for Disability Support Pensioners Under 21 - Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Aged Under 21 Single - not independent |
|
| 16 - 17 years |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $394,500 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $181,750 |
Less than $422,500 |
| Aged Under 21 Single - independent |
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Up to $181,750 |
Less than $508,250 |
| Aged Under 21 - Couple (combined) |
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| One partner eligible |
Up to $258,000 |
Less than $907,000 |
Assets Test for Non-Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single** |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $755,000 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,094,500 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,324,500 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,094,500 |
Transitional Non-Homeowner
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Single |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $726,250 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,073,000 |
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,235,500 |
| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,073,000 |
Assets Test for Disability Support Pensioners Under 21 - Non-Homeowners
| Family Situation |
For Full Pension
/ Allowance* |
For Part Pension # † |
| Aged Under 21 Single - not independent |
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| 16 - 17 years |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $526,000 |
| Partnered (combined) |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $554,000 |
| Aged Under 21 Single - independent |
|
| Illness separated couple (combined) |
Up to $313,250 |
Less than $639,750 |
| Aged Under 21 - Couple (combined) |
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| One partner eligible |
Up to $389,500 |
Less than $1,038,500 |
Some assets are deemed to earn income, while certain assets
are not included in the assets test; see Deeming
- Financial Investments or contact Centrelink for more information.
Note: The rate of payment is calculated under both the income and
assets tests. The test that results in the lower rate (or nil rate) will apply.
| # |
Limits will increase if Rent Assistance is paid with your
pension. |
| * |
Assets over these amounts reduce pension by $1.50 per fortnight for every
$1,000 above the limit (single and couple combined).
Newstart Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance, Sickness Allowance,
Special Benefit, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance and Austudy Payment
and Mature Age Allowance are not payable if assets exceed these amounts.
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For Disability Support Pension recipients, these limits apply if aged
over 21 only. For those under 21 the same income/assets test applies, but
with different limits. See your nearest Centrelink Customer Service centre
for more information. |
| Asset and Income limits for Transitional Rate and saved case customers
apply to customers who are resident in Australia, or are not absent for
more than 13 weeks only. For other cases, contact Centrelink for more
information. |
Extra Allowable amount for Retirement Village and Granny Flat Residents
If your Entry Contribution is equal to or less than the Extra Allowable Amount,
you are assessed as a non-homeowner. Your Entry Contribution will count as an
asset. You may qualify for Rent Assistance. The Extra Allowable Amount is the
difference between the non-homeowner and homeowner test limits, currently $131,500.
Hardship Provisions
If you have assets but little or no income you are expected to rearrange your
affairs to provide for yourself. In some cases that is not possible. If you
are in "severe financial hardship" you may be able to get a social
security payment. Different tests apply to such cases.
- Payment may be deferred when liquid assets exceed $5,500 (single)
or $11,000 (couple or single with dependants).
- Hardship provisions may apply to the personal assets test.
Family Actual Means Test
- Family actual means (i.e. family spending and savings) in
the year 2008-09 tax year is used where you are not independent
and where one or both of your parents:
- had an interest in a trust, private company or unlisted
public company;
- was self-employed (except as a sole trader engaged wholly
or mainly in primary production) or a partner in a partnership;
- earned in excess of A$2,500 (including tax exempt income)
from a source in Norfolk Island or overseas.
- was a wage or salary earner who claimed or will claim
a tax deduction for a business loss (whether current or
carried forward) that does not consist only of a passive
investment loss in your partnership income tax returns;
- has an interest in assets held overseas in excess of A$2,500
or is migrant who first entered Australia under a business
skills category (business migrant) in the last 10 years.
- In certain circumstances family actual means in the current
tax year may be used.
- Where a family member receives Exceptional Circumstances Relief
Payment the Family Actual Means Test does not apply.
© 2009-10 Forsyte Consulting
Pty Ltd unless otherwise stated.
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