5.1.1.20 YA - current rates

Current rates

This table shows the current maximum rates in dollars per fortnight (pf).

* Single principal carer maximum basic amount is equal to the PPS MBR including pension supplement.

PPS maximum basic amount of YA job seeker

Single principal carers who are in receipt of YA as job seekers (that is, are not full-time students), are not long term income support students, and have an exemption from mutual obligation requirements under paragraphs 40P(2)(a) or (b) of the SS(Admin)Act, are eligible to receive the PPS maximum basic amount of YA.

This MBR is provided to single principal carers who have received an exemption from participation requirements because they are:

• a registered and active foster carer of a child, or children, for whom they are a principal carer, OR
• a home educator of a child, or children, for whom they are a principal carer, OR
• a distance educator of a child, or children, for whom they are a principal carer, OR
• the principal carer of a large family (4 or more children under 16 years of age).

The PPS maximum basic amount of YA job seeker is equal to the sum of the MBR of PPS that would have been payable to the person if they were on PPS, and pension supplement payable to the person if they were on PPS.

Note: This rate is not paid to SpB recipients.

Qualification for the 'with child' rate of payment where a person has at least 14% care of at least one child

For the purpose of this section, a child must be under 16 years of age.

YA can be paid at a higher rate for recipients with at least one dependent child. Alternatively, recipients of YA (job seeker) can qualify in certain circumstances for the with child rate of payment despite not having a dependent child if they have at least 14% care of a child over a relevant assessment period. While this provides for the MBR of payment to a person as if they had a dependent child, in all other respects, the person should NOT be considered to have a dependent child.

Note: YA recipients who are undertaking full-time study or are an Australian Apprentice can only access the with child rate if they have a dependent child.

To determine if a person should qualify for the with child rate of YA ( job seeker) where they have at least 14% care of a child despite not having a dependent child see 1.1.D.70.

Youth disability supplement

YDS is an income supplement paid to young people with disabilities recognising additional costs associated with their physical, intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.

YDS of $153.50 pf is payable to YA recipients under 22 years assessed as having a partial capacity to work (1.1.P.65).

The rate payable to a YA recipient who is aged 21 years or younger cannot exceed the equivalent common benefit rates payable to those aged 22 years or over (JSP rates).

Note: For single YA recipients with an assessed partial capacity of 0 to 14 hours per week, the equivalent common benefit rate may be the JSP rate extended to single recipients with a partial capacity to work of 0 to 14 hours.

YDS is indexed annually in line with CPI increases.

YDS applies when a YA recipient has been assessed by a health or allied health professional as having a partial capacity to work. For YA recipients, the YDS is payable from the date the assessment is accepted by the Secretary (subject to waiting periods (3.1.2)).

Energy supplement

YA recipients may be eligible for the ES - a tax exempt supplementary payment for qualified recipients of income support payments.

Indexation (1.1.I.100)

The MBR component of PPS maximum basic amount of YA job seeker is indexed to the higher amount resulting from:

• changes to the CPI, OR
• 25% of the annualised MTAWE.

The pension supplement component is indexed to changes in the CPI. The effective dates of indexation are 20 March and 20 September each year (5.1.8.10).

The other rates of YA are also indexed to changes in the CPI, but with an effective date of indexation of 1 January each year.

Timing of payments

Payments are made fortnightly in arrears.