Financial help
There are payments to help as you transition out of care.
One off payment
The Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) is a payment that’s worth up to $1,500 and helps with the costs of leaving care. It can be used to pay for a wide range of items such as payment of rental bonds, furniture, course fees and buying a car.
Fortnightly payments
Being in state care means you may get a higher rate of Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY Living Allowance. Find out more about:
- being independent for Youth Allowance if you’re in state care
- when you’re independent for ABSTUDY.
You can also use our Payment Finder to find other payments you may be eligible for. There are different payments to help if you’re:
Help managing your payments
It’s important to keep us up to date. If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can let us know about changes to your circumstances online.
If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
If you move out of care and start living with others it may affect your payment.
Help from other places
Whatever your situation, there’s support available.
We have support services including:
- help from social workers if you’re going through a hard time
- community engagement officers to help you access information, payments and services
- Financial Information Services to teach you about money matters
- help for Indigenous Australians to access government payments and services.
Ask Izzy is a free and anonymous website to find national and local support. It includes services like housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and many more.
There are also state and territory resources that can help you transition to independent living. These links will take you away from our website.
| State or territory | Resources |
|---|---|
| ACT | Help if you're homeless or at risk of becoming homeless on the ACT Government website. |
| NSW | Leaving care information for young people on the NSW Government website. Rent Choice Youth on the NSW Government Communities and Justice website. |
| NT | Find services on the Anglicare NT website. |
| Qld | Leaving care on the Queensland Government website. Youth Housing and Reintegration Services on the Queensland Government website. |
| SA | What happens when you leave care on the South Australian Department for Child Protection website. |
| Tas | Transition to Independence for young people leaving care on the Tasmanian Government Department of Education, Children and Young People website. |
| Vic | Leaving care on the Victoria State Government Families, Fairness and Housing website. |
| WA | Child safe organisations - Information for children and young people on the Government of Western Austrlia website. |
You can find more support and services for young people leaving care on the Department of Social Services website.