How much you can get

We use income and assets tests to work out how much Youth Allowance for job seekers you get. These are the maximum rates.

We update rates on 20 March and 20 September each year.

You may have to pay income tax on Youth Allowance for job seekers.

Coronavirus Supplement

If you got the Coronavirus Supplement, you need to declare it as income in your tax return for the 2020–21 financial year.

The Coronavirus Supplement won’t be shown separately on your Centrelink payment summary.

Your total Centrelink payment rate was increased if you were paid the Coronavirus Supplement.

This table is a guide only.

Your circumstances Your maximum fortnightly payment from 1 April 2021

Single, no children, younger than 18, and live at your parent’s home

$303.20

Single, no children, younger than 18, living away from your parent’s home to study, train or look for work

$512.50

Single, no children, 18 or older and live at parent’s home

$354.60

Single, no children, 18 or older and need to live away from parent’s home

$512.50

Single, with children

$656.00

A couple, with no children

$512.50

A couple, with children

$557.90

Single, job seeker, principal carer and exempt from mutual obligation requirements because you:

  • are a registered and active foster carer
  • home school your children
  • teach your children by distance education
  • care for a related child you’re not the parent of, as directed by a Parenting Order through Family Court.

You’re a single, job seeker, exempt from mutual obligation requirements because you’re the main carer of a large family. This means 4 or more dependent children younger than 16 or 16 to 19 in secondary school.

$850.20

Personal and partner income and assets tests may affect how much you can get. If you use your income protection insurance, we’ll count it as income. This may affect how much you get.

If you’re dependent, the parental income test will also apply. If you’re younger than 18 and dependent, your parent or guardian will usually get the payment. If you’re a dependant, we’ll ask for details of your parents’ taxable income in September or October each year.

The amount you get may change if you or a family member’s circumstances change.

Next: What your commitments are

There are things you must do to keep getting your Youth Allowance as a job seeker payment.

Page last updated: 6 August 2021