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Who can get Sickness Allowance?

You may get Sickness Allowance if you are assessed as being unable to work or study temporarily because of illness, injury or disability and you are:

• aged 21 or over but under Age Pension age and have a job, or
• aged 21 or over but under Age Pension age and getting ABSTUDY, or
• aged 25 and over but under Age Pension age and getting Austudy, and
• an Australian resident, in Australia and not subject to the two year newly arrived residents waiting period.

You must have work or study to return to when you are better.

A person claiming Sickness Allowance may be required to attend a Job Capacity Assessment and verify that they still have a job or study to return to. If a customer does not qualify for Sickness Allowance because they do not have a job or study to return to, but have a disability, illness or injury that temporarily stops them from working or studying, they may qualify for Newstart Allowance. A person claiming Sickness Allowance must be an Australian resident.

For more information, go to Factors that Affect Payments and Eligibility.