Youth Allowance - Teenagers - FAQs
- I received a letter from Centrelink about changes to Youth Allowance and Family Assistance, does this mean my Youth Allowance will stop?
- How do we decide which payment is best for our family?
- How long do I have to make my choice between Family Tax Benefit and Youth Allowance?
- How do I stop my Youth Allowance if my family decides Family Tax Benefit is the best option?
- Can my parent/s or guardian/s stop my Youth Allowance without my permission?
- What if I stop my Youth Allowance and my parent/s or guardian/s do not claim Family Tax Benefit?
- If I have received a letter about these changes do I still need to return the End of Year Review or other requests for information?
- What will happen to my Health Care Card if I stop my Youth Allowance?
- What if I no longer live at home?
- What if I am no longer at school?
- What if I stop my Youth Allowance and my parent/s or guardian/s claim Family Tax Benefit and we decide that it was not the right decision, can I go back to Youth Allowance?
- Would I still be entitled to the Youth Disability Supplement if my parent/s or guardian/s claim Family Tax Benefit for me?
- I am a Tertiary student, how will this affect me?
I received a letter from Centrelink about changes to Youth Allowance and Family Assistance, does this mean my Youth Allowance will stop?
You only needed to respond to the letter if you are in full-time secondary study and you wanted to stop your Youth Allowance payment so your parent/s or guardian/s can receive the higher amount of Family Tax Benefit for you.
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How do we decide which payment is best for our family?
The maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A for 16-17 year old full-time secondary students is about the same as the maximum fortnightly rate of Youth Allowance for under 18 year old dependent students living at home. With Family Tax Benefit your family may be entitled to extra payments such as Family Tax Benefit Part B, Rent Assistance and the Family Tax Benefit Supplement payments.
Note: any income you earn will not affect the rate of Family Tax Benefit while you are in full-time secondary study up until the end of the calendar year you turn 19 but may affect your Youth Allowance.
The Family Assistance - Youth Allowance Comparison Estimator may help you work out which payment is best for your family.
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How long do I have to make my choice between Family Tax Benefit and Youth Allowance?
You can choose to stop Youth Allowance so your parent/s or guardian/s can claim Family Tax Benefit at any time, as long as you are in full-time secondary study, dependent and under 19.
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How do I stop my Youth Allowance if my family decides Family Tax Benefit is the best option?
If you are already registered for Centrelink Online Services, logon and go to Request to stop Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY and complete the notification.
If you are not registered for Online Services, you can stop your student payment using the One Time Access Code included in your letter.
Go to the home page of this website, select Customer Online Services in the left menu, then select Request to stop Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY in the Features Panel on the right.
Enter your Customer Reference Number and use the One Time Access Code in your letter to complete the notification.
Or you can contact Department of Human Services on 132490
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Can my parent/s or guardian/s stop my Youth Allowance without my permission?
Only if they are a correspondence nominee for you. For more information on nominees, or to find out if you have a nominee please contact us on 13 2490.
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What if I stop my Youth Allowance and my parent/s or guardian/s do not claim Family Tax Benefit?
If your parent/s or guardian/s has decided not to claim Family Tax Benefit, you should contact us before 31 March 2012 to have your Youth Allowance re-granted. Alternatively your parent/s or guardian/s has until June 2014 to claim Family Tax Benefit for you.
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If I have received a letter about these changes do I still need to return the End of Year Review or other requests for information?
You or your family should have completed and returned your End of Year (SY012) Parental Income and Asset Review form for the 2010/2011 financial year. If the review form has not been returned, this will affect the date your Youth Allowance is paid until.
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What will happen to my Health Care Card if I stop my Youth Allowance?
A 16-18 year old in full-time secondary study can not receive a Health Care Card in their own name, however they may be included on the family’s Health Care Card if the family is eligible for one.
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What if I no longer live at home?
If you have to live away from home and are studying full-time, you can test your eligibility for the Away From Home rate of Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY Living Allowance. Contact us for more information.
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What if I am no longer at school?
If you are receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY Living Allowance you must advise us within 14 days of stopping full-time study so you do not end up with an overpayment.
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What if I stop my Youth Allowance and my parent/s or guardian/s claim Family Tax Benefit and we decide that it was not the right decision, can I go back to Youth Allowance?
If you were receiving Youth Allowance on the 31 December 2011 and you choose to stop your payment, you may reclaim Youth Allowance if you've changed your mind.
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Would I still be entitled to the Youth Disability Supplement if my parent/s or guardian/s claim Family Tax Benefit for me?
No. The Youth Disability Supplement is not paid with Family Tax Benefit, so if you choose to stop your Youth Allowance payment then your Youth Disability Supplement will also cancel.
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I am a Tertiary student, how will this affect me?
There are no changes to Youth Allowance for Tertiary students.
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