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Eligibility rules
The rules you need to meet to get Youth Allowance (job seeker) depend on your situation.
You must be between 16 and 21 and meet both of these:
You also need to meet rules for one of these situations:
- You meet our definition of unemployed and you’re looking for work.
- You’re sick or injured and are unable to do your usual work or study for a short time.
You may not be eligible if you get certain payments from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). Read more about getting a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) payment.
Unemployed and you’re looking for work
If you’re unemployed, or you’re not in full time work, you may get Youth Allowance as a job seeker. This can include if you’re doing part time or casual work.
If you get Youth Allowance and you earn income over a certain amount, it will affect how much you get. Read more about personal income test.
If you’re dependent and get Youth Allowance, we may need your parents’ or guardians’ income details each year.
You can use our Payment Finder to help check if you can get a payment.
Sick or injured and can’t do your usual work or study
You may be sick or injured, which stops you from doing your usual work or study for a short time. In this case, you may get Youth Allowance as a job seeker. You’ll need to meet certain rules and give us a medical certificate.
If you’re 24 or younger and a full time student or Australian Apprentice, read about Youth Allowance for students and apprentices. This may be a better payment for your situation.
Financial support when your Disaster Recovery Allowance ends
You can claim an income support payment from us when your Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) or New Zealand DRA ends.
If you’ve lost your job or you’ve had your work hours reduced, you may be able to claim Youth Allowance for job seekers.
Veterans can read information about choosing between Veteran Payment and income support payments.