Kay Brereton QSM beneficiary advocate says:
“This
week 18 and 19 year old people applying for a Jobseeker
Benefit, Jobseeker Student Hardship Benefit or Emergency
Benefit have all been asked to provide details of their
parents income.”
“This is because from Monday 2
November 2026 18 and 19 year olds without dependent children
will only be eligible for these benefits if the combined
before tax income of their parents is less than
$67,225.”
“The public have been told this change
is to get young people off the couch and into work, but who
are the young people who are going to be impacted by this
change?”
“Soon students will be completing their
tertiary studies for the year, most of these young people
seek employment until their study resumes in 2027, and in
past years while they are seeking this work they qualify for
Jobseeker Student Hardship benefit.”
“In June 2026
12,954 18 & 19 year olds were receiving student
allowance, eligibility for this allowance is subject to a
parental income test for students under 24.
“
“Many students and their parents most likely
expect that if the 18 or 19 year old qualified for Student
Allowance they will be able to get Jobseeker Student
Hardship in the holidays but this is not the
case.”
“The parental income limit cut off amounts
for Student Allowance are: $131,670.35 if the student is
living at home and $141,451.55 if the student is living away
from home, compared with $67,225 for the
benefit.”
“This season jobs may not be there for
all the students wanting holiday jobs, with youth
unemployment at around 25%, many of these young people will
find there is no support while seeking holiday employment,
as there will be no benefit entitlement for many of
them.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“I am very disappointed that youth old
enough to vote, marry and go to war are not considered
worthy of meagre support by the State ($276.46 if living at
home, $324.50 living away from home).”
“In a cost
of living crisis the Government has changed the rules to
expect households earning less than half the average
household income (approximately $147,930) to support their
18 and 19 year olds and to find the resources to help these
young people find jobs and get to interviews as well as
feeding and housing
them.”
