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The amount you get each fortnight depends on your circumstances.
Payment amount
If you’re single you can get $18.20 each fortnight.
If you’re a member of a couple, you can each get $15.60 each fortnight.
If you have any dependent children, we’ll pay you an extra $7.30 per fortnight for each child.
Income and assets tests
You don’t have to meet an income or asset test to qualify for Remote Area Allowance.
Tax and zone offsets
Remote Area Allowance is a non‑taxable payment. This means you don’t pay tax on it, but you do need to include it in your tax return.
When you live in an eligible remote area, you get a tax offset to help with the higher cost of living in these areas.
When you lodge your tax return, you need to take the amount of Remote Area Allowance you got off the zone tax offset amount you’re claiming in your income tax return.
Find out more about zone tax offset and use the zone offset calculator on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.
Reviews
When you tell us you’ve changed your address, we’ll review your eligibility for Remote Area Allowance. We’ll check if you’re still in an eligible remote area and can still get Remote Area Allowance.