Youth Allowance (YA) qualifications for students and Australian Apprentices 010-06030000

YA is an income support payment for students and Australian Apprentices aged 16 to 24 years. YA is also available to eligible job seekers generally aged 16 to 21 years, (including those who are incapacitated). Some full-time students and Australian Apprentices continue to qualify for YA after they turn 25.

Dependent children aged 16-17 years who are in full time secondary study will only qualify for YA if they:

• were receiving YA just before starting a full-time secondary course
• are a full-time student who meets the independence criteria for YA
• are a full-time student who is eligible for the away from home rate of YA, or
• are not benefiting from Family Tax Benefit (FTB) that is being paid to the young person's parents (as determined by a Services Australia social worker)

For parent(s) of children aged 16-17 in full-time secondary study and living at home, Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A is the primary payment.

To qualify for YA as a student a customer must meet the following criteria:

• be between the minimum and maximum ages of YA student and Australian Apprentice
• satisfy the residence requirements for YA, and
• be able to satisfy study requirements

In addition to the age and residency criteria, to qualify for YA as an Australian Apprentice, a customer must:

• be employed under a training contract as a full time Australian Apprentice
• have had their training contract submitted to the relevant state or territory training authority

Customers who have met the above criteria will have a current Commonwealth Registration Number which is managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). If a customer stops working for their apprenticeship employer before they have completed their apprenticeship, their Commonwealth Registration Number may remain current for a period of time. This means a current Commonwealth Registration Number does not indicate a customer is currently undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship.

A customer undertaking a part-time apprenticeship may still be eligible for assistance as a student if they are studying an approved course and undertaking an approved study load for the relevant payment.

YA is not payable for any periods for which the Australian Apprentice has been paid the Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA).

A customer may continue to qualify for Youth Allowance as an Australian Apprentice where they:

• have, or will cease employment with their Australian Apprentice employer
• will, or expect to commence employment with another employer within 28 days to continue their full time Australian Apprenticeship
• have a current Commonwealth Registration Number recorded on the NAPD screen

A customer no longer meets the definition of an Australian Apprentice, if:

• more than 28 days have lapsed since employment ceased, and
• they have not commenced with another apprentice employer

Where a customer reports zero or reduced income, determine if the customer will continue their apprenticeship with another employer within 28 days. The customer may continue to qualify for payment until the Entitlement Period End Date which occurs immediately after the 28 day period. See the Resources page for examples.

Youth Disability Supplement (YDS) is paid to full-time students and Australian Apprentices in receipt of YA if the customer is 21 years of age and under and has been assessed by an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) as having a partial capacity to work of less than 30 hours per week.

if a dependent customer qualifies for YA their actual rate of payment may be affected by the parental means test or the personal income test. If the customer is independent, their actual rate of payment may be affected by the personal income test and partner income test (if partnered).