Centrelink Rates for Students
Fortnightly maximum basic rates for the three student-targeted income-support payments, Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY. Indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year.
The verdict
Student income support runs from $422.10 to $838.30 per fortnight depending on your payment and living arrangement. The highest basic rate goes to Austudy recipients who are single with dependants - about $21,796 a year before income and rent-assistance adjustments.
Youth Allowance, fortnightly rate by situation
Maximum basic rate before income, rent-assistance and supplement adjustments
Youth Allowance (5 situations)
Youth Allowance supports full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 16–24, plus job-seekers aged 16–21. The rate paid depends on your living arrangement, partner status, and whether you have dependent children.
| Situation | Age range | Fortnightly | Approx annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single With Dependants | 16–24 | $838.30 | $21,796 |
| Partnered With Children | 16–24 | $701.70 | $18,244 |
| Single No Dependants Away From Home | 16–24 | $639.00 | $16,614 |
| Partnered No Children | 16–24 | $639.00 | $16,614 |
| Single No Dependants At Home | 16–24 | $422.10 | $10,975 |
Austudy (4 situations)
Austudy supports full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 25 and over. There is no separate at-home rate, Austudy applies uniformly regardless of living arrangement, but partner status and dependants still affect the rate.
| Situation | Age range | Fortnightly | Approx annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single With Dependants | 25+ | $838.30 | $21,796 |
| Partnered With Children | 25+ | $701.70 | $18,244 |
| Single No Dependants | 25+ | $639.00 | $16,614 |
| Partnered No Children | 25+ | $639.00 | $16,614 |
ABSTUDY (4 situations)
ABSTUDY (Aboriginal Study Assistance Scheme) is Services Australia's payment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. ABSTUDY Living Allowance rates mirror Youth Allowance / Austudy for the equivalent situation, but ABSTUDY also includes additional supplements (school fees, away-from-base, masters/doctorate) not shown here.
| Situation | Age range | Fortnightly | Approx annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living Allowance Secondary Away | 16–21 | $639.00 | $16,614 |
| Living Allowance Tertiary Away | 16–99 | $639.00 | $16,614 |
| Living Allowance Secondary At Home | 16–21 | $422.10 | $10,975 |
| Living Allowance Tertiary At Home | 16–99 | $422.10 | $10,975 |
Important caveats
- Rates indexed twice a year (20 March + 20 September) by Services Australia.
- Parental income test applies for Youth Allowance recipients under 22 unless they meet the independence criteria.
- Personal income free area is currently $524 per fortnight before payment reduction begins.
- Rent Assistance is paid in addition to the basic rate if you pay rent above the threshold.
- For your specific entitlement, use the Payment and Service Finder on the Services Australia website or your myGov account.
Source: Services Australia Maximum basic rates of payment · 2026 Rates effective 20 March 2026 indexation; verify against Services Australia rate tables before relying on any figure.