1.2.1.20 Youth Allowance (YA) - Description

Objective of YA

YA is an income support payment (section 23(1)-'income support payment') for young Australians generally aged 16 - 20 AND full-time students or Australian apprentices aged 21 - 24 which aims to:

• ensure eligible young people receive adequate levels of income while studying, undertaking an Australian apprenticeship, looking for, or preparing for, paid employment (section 10A(2)-'employment'),
• encourage young people to choose further education or training over job search if they have not completed the final year of secondary school or an equivalent level of education (Certificate Level II or above) or do not have sufficient skills to obtain long term employment, and
• encourage young people to undertake a range of activities that will improve their skills and promote entry into employment.

Assistance for students and Australian apprentices aged 25 years or over is generally provided under Austudy.

YA may also be paid to a person who:

• is under 21 years, and temporarily unable to work due to an illness or injury, or
• has claimed DSP and are awaiting the assessment of the claim, or
• is under 16 years of age and independent.

From 1 July 2006, if a young person with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment is assessed as having a partial capacity to work (1.1.P.56), they may qualify for YA. YA is also the appropriate payment for principal carer (1.1.P.412) parents (partnered) with a youngest child aged 6 years or more and principal carer parents (single) with a youngest child aged 8 years or more who claim after 1 July 2006.

Supplementary assistance

YA recipients MAY also receive:

• rent assistance (1.2.7.10),
• pharmaceutical allowance (1.2.7.20),
• remote area allowance (1.2.7.80),
• fares allowance (1.2.7.90),
• a health care card (1.2.8.10),
• mobility allowance (1.2.5.40),
• bereavement payment (1.2.3.90),
• youth disability supplement (1.2.7.140),
• pensioner education supplement (1.2.7.30),
• telephone allowance (1.2.7.70)
• pensioner concession card (1.2.8.20), AND/OR
• education entry payment (for courses commencing from 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2010).

Bereavement payment provisions

The surviving member of a couple may be eligible for bereavement payments following the death of a partner.

Frequency of YA payment

YA is paid fortnightly.

Background information

YA was introduced from 1 July 1998, replacing the following 5 schemes for young people:

• Austudy for 16-24 year olds and certain 15 year olds,
• NSA for 16-20 year olds and certain 15 year olds,
• YTA for 16-17 year olds and certain 15 year olds,
• SA for 16-20 year olds and certain 15 year olds, and
• more-than-minimum rate FA for secondary students aged 16-18 not formerly getting Austudy.

Act reference: SSAct section 540 Qualification for youth allowance-general rule, section 540A(1) Qualification for youth allowance-claimants for disability support pension, section 542 Situations in which a person is not required to satisfy the activity test, section 544DA Youth Allowance Employment Pathway Plans-early school leavers

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.2.2.30 Austudy Payment (Austudy) - Description, 3.2.3 YA - Qualification & Payability, 5.1.1.20 YA - Current Rates

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Last reviewed: 2 November 2009