We apply the personal income test when you claim and report your income each fortnight. It helps us work out your payment.
We may also use other tests and base your rate on the test that results in the lowest payment rate.
Effect on your payment
If you are an eligible student or Australian Apprentice, we start to reduce your payment if your personal income is over $509 a fortnight.
Personal income is your gross income. This is the income you get before any deductions, like tax. It doesn’t include child support payments.
Your Income Bank helps you keep more of your payment. It allows you to build credits when your income is less than $509 a fortnight. Then use the credits in the fortnights when your income is more.
This table shows how your income affects your payment. The amounts are before tax.
You can also use the Payment Finder to estimate your payment. What you could get depends on how much you earn each fortnight.
| Your situation | Amount your payment reduces by if you earn between $509-$610 per fortnight | Amount your payment reduces by if you earn more than $610 per fortnight | Maximum income before your payment reduces to $0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children, younger than 18, and live at your parent’s home | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,191.17 |
| Single, no children, 18 or older and live at your parent’s home | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,292.17 |
| Single or in a couple, no children, and need to live away from your parent’s home | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,602.50 |
| Member of a couple with children | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,691.67 |
| Single with children | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,884.50 |
If you’ve been on another payment
The amount of income you can earn may be higher if all of these apply:
- you’re 22 or older
- you’ve been getting an income support payment that isn’t a student payment for at least 26 of the last 39 weeks
- you don’t have a dependent child.
You must also have started either of the following after turning 22:
- a course with a duration of at least 12 months
- an Australian Apprenticeship.
This table shows how your income affects your payment.
| Your situation | Amount your payment reduces by if you earn between $509-$610 per fortnight | Amount your payment reduces by if you earn more than $610 per fortnight | Maximum income before your payment reduces to $0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children, and live at your parent’s home | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,427.84 |
| Single, no children and need to live away from your parent’s home | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,797.84 |
| Member of a couple with no children | 50 cents for each dollar over $509 | $50.50 plus 60 cents for each dollar over $610 | $1,691.67 |
If your payment reduces to $0
If your payment reduces to $0 for 12 weeks in a row due to your income, it will be cancelled. If your income reduces after the 12 weeks, you’ll have to reapply.
Other tests that affect your payment
Other tests that affect how much Youth Allowance you can get include the:
- personal assets test
- parental means test, if you’re dependent.
- partner income test, if you have a partner.