3.2.6.10 Qualification for Away from Home Rate of YA

What is the away from home rate of YA?

The away from home rate of YA is a higher rate of YA payable to some recipients who need to live away from home in order to access study, undertake an Australian apprenticeship, or to enhance their employment prospects. Dependent young people who fulfil the activity test as a job seeker, Australian apprentice or full-time student, may qualify for the away from home rate of YA.

Act reference: SSAct section 1067D Person required to live away from home, section 1067G Rate of youth allowance

Qualification (1.1.Q.10) for dependent young people

YA can be paid at the away from home rate for dependent young people who:

need to live away from home for the purpose of education (including full-time secondary study), training, searching for employment or doing anything else in preparation for getting employment, OR
are significantly more likely to get employment if they live away from home (NOT including full-time students), OR
need to live away from home in order to undertake their Australian apprenticeship.

A higher away from home rate also applies for dependent young people who are long term unemployed. That is:

21 years or older, AND
long term unemployed (1.1.L.100), AND
undertaking full-time Australian apprenticeship or study in an approved course, AND
approved to live away from home.

To get the away from home rate, a dependent young person must demonstrate that they can undertake the approved activity only (or more productively) in a region that requires them to live away from home.

Act reference: SSAct section 1067F Long term income support student

Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.L.100 Long term income support student (YA, Austudy)

Qualification for independent young people

YA can be paid at the away from home rate for some independent young people who:

live away from the parental home (1.1.P.20) (regardless of their reason), OR
are single and living with their parents but have previously been a member of a YA couple (1.1.M.130) or have had a dependent YA child (1.1.D.90), OR
are in state care (1.1.S.320), but not being supported by the State/Territory, either by means of direct payments to themselves or indirect payments to other people or organisations.

Who CANNOT receive the away from home rate?

Not all young people living away from the parental home can qualify for the away from home rate. It is NOT sufficient for the young person to choose to live away from home, or for the parent to choose not to support the young person.

Note: A person's mere choice to live away from home would not entitle them to the away from home rate. However, they may meet the requirements if they can demonstrate a need to live away from home for the purposes of education or training, or because the likelihood of them getting employment will be significantly increased.

Example: If a student's parents move to a new location and it requires excess travelling time, the student may be able to demonstrate that their continuity of studies would be interrupted by moving with their parents, so they may satisfy the Secretary that they need to live away from home for educational purposes.

YA recipients in the following circumstances do NOT qualify for the away from home rate:

a dependent YA recipient who lives away from home because they choose to, for any reason, or because they need to, for reasons other than approved employment, job search, study or training, OR
a dependent YA recipient who is living in the parental home, OR
an independent YA recipient who is taken to be an accommodated independent person (1.1.A.10), OR
young people in state care who receive, or attract for their carer, a State or Territory payment for their upkeep.

Act reference: SSAct section 1067A When a person is regarded as independent, section 1067B Accommodated independent person

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.6.20 Rules that Determine the Need to Live Away from Home for YA

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Last reviewed: 3 January 2012

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