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Eligibility

You may be eligible for Newstart Allowance if you are:

  • aged 21 years or over, and
  • under Age Pension age, and
  • looking for paid work, and
  • prepared to enter into an Employment Pathway Plan and meet activity test requirements, and
  • not involved in industrial action.

Age Pension age

Age Pension age for males is 65 years and over.

Age Pension age for females depends on when you were born. For example:

  • if you were born on or after 1 January 1949, Age Pension age is 65 years, or
  • if you were born on or between 1 July 1947 and 31 December 1948, Age Pension age is 64.5 years.

Employment Pathway Plan

You need to enter into and sign an Employment Pathway Plan when you start to receive Newstart Allowance. This outlines activities you agree to undertake while you are looking for work to give you the best chance of getting a job.

Activity Test requirements

To keep getting Newstart Allowance, you need to participate in activities designed to increase your chances of finding work. This is called meeting ‘activity test’ requirements. They could mean applying for jobs, doing a course, or working part-time. You may be able to receive a short-term exemption from the Activity Test in special circumstances.

Note: If you are aged 55 years or older, the activity test requirements are more flexible.

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