JobSeeker vs Youth Allowance
JobSeeker and Youth Allowance both support people looking for work, but they are split by age. JobSeeker is for people aged 22 up to Age Pension age. Youth Allowance is for young people aged 16 to 21 who are job seekers, or 16 to 24 who are studying.
The younger payment is set up differently, with rates that change by living situation and a parental means test for many under-22s. This page explains how the two compare.
| Payment | Per fortnight | ≈ per year | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| JobSeeker Payment | $808.70 | $21,026.20 | 20 March 2026 |
| Youth Allowance (job seekers) | $1,047.30 | $27,229.80 | 20 March 2026 |
The key differences
Age: JobSeeker is for people 22 and over; Youth Allowance for job seekers is for people 16 to 21.
Rate: JobSeeker has one basic rate for each situation; Youth Allowance rates change by age band and whether you live at home or away from home.
Parental means test: dependent under-22s on Youth Allowance are means tested on their parents' income; JobSeeker has no parental means test.
Income support helper: JobSeeker job seekers build Working Credit; Youth Allowance job seekers do too, while Youth Allowance students get an Income Bank.
Index dates: JobSeeker changes on 20 March and 20 September; Youth Allowance changes once a year on 1 January, so their current figures have different effective dates.
Amount: Youth Allowance is generally lower than JobSeeker, especially for young people living at home.
Who gets more
JobSeeker generally pays more than Youth Allowance, particularly for a young person living at home, whose Youth Allowance rate is the lowest. A person living away from home on Youth Allowance is closer to the JobSeeker rate, but still typically below it. The rate table on this page shows the current figures for each situation.
For a young person under 22 who is treated as dependent, the parental means test can reduce Youth Allowance further, widening the gap. Once someone turns 22, they generally move from Youth Allowance to JobSeeker if they are still a job seeker.
See each payment in full
Common questions
- Is JobSeeker more than Youth Allowance?
- Usually yes. JobSeeker is generally higher than Youth Allowance, especially for a young person living at home, who gets the lowest Youth Allowance rate. The rate table on this page shows the current figures for each situation.
- When do I move from Youth Allowance to JobSeeker?
- Youth Allowance for job seekers is for people aged 16 to 21. When you turn 22, if you are still looking for work, you generally move to JobSeeker. Services Australia can tell you how the change applies to you.
Rates current as of 17 July 2026. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 17 July 2026.