You may be independent if both of the following apply, you’re:
- 16 or older or have met the minimum age requirements for leaving school
- unable to live at home due to extreme circumstances.
Extreme circumstances can include:
- family or domestic violence
- extreme family breakdown
- serious risk to your safety and wellbeing.
You can’t claim it’s unreasonable for you to live at home if you’re any of the following:
- getting support, directly or indirectly, from either of your parents or a long term guardian
- getting a regular government or student assistance payment, other than ABSTUDY or an income support payment like Youth Allowance
- in state care, unless you're not living with a carer and not receiving ongoing support from State or Territory government.
If your parents live in separate homes, you must meet the criteria for each home.
You may need to give proof that you meet these requirements. If you’re younger than 18, a Centrelink social worker will assess your situation.
If you’re 18 or older, we may need 2 or more of the following forms:
- Unreasonable to live at home statement by young person
- Unreasonable to live at home statement by parents or guardians
- Unreasonable to live at home statement by independent third party.
If we assess you as being unable to live at home, we’ll treat you as independent but this is reviewable. If you return to live at home we may consider you dependent again.