Youth Allowance pays up to $677.20 a fortnight to a single person living away from their parents' home, and $482.40 to someone 18 or older living at home. Austudy pays up to $677.20 a fortnight with no children.
Key facts
- Youth Allowance, 18 or older, living at a parent's home: up to $482.40 a fortnight.
- Youth Allowance, living away from home (or a couple with no children): up to $677.20 a fortnight.
- Youth Allowance, younger than 18 and living at home: up to $418.90 a fortnight.
- Austudy, single or a couple with no children: up to $677.20 a fortnight; single with children $854.20.
- Students and apprentices can earn $539 a fortnight before Youth Allowance reduces, and unused amounts build up in the Income Bank.
- For dependent young people, Youth Allowance reduces by 20 cents for every dollar of parental income over $66,722 (2024-25 income).
- Student and apprentice rates change on 1 January; the rates here are from 1 January 2026 (students) and 20 September 2026 (job seekers).
Youth Allowance for students and apprentices
Maximum Youth Allowance a fortnight for students and Australian Apprentices from 1 January 2026
| Your situation | Maximum a fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, no children, younger than 18, living at a parent's home | $418.90 |
| Single, no children, younger than 18, living away from a parent's home | $677.20 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older, living at a parent's home | $482.40 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older, living away from a parent's home | $677.20 |
| Single, with children | $854.20 |
| Couple, no children | $677.20 |
| Couple, with children | $733.20 |
Higher student rate after long-term income support (22 or older) or for an English language course
| Your situation | Maximum a fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, living at a parent's home | $567.50 |
| Single, living away from home | $799.70 |
| Couple, no children | $733.20 |
If you're dependent, your parents' income can reduce or stop the payment (the parental means test).
Youth Allowance for job seekers
Maximum Youth Allowance a fortnight for job seekers from 20 September 2026
| Your situation | Maximum a fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, no children, younger than 18, living at a parent's home | $418.90 |
| Single, no children, younger than 18, living away from home to study, train or look for work | $677.20 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older, living at a parent's home | $482.40 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older, needing to live away from a parent's home | $677.20 |
| Single, with children | $854.20 |
| Couple, no children | $677.20 |
| Couple, with children | $733.20 |
| Single principal carer exempt from mutual obligations (foster carer, home schooling, distance education, relative carer under a parenting order, or large family) | $1,068.20 |
Student income test
For students and Australian Apprentices, Youth Allowance starts to reduce when personal income is over $539 a fortnight. Income below $539 builds credits in the Income Bank, which are used first in fortnights when you earn more.
Youth Allowance for students and apprentices: how income reduces the payment
| Your situation | Earning $539 to $646 | Earning over $646 | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, under 18, living at home | 50c per $1 over $539 | $53.50 plus 60c per $1 over $646 | $1,261.50 |
| Single, 18 or older, living at home | 50c per $1 over $539 | $53.50 plus 60c per $1 over $646 | $1,368.50 |
| Single or couple, no children, living away from home | 50c per $1 over $539 | $53.50 plus 60c per $1 over $646 | $1,697.17 |
| Couple with children | 50c per $1 over $539 | $53.50 plus 60c per $1 over $646 | $1,791.67 |
| Single with children | 50c per $1 over $539 | $53.50 plus 60c per $1 over $646 | $1,995.84 |
Cut-offs are income a fortnight before tax at which the basic rate reaches $0. If the payment is $0 for 12 fortnights in a row because of income, it's cancelled.
Parental income test
If you're dependent, your parents' or guardians' income can reduce Youth Allowance. In 2026 Services Australia uses their income for the 2024-25 financial year. It isn't applied if a parent gets at least $1 of an income support payment (not counting Family Tax Benefit). Parents' assets don't count.
Effect of parental income (2024-25 income, assessed in 2026)
| Parental income | Effect on Youth Allowance |
|---|---|
| $66,722 or less | No change |
| More than $66,722 | Reduced by 20 cents for every dollar over $66,722 |
Parental income includes combined taxable income, tax-free pensions, fringe benefits, foreign income, reportable super contributions and net investment losses, less child support paid. Other dependent children in the family can increase the payment.
Austudy rates
Austudy is a separate student payment with its own rates.
Maximum Austudy a fortnight from 1 January 2026
| Your situation | Maximum a fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, no children | $677.20 |
| Single, with children | $854.20 |
| Couple, no children | $677.20 |
| Couple, with children | $733.20 |
Higher Austudy rate after long-term income support or for an English language course
| Your situation | Maximum a fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single, no children | $799.70 |
| Couple, no children | $733.20 |
Common questions
How much is Youth Allowance a fortnight?
Up to $677.20 a fortnight if you're single and living away from your parents' home, $482.40 if you're 18 or older and living at home, and $418.90 if you're under 18 and living at home.
How much can I earn on Youth Allowance as a student?
$539 a fortnight before the payment reduces. Between $539 and $646 it reduces by 50 cents per dollar, and by 60 cents per dollar above $646. Unused income below $539 builds up in your Income Bank.
What is the parental income limit for Youth Allowance?
There's no single cut-off. In 2026 Youth Allowance reduces by 20 cents for every dollar of parental income over $66,722 (from the 2024-25 financial year), so the point where it stops depends on the rate and the number of children in the family.
How much is Austudy?
Up to $677.20 a fortnight for a single student with no children and $854.20 for a single student with children.
When do Youth Allowance rates change?
Student and apprentice rates change on 1 January. Rates for single job seekers and principal carers change on 20 March and 20 September.
Is Youth Allowance taxable?
Yes. Youth Allowance for people 16 or older is taxable, and so is Austudy.
Other payments: JobSeeker · Parenting Payment · DSP · Carer Payment · Family Tax Benefit · Parental Leave Pay · Concession cards · Age Pension · Rent Assistance. Back to all Centrelink payment rates.
Source: Services Australia, How much Youth Allowance for students and apprentices you can get, How much Youth Allowance for job seekers you can get, Personal income test for Youth Allowance students and apprentices, How much Austudy you can get, Parental income test for Youth Allowance (pages last updated 20 September 2026). Checked 21 October 2026. General information only; Services Australia works out your actual payment.