ABSTUDY Living Allowance rates 2026
ABSTUDY Living Allowance · Aged 22 or over — Standard — At home
Basic rate per fortnight · $21,026.20 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)
- Basic Rate
- $808.70
- Energy Supplement
- $8.80
- Total per fortnight
- $817.50
$817.50 total with Energy Supplement (paid automatically with this payment).
Effective 20 March 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia
ABSTUDY Living Allowance is income support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and Australian Apprentices. It helps with day-to-day living costs while you study or train. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
ABSTUDY has many variants and several supplementary parts, so the Living Allowance rate depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, whether you are in state care, and whether you have a partner or children. This page shows the Living Allowance rates. Living Allowance changes on 20 September 2026.
Every number on this page is taken line by line from the Department of Social Services rates list and checked against the Services Australia payments guide.
Full ABSTUDY Living Allowance rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 22 or over — Standard — At home | $808.70 | $8.80 | $817.50 | $21,255 |
| Aged 22 or over — Standard — Away from home | $808.70 | $8.80 | $817.50 | $21,255 |
| Aged 22 or over — Independent — Single, no children | $808.70 | $8.80 | $817.50 | $21,255 |
| Aged 22 or over — Independent — Single, with children | $866 | $9.50 | $875.50 | $22,763 |
| Aged 55 or over — Independent | $866 | $16.50 | $882.50 | $22,945 |
| Aged 22 or over — Independent — Partnered (each), no children | $740.30 | $7.90 | $748.20 | $19,453.20 |
| Aged 22 or over — Independent — Partnered (each), with children | $740.30 | $7.90 | $748.20 | $19,453.20 |
| Standard — Under 16, tertiary | — | $42.90 | $42.90 | $1,115.40 |
| Standard — 16 to 17 years | — | $418.90 | $418.90 | $10,891.40 |
| Standard — 18 to 21 years | — | $482.40 | $482.40 | $12,542.40 |
| In state care (Foster Care Allowance paid) — Under 16 | — | $418.90 | $418.90 | $10,891.40 |
| In state care (Foster Care Allowance paid) — 16 to 17 | — | $418.90 | $418.90 | $10,891.40 |
| In state care (Foster Care Allowance paid) — 18 to 21 | — | $482.40 | $482.40 | $12,542.40 |
| In state care (no Foster Care Allowance) — Under 16 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| In state care (no Foster Care Allowance) — 16 to 21 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Away from home — Under 16 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Away from home — 16 to 21 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Independent single, no children — Under 16 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Independent single, no children — 16 to 21 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Independent single — Under 16, at home | — | $418.90 | $418.90 | $10,891.40 |
| Independent single — 16 to 17, at home | — | $418.90 | $418.90 | $10,891.40 |
| Independent single — 18 to 21, at home | — | $482.40 | $482.40 | $12,542.40 |
| Independent partnered, no children — Under 16 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Independent partnered, no children — 16 to 21 | — | $677.20 | $677.20 | $17,607.20 |
| Independent single with dependent child — Under 16 | — | $854.20 | $854.20 | $22,209.20 |
| Independent single with dependent child — 16 to 21 | — | $854.20 | $854.20 | $22,209.20 |
| Independent partnered with dependent child — Under 16 | — | $733.20 | $733.20 | $19,063.20 |
| Independent partnered with dependent child — 16 to 21 | — | $733.20 | $733.20 | $19,063.20 |
| Masters and Doctorate students | — | $1,316.20 | $1,316.20 | $34,221.20 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Standard — Single — Aged 22 or over — At home · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Standard — Single — Aged 22 or over — Away from home · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Independent — Single — Aged 22 or over — No dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Independent — Single — Aged 22 or over — With dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Independent — Single — Aged 55 or over · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Independent — Partnered (each) — Aged 22 or over — No dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — ABSTUDY Living Allowance — Independent — Partnered (each) — Aged 22 or over — With dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — ABSTUDY — Living Allowance rates
The table below shows the ABSTUDY Living Allowance rates. The Living Allowance broadly mirrors Youth Allowance rates, grouped by age, living situation and family situation. ABSTUDY also has extra help, such as School Fees Allowance and boarding support, that is not shown as part of the Living Allowance rate here.
The rate shown is the maximum basic Living Allowance. Your actual payment can be lower once the income test, and for younger students the parental means test, is applied. Because ABSTUDY has so many parts, this page does not include a calculator; use the official ABSTUDY estimator for a figure that fits your circumstances.
What this means
ABSTUDY Living Allowance is paid every two weeks. Your rate is chosen by your age, your living situation, whether you are in state care, and whether you have a partner or children. Living away from home attracts a higher rate than living at home.
ABSTUDY is more than the Living Allowance. Depending on your situation it can also include help with school fees, boarding, travel and other study costs. Those extra parts are paid under their own rules and are not part of the Living Allowance figure shown here.
For students under 22 who are treated as dependent, a parental means test can apply, and the rules for school-age students differ from the rules for older students. Because of this, ABSTUDY is best estimated through the official tool.
The Living Allowance is indexed at the student indexation and, for some age groups, alongside pensions and allowances. The next change shown for this payment is on 20 September 2026, and this page updates to match.
Who can get ABSTUDY Living Allowance
Services Australia assesses ABSTUDY on your Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status, your age, your study or apprenticeship, your residence status, and your income. The rules for school students, tertiary students and apprentices differ.
This page reports the rates and the test rules. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official ABSTUDY page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Explore ABSTUDY Living Allowance
- Full rate tableEvery variant, base to total
- How much in 2026?The answer, up top
- Income testHow earnings change it
ABSTUDY Living Allowance: common questions
- How much is ABSTUDY Living Allowance per fortnight?
- It depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, and whether you have a partner or children. For example, the standard rate for a single person aged 22 or over living away from home is $817.50 a fortnight. The table at the top of this page shows every situation. Your payment can be lower after the income test, and ABSTUDY can also include extra help that is not part of this figure.
- Why is there no ABSTUDY calculator on this page?
- ABSTUDY has many rates and several supplementary parts, plus different rules for school students, tertiary students and apprentices. A simple calculator could mislead. For an estimate that fits your circumstances, use the official ABSTUDY estimator linked from this page.
- When does ABSTUDY go up next?
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance is indexed at student indexation and, for some age groups, alongside pensions and allowances. The next change shown for this payment is on 20 September 2026, and this page updates to match.
- Does ABSTUDY include help beyond the Living Allowance?
- Yes. Depending on your situation, ABSTUDY can include School Fees Allowance, boarding support, travel help and other study costs. These are paid under their own rules and are not part of the Living Allowance rate shown here. Check the official ABSTUDY page for what you may be eligible for.
- Is ABSTUDY taxable?
- The ABSTUDY Living Allowance is generally taxable income. Some ABSTUDY supplements are treated differently. Because the parts are taxed differently, check the Australian Taxation Office or your payment summary for how your own ABSTUDY is taxed.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates current as of 20 March 2026. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 17 July 2026.