Youth Allowance (job seekers) rates 2026
Youth Allowance (job seekers) · 18 or over, living away from home
Basic rate per fortnight · $17,607.20 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)
- Maximum basic rate
- $677.20
- Energy Supplement
- $7.00
- Total per fortnight
- $684.20
$684.20 total with Energy Supplement (paid automatically with this payment).
Effective 1 January 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia · What changed on 1 January 2026
Youth Allowance for job seekers is income support for young people aged 16 to 21 who are looking for work, or who are temporarily unable to work. It is the younger person's version of JobSeeker, paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
There is no single Youth Allowance rate. What you get depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, whether you have a partner, and whether you have children. This page shows every rate so you can find the one that fits your situation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 1 January 2027.
Full Youth Allowance (job seekers) rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test | $1,068.20 | $19.00 | $1,087.20 | $28,267.20 |
| Under 18, living at home | $418.90 | $3.90 | $422.80 | $10,992.80 |
| Under 18, living away from home | $677.20 | $7.00 | $684.20 | $17,789.20 |
| 18 or over, living away from home | $677.20 | $7.00 | $684.20 | $17,789.20 |
| 18 or over, living at home | $482.40 | $4.60 | $487.00 | $12,662 |
| Single, with children | $854.20 | $9.20 | $863.40 | $22,448.40 |
| Partnered, no children | $677.20 | $7.00 | $684.20 | $17,789.20 |
| Partnered, with children | $733.20 | $7.70 | $740.90 | $19,263.40 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Youth Allowance — Single — Principal carer (exempt from the activity test) · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — Youth Allowance — Maximum basic rate; Energy Supplement from CO029
The table below lists every Youth Allowance rate for job seekers. Rates are grouped by age band and living situation, because someone under 18 living with their parents needs less than someone 18 or over living away from home. There are also higher rates for people who have a partner or dependent children.
The rate shown is the maximum basic rate. Your actual payment can be lower once the income test, and for many young people the parental means test, is applied.
What changed on 1 January 2026
| Rate | Before 1 January 2026 | From 1 January 2026 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18, living at home | $414.20 | $422.80 | +$8.60 | +2.08% |
| Under 18, living away from home | $670.30 | $684.20 | +$13.90 | +2.07% |
| 18 or over, living away from home | $670.30 | $684.20 | +$13.90 | +2.07% |
| 18 or over, living at home | $477.10 | $487.00 | +$9.90 | +2.08% |
| Single, with children | $845.80 | $863.40 | +$17.60 | +2.08% |
| Partnered, no children | $670.30 | $684.20 | +$13.90 | +2.07% |
| Partnered, with children | $725.80 | $740.90 | +$15.10 | +2.08% |
- On 1 January 2026, Youth Allowance (job seekers), 18 or over, living away from home, rose $13.90, or 2.07%, from $670.30 to $684.20.
- Across the 7 rates in the table, the rise ranged from 2.07% to 2.08%.
- Youth Allowance (job seekers), 18 or over, living away from home, pays up to $684.20 a fortnight, $553.50 (44.72%) less than the single Age Pension at $1,237.70.
Youth Allowance (job seekers) in 2026
| Rate | Before | 1 January 2026 | 20 March 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 20 September 2026 | 2026 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test | $1,046.70 | — | $1,066.30 | — | $1,087.20 | +$40.50 (+3.87%) |
| Under 18, living at home | $414.20 | $422.80 | — | — | — | +$8.60 (+2.08%) |
| Under 18, living away from home | $670.30 | $684.20 | — | — | — | +$13.90 (+2.07%) |
| 18 or over, living away from home | $670.30 | $684.20 | — | — | — | +$13.90 (+2.07%) |
| 18 or over, living at home | $477.10 | $487.00 | — | — | — | +$9.90 (+2.08%) |
| Single, with children | $845.80 | $863.40 | — | — | — | +$17.60 (+2.08%) |
| Partnered, no children | $670.30 | $684.20 | — | — | — | +$13.90 (+2.07%) |
| Partnered, with children | $725.80 | $740.90 | — | — | — | +$15.10 (+2.08%) |
- Youth Allowance (job seekers), 18 or over, living away from home, rose $13.90 (2.07%) across 2026, from $670.30 to $684.20 on 1 January 2026.
How much Youth Allowance (job seekers) pays
The Youth Allowance rate for your situation is shown in the data block and table above, effective 1 January 2026. It is paid every two weeks.
That figure is the maximum before any test reduces it. If you are under 22 and dependent, your parents' income can reduce it. If you earn your own income over the free area, that reduces it too. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 1 January 2027.
| Situation | Income a fortnight | Rent a fortnight | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 or over, living away from home, no income | $0 | — | $684.20 a fortnight |
| 18 or over, living away from home, with income | $300 | — | $604.20 a fortnight |
| 18 or over, living away from home, renting (includes Rent Assistance) | $0 | $450 | $903.35 a fortnight |
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 $300 a fortnight cuts the 18 or over, living away from home rate to $604.20, $80.00 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.
