When you'll get your first payment

When you’ll get paid

Youth Allowance is a fortnightly payment. You’ll get your first payment within 2 weeks of your waiting period ending. If you don’t have a waiting period, you’ll get your first payment within 2 weeks once your claim is successful.

We calculate the waiting period that applies to you when we assess your claim. You’ll hear from us as we progress your claim. The time it takes us to assess your claim doesn’t affect your waiting period.

Once you’ve completed your claim check your Centrelink online account through myGov. It will tell you:

• when we’ve accepted your claim
• when your payment will start
• your reporting requirements.

Why you may have to wait

Sometimes you may have to wait for your payment.

You have savings or other money

If you or your partner have readily available funds over certain limits you may have to wait 1-13 weeks. Read more about liquid assets waiting periods.

You got a lump sum payment when you left your job

You may have to wait for your payment if your employer paid you a lump sum when you left. A lump sum might include annual leave or a redundancy. The waiting period depends on your lump sum payment amount. Read more about income maintenance periods.

You recently finished seasonal or contract work

You may have to wait if in the 6 months before claiming you or your partner finished 1 of the following:

• seasonal work
• contract work
• intermittent work.

The waiting period depends on how much you earned. Read more about the seasonal work preclusion period.

You recently became a resident of Australia

If you’re a new resident of Australia you may have to wait 104 weeks. Read more about the newly arrived residents waiting period.

You’ve had a compensation payment

If you’ve had a lump sum compensation payment you may have to wait for your payment. The waiting period depends on your lump sum payment amount. Use our estimator or contact us for information about your compensation preclusion period.