How much is Youth Allowance for job seekers per fortnight?

There is no single rate. It depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, and whether you have a partner or children. The table at the top of this page shows the maximum basic rate for each situation. Your own payment can be lower after the income test and, if you are under 22 and dependent, the parental means test.

Does my parents' income affect my Youth Allowance?

If you are under 22 and treated as dependent, yes. A parental means test reduces your payment once your parents' combined income passes a yearly threshold. If you are assessed as independent, the parental means test does not apply. See our parental means test page for how it works.

How much can I earn before Youth Allowance reduces?

You can earn up to the personal income free area each fortnight before your payment reduces. Above that, it reduces in steps, faster once you pass the upper threshold. The exact free area and cut-off are shown in the income test table on this page.

Is Youth Allowance taxable?

Yes, Youth Allowance is taxable income and is included in your tax return. Whether you actually pay tax depends on your total income for the year. Many young people on Youth Allowance earn under the tax-free threshold and pay no tax, but you should check your own situation with the Australian Taxation Office.

Youth Allowance (job seekers) rates 2026

Youth Allowance (job seekers) · Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test

$1,047.30/fortnight

Basic rate per fortnight · $27,229.80 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)

Basic Rate: $1,047.30
Energy Supplement: $12
Pharmaceutical Allowance: $7
Total per fortnight: $1,066.30

$1,066.30 total with Energy Supplement (paid automatically with this payment).

Effective 20 March 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia

Youth Allowance for job seekers is income support for young people aged 16 to 21 who are looking for work, or who are temporarily unable to work. It is the younger person's version of JobSeeker, paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.

There is no single Youth Allowance rate. What you get depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, whether you have a partner, and whether you have children. This page shows every rate so you can find the one that fits your situation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 20 September 2026.

Every number on this page is taken line by line from the Department of Social Services rates list and checked against the Services Australia payments guide.

Full Youth Allowance (job seekers) rate table

Youth Allowance (job seekers) — rates per fortnight
Variant	Base rate	Supplements	Total /fortnight	≈ per year (×26)
Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test	$1,047.30	$19	$1,066.30	$27,723.80
Under 18, living at home	—	$418.90	$418.90	$10,891.40
Under 18, living away from home	—	$677.20	$677.20	$17,607.20
18 or over, living away from home	—	$677.20	$677.20	$17,607.20
18 or over, living at home	—	$482.40	$482.40	$12,542.40
Single, with children	—	$854.20	$854.20	$22,209.20
Partnered, no children	—	$677.20	$677.20	$17,607.20
Partnered, with children	—	$733.20	$733.20	$19,063.20

Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — Youth Allowance — Single — Principal carer (exempt from the activity test) · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 January 2026 — Youth Allowance — Maximum basic rate

The table below lists every Youth Allowance rate for job seekers. Rates are grouped by age band and living situation, because someone under 18 living with their parents needs less than someone 18 or over living away from home. There are also higher rates for people who have a partner or dependent children.

The rate shown is the maximum basic rate. Your actual payment can be lower once the income test, and for many young people the parental means test, is applied.

How your circumstances change this payment. Your income can reduce it. See the detail:

Estimate your Youth Allowance (job seekers)

Income Bank: students and apprentices build up an Income Bank. Unused fortnightly income limits carry over, so income up to your Income Bank balance may not reduce your payment — this estimate does not include your Income Bank credit. See the Income Bank explainer for details.

Your situation

Your income (per fortnight)

Your own gross income, before tax.

Include Energy SupplementPaid automatically with this payment — Services Australia shows it separately from the basic rate.

This is an estimate. Services Australia calculates your actual payment.

Estimated Youth Allowance (job seekers) payment

$1,066.30per fortnight

≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $27,723.80

Using the maximum rate including the Energy Supplement: $1,066.30 (basic rate $1,047.30).

How this is worked out

Rate basis = $1,066.30 (incl. Energy Supplement)reduction = 50c × (income between $150.00 and $250.00) + 60c × (income above $250.00)= $0.00payment = max(0, $1,066.30 − $0.00) = $1,066.30

Under 22 and dependent? Your parents' income may reduce this payment through the parental means test. This estimate does not include that test — use the official Services Australia estimator for your parental income situation.

What this means

Youth Allowance is paid every two weeks. The rate you get is picked from the table by your age, your living situation, your relationship and whether you have children. Living away from home attracts a higher rate than living at home.

For most people under 22 who are still treated as dependent on their parents, a parental means test applies. Your parents' income above a threshold reduces your payment. This is separate from your own income test, and it is why two young people on the same basic rate can receive very different amounts.

Most Youth Allowance rates change once a year, on 1 January, by the Consumer Price Index, though a small number of variants also move at the March and September indexation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 20 September 2026, and this page updates to match.

Who can get Youth Allowance (job seekers)

Services Australia assesses Youth Allowance for job seekers on your age, your residence status, your income, your parents' income if you are dependent, and whether you meet the activity or mutual obligation rules, such as looking for work.

Whether you count as independent or dependent makes a big difference, because it decides if the parental means test applies. This page reports the rates and the test rules. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Youth Allowance page linked at the top and bottom of this page.

Explore Youth Allowance (job seekers)

Rates change at indexation. The most recent update is the 20 March 2026 indexation. See the full indexation schedule and payment dates.

Youth Allowance (job seekers): common questions

How much is Youth Allowance for job seekers per fortnight?: There is no single rate. It depends on your age, whether you live at home or away from home, and whether you have a partner or children. The table at the top of this page shows the maximum basic rate for each situation. Your own payment can be lower after the income test and, if you are under 22 and dependent, the parental means test.
When does Youth Allowance go up next?: Most Youth Allowance rates change once a year, on 1 January, though a small number of variants also move at the March and September indexation. The next scheduled change for this payment is on 20 September 2026. New rates are published just before each date, and this page updates to match.
Does my parents' income affect my Youth Allowance?: If you are under 22 and treated as dependent, yes. A parental means test reduces your payment once your parents' combined income passes a yearly threshold. If you are assessed as independent, the parental means test does not apply. See our parental means test page for how it works.
How much can I earn before Youth Allowance reduces?: You can earn up to the personal income free area each fortnight before your payment reduces. Above that, it reduces in steps, faster once you pass the upper threshold. The exact free area and cut-off are shown in the income test table on this page.
Is Youth Allowance taxable?: Yes, Youth Allowance is taxable income and is included in your tax return. Whether you actually pay tax depends on your total income for the year. Many young people on Youth Allowance earn under the tax-free threshold and pay no tax, but you should check your own situation with the Australian Taxation Office.

Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.

Rates current as of 20 March 2026. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 17 July 2026.