What is Centrelink?
Centrelink provides benefits to eligible students. If you are eligible, it's important to apply ASAP to ensure you receive what you are entitled to.
Types of Programs
There are different programs depending on your age and background. These include:
Youth Allowance
Austudy
Abstudy
Youth Allowance
To receive Youth Allowance you must be between 18 and 24 years old and an Australian resident.
Must be a full time student (minimum 18 UoC per semester)
If you need a letter from UNSW to confirm your enrollment you can apply online here: https://student.unsw.edu.au/en...
Austudy
To be eligible for Austudy, you must be over the age 25 and a resident in Australia, or lived in Australia for at least 2 years
Must be undertaking an 'approved' course at an 'approved' institution
There are 4 criteria that effect rates of payment for Austudy and Youth Allowance
Whether or not you are living at home
Whether or not you are required to live away from home
Whether or not you are considered independent
Whether or not you are independent with dependent children
Abstudy
Abstudy is a group of payments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices
There are only 2 types of payment criteria: independent or dependent
How can income and assets effect your benefits?
Your income and assets effect your benefits. If you are dependent, then your parent’s income and assets can affect your benefits.
The 'Income' Rules:
Payments from work
Gifts of cash
Share/bond income
Scholarship income
Rental Payments
The 'Assets' Rules:
Real Estate
Motors Vehicles
Household Contents
Businesses and Farms
Liquid Assets (cash in the bank)
Breaches and Overpayment
You must report all changes to Centrelink within 14 days, these include:
Non-personal changes such as reducing your study load, changing jobs, an increase in income, etc.
Personal changes such as falling seriously ill, getting married, the death of a close relative, etc.
