Who can get it

You need to meet the age requirements and have left formal care or are preparing to leave.

You don’t need to be leaving your current home to get this payment. You can get it if you’re moving to your own home or if you stay living with your care family.

To get the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) you must be all of the following:

  • be an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident who resides in Australia at the time you apply
  • be aged from 15 to 25 years
  • either have been in, or currently be in, formal care on a court order
  • have left the care of the state or territory statutory department after the age of 15 years and was last in their care for a continuous period of at least 6 months
  • either be approaching to leave formal care, within 12 weeks of applying, in the process of leaving formal care, or have left formal care
  • have a transition to independence plan
  • have not received the full amount of TILA assistance previously.

Find out more about the TILA on the Department of Social Services website.

Transition to independence plan

This is a plan you have developed with the help of your caseworker. The plan is individualised and covers the required supports that a young person might need to assist for their future independence.

If you don’t have a plan or you’d like to update your plan, contact your caseworker.

If you don’t have a caseworker get in touch with your local state or territory department for child protection. Department of Social Services has a list of them on their website.

Page last updated: 3 June 2022.
QC 62637