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  • Individuals  >  Payments  > 
  • Youth Allowance - independence test
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Independence test

If you apply for Youth Allowance, you will be assessed as either being dependent or independent.

You may be considered independent if:

  • you have worked full-time (at least 30 hours a week) for at least 18 months in the last 2 years, or
  • you have worked part-time (at least 15 hours a week) for at least 2 years since leaving school, or
  • you have been out of school for at least 18 months and have earned at least 75% of the maximum rate of pay under Wage Level A of the Australian Pay and Classification Scale in an 18-month period, or
  • you have a partial capacity to work as determined by a Job Capacity Assessment, or
  • you are or have been legally married, in a registered relationship or living in a de facto relationship with another person as a member of a couple for at least 12 months, or
  • you have, or have had a dependent child, or
  • you have parents who cannot exercise their responsibilities, or
  • you are unable to live at home due to extreme family breakdown, violence in the home, or serious threats to your health or well-being, or
  • you are a refugee without parents living in Australia or you are an orphan, or
  • you are in State care, or only stopped being in State care because of your age.

You are also considered independent if you are aged 25 or over and a full-time student.

To qualify as independent as a member of a couple, you must be over the age of consent in the State or Territory you live in for that time. 6 month relationships are accepted in special circumstances.

Note: These criteria may change as a result of the 2009/10 Budget measures. Refer to Budget 2009/10 - students for more information.

More information

  • Youth Allowance section

On the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website

  • Guide to Social Security Law - partial capacity to work

Youth Allowance

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  • Page last updated: 3 March 2010