Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) rates 2026
Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) · 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 students and apprentices is income support for young people aged 16 to 24 who are studying full time or doing an Australian Apprenticeship. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
There is no single 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 rates change on 1 January 2027.
Full Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Special rate — Single, living at home | $567.50 | $5.70 | $573.20 | $14,903.20 |
| Special rate — Single, living away from home | $799.70 | $8.60 | $808.30 | $21,015.80 |
| Special rate — Partnered, no children | $733.20 | $7.70 | $740.90 | $19,263.40 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — Youth Allowance — Maximum basic rate; Energy Supplement from CO029 · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — Youth Allowance — Special rate (long-term unemployed or migrant English students aged 22 or over commencing full-time study); Energy Supplement from CO029
The table below lists every Youth Allowance rate for students and apprentices. Rates are grouped by age band and living situation, because a student under 18 living at home needs less than a student 18 or over living away from home. There are higher rates for people with 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 students 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% |
| Special rate — Single, living at home | $561.50 | $573.20 | +$11.70 | +2.08% |
| Special rate — Single, living away from home | $791.90 | $808.30 | +$16.40 | +2.07% |
| Special rate — Partnered, no children | $725.80 | $740.90 | +$15.10 | +2.08% |
- On 1 January 2026, Youth Allowance (students and apprentices), 18 or over, living away from home, rose $13.90, or 2.07%, from $670.30 to $684.20.
- Across the 10 rates in the table, the rise ranged from 2.07% to 2.08%.
- Youth Allowance (students and apprentices), 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 (students and apprentices) in 2026
| Rate | Before | 1 January 2026 | 20 March 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 20 September 2026 | 2026 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%) |
| Special rate — Single, living at home | $561.50 | $573.20 | — | — | — | +$11.70 (+2.08%) |
| Special rate — Single, living away from home | $791.90 | $808.30 | — | — | — | +$16.40 (+2.07%) |
| Special rate — Partnered, no children | $725.80 | $740.90 | — | — | — | +$15.10 (+2.08%) |
- Youth Allowance (students and apprentices), 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 (students and apprentices) pays
The Youth Allowance rate for your situation is shown in the data block and table above. 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, though the student Income Bank can soften the effect. The rates change 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 | $700 | — | $598.30 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 $700 a fortnight cuts the 18 or over, living away from home 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.
Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) income test
| Fortnightly income | Effect on your payment |
|---|---|
| Up to $539 | No reduction (this is the income free area) |
| $539 to $646 | Reduces by 50c for each dollar over $539 |
| $646 and above | Reduces by 60c for each dollar over $646 |
Source: Services Australia, A guide to Australian Government payments (CO029), 20 September 2026 edition — Personal income test for students and Australian Apprentices; thresholds from DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026
| Situation | Payment reduces to nil at |
|---|---|
| Single, under 18, at home | $1,261.50 /fortnight |
| Single, 18 and over, at home | $1,368.50 /fortnight |
| Single or partnered, away from home | $1,697.17 /fortnight |
| Partnered, with dependants | $1,791.67 /fortnight |
| Single, with dependants | $1,995.84 /fortnight |
| Special rate — Single, living at home | $1,512.17 /fortnight |
| Special rate — Single, living away from home | $1,904 /fortnight |
| Special rate — Partnered, no children | $1,791.67 /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.
Students also have an Income Bank. Unused free area builds up as a credit that offsets income above the free area in later fortnights. This is why a student who works a lot over the summer break may keep more of their payment than the plain income test would suggest.
If you are under 22 and dependent, a parental means test reduces your payment once your parents' income passes a yearly threshold. If you have a partner, their income above the partner free area can also reduce your payment.
Where Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) stops
| Situation | Income free area | Payment reaches $0 at | DSS figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18, living at home | $539 | $1,261.50 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Under 18, living away from home | $539 | $1,697.17 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| 18 or over, living away from home | $539 | $1,697.17 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| 18 or over, living at home | $539 | $1,368.50 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Single, with children | $539 | $1,995.84 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Partnered, no children | $539 | $1,697.17 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Partnered, with children | $539 | $1,791.67 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Special rate — Single, living at home | $539 | $1,512.17 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Special rate — Single, living away from home | $539 | $1,904.00 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Special rate — Partnered, no children | $539 | $1,791.67 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 $1,697.17 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.
Estimate your Youth Allowance (students and apprentices)
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 (students and apprentices) payment
$422.80per fortnight
- ≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $10,992.80
How this is worked out
What this means
Youth Allowance is paid every two weeks. Your rate 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.
Students get an Income Bank. When you earn less than the income free area, the unused part builds up as a credit. You can draw on that credit later to offset income above the free area, which helps students who work more during holidays. Job seekers do not get the Income Bank, so this is one way the student payment is more generous.
For most students under 22 who are treated as dependent, a parental means test applies. Your parents' income above a threshold reduces your payment, separately from your own income test.
Youth Allowance is indexed once a year, on 1 January, by the Consumer Price Index. The next increase is on 1 January 2027, and this page updates to match.
Who can get Youth Allowance (students and apprentices)
Services Australia assesses Youth Allowance for students on your age, your study or apprenticeship load, your residence status, your income, and your parents' income if you are dependent. You generally need to be studying full time in an approved course or doing an Australian Apprenticeship.
Whether you count as independent or dependent 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
- Rate table pageEvery variant on its own page
- Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) vs AustudySide by side at three incomes
- 1 January 2026 indexationEvery payment, old against new
- Payment dates 2026Cycles and public holidays
Youth Allowance (students and apprentices): common questions
- How much is Youth Allowance for students 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. For example, a single student aged 18 or over living away from home can get up to $684.20 a fortnight. The table at the top of this page shows every situation. Your payment can be lower after the income test and, if you are under 22 and dependent, the parental means test.
- What is the student Income Bank?
- The Income Bank lets students store unused income free area as a credit. When you later earn more than the free area, you can draw on the credit so less of your income counts. It is designed to help students who work more during holidays keep more of their payment. Services Australia tracks your Income Bank balance.
- When does Youth Allowance go up next?
- Youth Allowance for students is indexed once a year, on 1 January. The next increase is on 1 January 2027. New rates are published just before that 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, it does not apply. See our parental means test page for more.
- Is Youth Allowance for students taxable?
- Yes, Youth Allowance is taxable income and goes in your tax return. Whether you actually pay tax depends on your total income for the year. Many students earn under the tax-free threshold and pay no tax, but 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.