Youth Allowance (job seekers) income test
| Fortnightly income | Effect on your payment |
|---|---|
| Up to $150 | No reduction (this is the income free area) |
| $150 to $250 | Reduces by 50c for each dollar over $150 |
| $250 and above | Reduces by 60c for each dollar over $250 |
Source: Services Australia, A guide to Australian Government payments (CO029), 20 September 2026 edition — Personal income test for Youth Allowance job seekers
| Situation | Payment reduces to nil at |
|---|---|
| Single, under 18, at home | $871.34 /fortnight |
| Single, 18 and over, at home | $978.34 /fortnight |
| Single or partnered, away from home | $1,307 /fortnight |
| Partnered, with dependants | $1,401.50 /fortnight |
| Single, with dependants | $1,605.67 /fortnight |
| Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test | $1,978.67 /fortnight |
| Situation | Partner income free area |
|---|---|
| Partner aged between 22 and Age Pension age | $1,440 /fortnight |
| Partner aged under 22, no children | $1,307 /fortnight |
| Partner aged under 22, with children | $1,402 /fortnight |
Youth Allowance 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.
If you are under 22 and dependent, a parental means test also applies. Your parents' combined income above a yearly threshold reduces your payment. Both your own income and your parents' income can reduce the same payment.
If you have a partner, their income above the partner income free area can reduce your payment as well. The partner free area is higher if your partner is 22 or over.
Where Youth Allowance (job seekers) stops
| Situation | Income free area | Payment reaches $0 at | DSS figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test | $150 | $1,978.67 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Under 18, living at home | $150 | $871.34 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Under 18, living away from home | $150 | $1,307.00 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| 18 or over, living away from home | $150 | $1,307.00 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| 18 or over, living at home | $150 | $978.34 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Single, with children | $150 | $1,605.67 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Partnered, no children | $150 | $1,307.00 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Partnered, with children | $150 | $1,401.50 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
Rounded up to the cent, as DSS rounds its limits.
- 18 or over, living away from home: the payment reaches $0 at $1,307.00 a fortnight of income, $1,157.00 more than the $150.00 income free area.
- That is $250.17 lower than JobSeeker's single cut-out of $1,557.17.
Estimate your Youth Allowance (job seekers)
Income Bank: students and apprentices build up an Income Bank. Unused fortnightly income limits carry over, so income up to your Income Bank balance may not reduce your payment — this estimate does not include your Income Bank credit. See the Income Bank explainer for details.
Your own gross income, before tax.
Estimated Youth Allowance (job seekers) payment
$1,087.20per fortnight
- ≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $28,267.20
How this is worked out
What this means
Youth Allowance is paid every two weeks. The rate you get is picked from the table by your age, your living situation, your relationship and whether you have children. Living away from home attracts a higher rate than living at home.
For most people under 22 who are still treated as dependent on their parents, a parental means test applies. Your parents' income above a threshold reduces your payment. This is separate from your own income test, and it is why two young people on the same basic rate can receive very different amounts.
Most Youth Allowance rates change once a year, on 1 January, by the Consumer Price Index, though a small number of variants also move at the March and September indexation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 1 January 2027, and this page updates to match.
Who can get Youth Allowance (job seekers)
Services Australia assesses Youth Allowance for job seekers on your age, your residence status, your income, your parents' income if you are dependent, and whether you meet the activity or mutual obligation rules, such as looking for work.
Whether you count as independent or dependent makes a big difference, because it decides if the parental means test applies. This page reports the rates and the test rules. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Youth Allowance page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Related
- Youth Allowance (job seekers) vs JobSeeker PaymentSide by side at three incomes
- 20 September 2026 indexationEvery payment, old against new
- Payment dates 2026Cycles and public holidays
Youth Allowance (job seekers): common questions
- How much is Youth Allowance for job seekers per fortnight?
- There is no single rate. It depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, and whether you have a partner or children. The table at the top of this page shows the maximum basic rate for each situation. Your own payment can be lower after the income test and, if you are under 22 and dependent, the parental means test.
- When does Youth Allowance go up next?
- Most Youth Allowance rates change once a year, on 1 January, though a small number of variants also move at the March and September indexation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 1 January 2027. New rates are published just before each date, and this page updates to match.
- Does my parents' income affect my Youth Allowance?
- If you are under 22 and treated as dependent, yes. A parental means test reduces your payment once your parents' combined income passes a yearly threshold. If you are assessed as independent, the parental means test does not apply. See our parental means test page for how it works.
- How much can I earn before Youth Allowance reduces?
- You can earn up to the personal income free area each fortnight before your payment reduces. Above that, it reduces in steps, faster once you pass the upper threshold. The exact free area and cut-off are shown in the income test table on this page.
- Is Youth Allowance taxable?
- Yes, Youth Allowance is taxable income and is included in your tax return. Whether you actually pay tax depends on your total income for the year. Many young people on Youth Allowance earn under the tax-free threshold and pay no tax, but you should check your own situation with the Australian Taxation Office.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates effective 1 January 2026 · next scheduled indexation 1 January 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.