Who can get Mobility Allowance?
You may receive Mobility Allowance if you:
- are aged 16 or over, and
- have a disability that prevents you from using public transport without substantial assistance
(there does not need to be public transport in your area for you to qualify), and
- need to travel to and from your home as part of your work, self employment, training or job
seeking.
To qualify for the standard rate of Mobility Allowance, you must also be:
- doing at least 32 hours over a 4 week period of voluntary work, paid work, self employment,
training (including life skills courses) or any combination of these, or
- receiving Newstart, Austudy or Youth Allowance and be fulfilling the activity test associated with
these payments, or
- participating in a Vocational Rehabilitation Services Programme, or
- looking for work under an agreement with a Provider of Australian Government Employment
Services e.g. Job Network, Disability Employment Network, Vocational Rehabilitation Services,
Job Placement Employment and Training or Personal Support Programme.
To qualify for the higher rate of Mobility Allowance, you must also be:
- receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or Disability Support Pension,
and
- working 15 hours or more per week for wages at or above the relevant minimum wage, or
- looking for work under an agreement with a Provider of Australian Government Employment Services
e.g. Job Network, Disability Employment Network, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Job Placement
Employment and Training or Personal Support Programme, or
- working for at least 15 hours per week under the Supported Wage System.
In some instances the higher rate may still be payable if you stop receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or Disability Support Pension because of income you have earned.
Please Note: You can still get this payment (as long as you meet all other qualifications) if you received a GST exemption on a car. You cannot get this payment if you currently have a motor vehicle provided by the Department of Veteran's Affairs under the Vehicle Assistance Scheme.
After a person finishes employment or training, if they continue to satisfy other conditions, the allowance is payable for 12 weeks before cancellation.
For more information, go to Factors that Affect Payments and Eligibility.
