Family Tax Benefit, Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY changed on 1 January.
On 1 January 2012 the following changes occurred:
Family Tax Benefit Part A is the main payment for full-time secondary students aged 16 to 17 years. These students will be able to apply for Youth Allowance from their 18th birthday.
Youth Allowance is still available at age 16 (or 15 in certain circumstances) for full-time secondary students who are independent or who need to live away from home to study.
The age of independence for people claiming Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY was lowered to 22 years of age.
Changes to independence for students from Inner Regional Australia
Students from areas classified as Inner Regional Australia are able to access the self-supporting independence conditions that, in 2011, applied only to students from Outer Regional Australia, Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia areas.
Changes to the Relocation Scholarship
Higher education students from areas classified as Regional Australia or Remote Australia are able to receive a higher amount of the Relocation Scholarship in the second and third years that they need to live away from home to study.
Changes to the Student Start-up Scholarship
The amount of the Student Start-up Scholarship was adjusted to $1025 per half yearly instalment (a total of $2050 in 2012).
From 1 July 2012 the following changes apply:
Student Personal Income Test
The amount a Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY or Austudy student or Australian Apprentice can earn each fortnight without reducing their payment will increase from $236 to $400.
The student income bank limit will also increase from $6,000 to $10,000.
For more information…Changes to Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY
