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Eligibility for Newstart Allowance

You may be eligible for Newstart Allowance if you are:

  • aged 21 or over, and
  • under the Age Pension age, and
  • looking for paid work, and
  • prepared to enter into an activity agreement, and
  • not involved in industrial action.

You may be able to receive a short-term exemption from the activity test in special circumstances.

There are more flexible activity test requirements if you receive Newstart Allowance and you are aged 55 or older.

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