Austudy rates 2026

Full Austudy rate table

The table below shows every Austudy rate: single, single with children, partnered, and partnered with children. Because Austudy is for people aged 25 and over, there is no at-home or away-from-home split and no parental means test.

The rate shown is the maximum for each situation. Where an Energy Supplement applies, it is paid automatically with Austudy and shown as its own line; it has been frozen at the same amount since it was introduced, so it does not rise at indexation. Your actual payment can be lower once the income test is applied.

What changed on 1 January 2026

• On 1 January 2026, Austudy, single, no children, rose $13.90, or 2.07%, from $670.30 to $684.20.
• Across the 6 rates in the table, the rise ranged from 2.07% to 2.08%.
• Austudy, single, no children, pays up to $684.20 a fortnight, $553.50 (44.72%) less than the single Age Pension at $1,237.70.

Austudy in 2026

• Austudy, single, no children, rose $13.90 (2.07%) across 2026, from $670.30 to $684.20 on 1 January 2026.

How much Austudy pays

The Austudy rate for your situation is shown in the data block and table above, with its effective date. It is paid every two weeks.

That figure is the maximum before the income test. If you earn income over the free area, your payment is lower, though the student Income Bank can soften the effect. The next increase is on 1 January 2027.

Independent, or a dependent whose parents’ income is under the parental income free area. Assets under the limit. Income is per fortnight. Rent Assistance uses the single, no-children rate for someone not sharing.

• Income of $700 a fortnight cuts the single, no children rate to $598.30, $85.90 less than the maximum of $684.20.
• Paying $450 a fortnight in rent adds $219.15 of Rent Assistance, a payment of $903.35 with no other income — $219.15 more than without rent.

Austudy income test

Austudy has a personal income free area. You can earn up to that amount each fortnight before your payment reduces. Above the free area, your payment reduces in steps, with a higher taper once your income passes the upper threshold. The exact figures are in the income test table on this page.

The Income Bank lets you store unused free area as a credit and use it later when your income is higher. This is designed to help students who take on more work during holidays.

If you have a partner, their income above the partner income free area can reduce your payment. There is no parental means test for Austudy.

Where Austudy stops

• Single, no children: the payment reaches $0 at $1,697.17 a fortnight of income, $1,158.17 more than the $539.00 income free area.
• That is $140.00 higher than JobSeeker's single cut-out of $1,557.17.

Austudy assets test

Allowance payments are not paid at a reduced rate under the assets test — payment is nil once assets exceed the limit.

Austudy has an assets test that works as a hard limit rather than a gradual reduction. If your assets are under the limit you can be paid, subject to the income test. If your assets are over the limit, you are not paid.

The home you live in is not counted, and the limit is higher for non-homeowners than for homeowners. The asset limits are shown on this page.

• The single homeowner limit of $333,000 is $267,000 lower than the non-homeowner limit of $600,000; over the limit the payment is nil.

Estimate your Austudy