Allowances

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• If a young person who does not have a Year 12 or a Certificate II qualification, has left school and is looking for work, will they still be eligible for Youth Allowance?

  No. From 1 July 2009, young people without Year 12 or a Certificate II qualification will have to be in full time education or training, or a combination of part-time work and study for at least 25 hours a week to be eligible for Youth Allowance. 

  More information about eligibility for Youth Allowance:

  • Department of Education, Employment, Training and Workplace Relations' website on the Changes to Youth Allowance page.
  • Download Centrelink's Changes to Youth Allowance (Jobseeker) participation requirements (PDF 83.21kB).

  
  

• Are there other activities that a young person can be engaged in outside of school, training and work that will still allow them to access government support such as Youth Allowance and be complainant with the NSW legislation?

  This may be the case for a student who has completed Year 10. The Commonwealth has indicated that a young person not in school, work or training and involved with the new Youth Connections support service (as an example) may be considered for government support such as Youth Allowance. 

  At their FAQ site,

  http://www.deewr.gov.au/Youth/YouthAttainmentandTransitions/Documents/FAQ.pdf DEEWR says:

  "Youth Connections program will fully meet the participation requirements for a young person under 17 or accessing Youth Allowance. A Youth Connections provider will be required to report to Centrelink if the young person is no longer connected to them and was referred to them by Centrelink."