When you'll get your first payment

When you’ll get paid

You’ll get your first Youth Allowance payment 2 weeks after we grant your payment. Then each fortnight after that.

We calculate the waiting periods that apply to you when we assess your claim. You can expect to hear from us within 21 days of submitting your claim. The time it takes us to assess your claim doesn’t affect your waiting period.

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.

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

• we’ve accepted your claim
• your payment will start
• you need to report
• your first income report is due.

Why you may have to wait

You have savings or other money

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

You got a lump sum payment when you left your job

You may have to wait if your employer paid you a lump sum as either:

• annual leave
• a redundancy when you left.

The time you have to wait is relative to the lump sum payment. Read about income maintenance periods.

You’ve had a compensation payment

You may have to wait if you’ve had a lump sum compensation payment. The time you have to wait is relative to your lump sum payment. Use our estimator or contact us for information about your compensation preclusion period.

Other waiting periods

Due to coronavirus these waiting periods don't apply at the moment:

• seasonal work preclusion period
• newly arrived residents waiting period.

We’ll let you know when these start again.

Next: How to report and manage your payment

There are things you need to do while you’re getting Youth Allowance as a student or an Australian Apprentice.