You have 2 categories: you can qualify for
Youth Allowance if you are 16-20 and looking
for work full time or over 25 and studying full time;
You may be eligible for Newstart Allowance
if you are over 21 and unemployed or Austudy Payment
if you are over 25 and over and starting studies.
Youth Allowance
To lodge a claim and qualify for Youth Allowance, you
must be:
-
in Australia on the
day you lodge your claim; and
-
an Australian resident
- this means you are living in Australia on a
-
permanent basis and
you are either:
-
an Australian citizen;
or
-
the holder of a
permanent resident visa; or
-
the holder of a
Special Category Visa - someone who arrived on
a NZ passport and who is not affected by the changes
to residence requirements
-
AND have lived in Australia
for long enough to satisfy qualifying residence periods
or the newly arrived resident's waiting period (whichever
applies to the payment being claimed).
In order to register and to claim form: You can telephone
Centrelink on 13 2490 and ask to have a Youth
Allowance claim form posted to you or you can pick up
a form at any Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Payment rates are between $160 and
$360 per fortnight depending on your situation
(living away from home or not) and your age (Rent Assistance
may also be payable).
If you have any questions, telephone Centrelink on
13 2490, or visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service
Centre or the Local Authority.
Newstart Allowance
In order to get a Claim Form, you can telephone Centrelink
on 13 2850 and ask to have a Newstart Allowance claim
form posted to you or you can pick up a form at any
Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
You will need to provide proof of identity. You may
also be asked to provide documents proving your age,
residence, income and assets. If you have worked in
the last 12 months, you will need to provide an Employment
Separation Certificate (called an 'SU1') from your last
employer. If the employer does not give you a certificate,
ask for one. Tell Centrelink if you are having trouble
getting a certificate.
Payment rates are between $360 and
$390 per fortnight depending on your situation.
You may also receive Family Tax Benefit and/or Child
Care Benefit. Allowees over 60 years of age receive
Pharmaceutical Allowance after 9 months of payments.
All payments are subject to income test, and your allowance
is reduced when you earn income in a fortnight.
If you have any questions, telephone Centrelink on
13 2850, or visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service
Centre or the Local Authority.
Also look at the Centrelink site: http://www.centrelink.gov.au
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