Parenting

• ¨ What are the new rules?

The new rules mean that anyone under the age of 21 who hasn't finished year 12 must be studying or training to qualify for Youth Allowance. The same rules now also apply to parents of young people in the same circumstances to qualify for Family Tax Benefit Part A.

• ¨ Who do the new rules apply to?

The new rules apply to anyone aged 15-20, without year 12 or equivalent qualifications  -either the final year of secondary school, or Certificate Level II and above:

• § who claims or is granted Youth Allowance after 1 July 2009; and
• § who was in receipt of Youth Allowance on 30 June 2009, from 1 January 2010.

If you have already completed year 12 or its equivalent, you are able to satisfy the Youth Allowance activity test by looking for work, rather than being required to study, and the new rules do not apply to you.

See attached Fact Sheet for more information