Youth or long term payments

When you are 15 to 24

You may get Income Management and BasicsCard if you are 15 to 24 years old and live in the Northern Territory. You must also have been getting one of these payments for 3 of the last 6 months:

• Youth Allowance
• JobSeeker Payment
• Special Benefit
• Parenting Payment.

When you are 25 to Age Pension age

You may get Income Management and BasicsCard if you are 25 to Age Pension age and live in the Northern Territory. You must also have been getting one of these payments for more than 12 of the last 24 months:

• Youth Allowance
• JobSeeker Payment
• Special Benefit
• Parenting Payment.

What happens to your money

Half of your payment and the all advance and lump sum payments you get go into your Income Management account and BasicsCard. The other half of your payment goes into your normal bank account.

Who is exempt

You may be able to get an exemption from Income Management depending on your circumstances.

If you are exempt, Income Management stops for 12 months unless your circumstances change.

If you do not have dependent children

You can be exempt if any of these apply to you. You do not have dependent children and:

• are a full time student or apprentice
• had less than 25% of your basic rate of payment for at least 4 of the last 6 fortnights
• get Special Benefit and are 16 or older.

If you have dependent children

You can be exempt if all of the following apply to you. You have dependent children and:

• we are satisfied you are not financially vulnerable
• your children’s immunisations are up to date
• your children are participating in age appropriate activities.

We’ll tell you what you need to give us to get an exemption. This will depend on the age of your children, such as:

• immunisation records
• a report from a medical practitioner or nurse
• a report from an allied health professional such as a speech, occupational or physical therapist
• evidence they attend preschool, school or childcare services
• an absentee report from your child’s school – we may need more information if attendance isn’t regular.

You’ll have 28 days to provide evidence if requested.

If your partner wants an exemption, they will need to request this themselves.

For more information, call the BasicsCard General Enquiry line to speak with someone about Income Management.