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Rate of Youth Allowance (YA) when customer is in State care 010-06040020

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NSW Independent Living Allowance and After Care Allowance

Financial assistance and entitlements

Western Australia (WA) Home Stretch Program

Home Stretch WA

Youth Allowance Rates

Payment rates for Youth Allowance

Allowance for the upkeep of the young person

A State/territory is providing upkeep to a young person in state care if money is paid for the provision of tangible items (e.g. food, electricity, clothing, shelter) that are basic necessities of life. This allowance does not have to be either adequate or ongoing.

Allowance

Description

NSW Independent Living Allowance and After Care Allowance

State care customers are assessed against the supported State care rate of Youth Allowance if they are:

  • deemed independent due to age and
  • receiving the NSW Independent Living Allowance or After Care Allowance payments

Western Australia (WA) Home Stretch Program

The WA Home Stretch Program has a number of elements that affect the young person’s state care rate:

WA Staying On Agreement and Subsidy

Young people who stay with their carer under the Staying On Agreement and Subsidy are regarded as being in 'Supported State Care'.

WA Housing Allowance

Young People who receive the WA Housing Allowance are treated as 'Upkeep'. This means a young person who benefits from this will be paid the lower 'in supported state care' rate of YA.

WA Invest In Me funding

This funding is directed at supporting a young person’s aspirations like education and training. This is not 'Upkeep' and means a young person who benefits from this can be paid the higher 'un-supported state care' rate of YA.

For WA Invest In Me (crisis) payments, each payment must be considered on a case by case basis, to determine whether it was made in respect of a necessary living expense of the young person.

For example, emergency payments made for the young person to buy food, pay an overdue utility bill or pay accommodation costs such as a rent payment, are likely to be in respect of the young person’s 'upkeep', while payments to cover unexpected course fees or funeral or significant event costs are not.

If it is determined that a WA Invest In Me (crisis) payment to a young person is 'upkeep', then while the crisis payments are being received the young person is deemed to be in 'supported state care' and be paid the lower rate of YA.