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Independence test for Youth Allowance

If you apply for Youth Allowance, you will be assessed as either 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 partial capacity to work as determined by a Job Capacity Assessment, or
• you are or have been previously married or living in a marriage-like relationship 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 in a marriage-like relationship, you must be over the age of consent in the State or Territory you live in for that time. Six month relationships are accepted in special circumstances.

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