Centrelink rule change gives more Aussies access to $5,000 cash boost: 'Don't miss out'
Centrelink has expanded the rules for its Tertiary Access Payment to allow more people to claim it. The payment of up to $5,000 is available for eligible people who moved from a regional or remote area for tertiary study.
The Tertiary Access Payment was previously only available to those who went to university or TAFE the year after high school. This rule has now been removed, meaning students who take one or more gap years "don't miss out' on the one-off payment.
Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen said you needed to be 22 or younger and meet the other eligibility rules to claim the payment.
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'We also have a tool on our website to help you check if your home is in a remote or regional area,' he said.
You can either get the $5,000 in two instalments if you're from an outer regional or remote area, or $3,000 as one lump sum if you're moving from an inner regional area.
You can still claim the payment if you get ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance or Relocation Scholarship in your first year of study.
The payment isn't connected to Youth Allowance, meaning it will need to be claimed separately. It also means you may be eligible for the Tertiary Access Payment even if you aren't eligible for Youth Allowance.
Commencing students from regional and remote areas decreased by 1.1 per cent to 79,396 in 2023, according to the Department of Education.
The rising cost of living may be contributing to this decline, with students often facing added financial burdens to relocate and study.
You'll need to be an eligible student from a regional or remote area, moving away from home to study at a tertiary education provider like a university or TAFE.
You must:
Be an Australian resident
Be from an inner regional, outer regional or remote area
Be moving to study at a tertiary education provider that's at least 90 minutes away from your family home by public transport
Have completed Year 12 or equivalent
Be studying a tertiary course at Certificate IV or above
Be 22 or younger on the day you start your tertiary course
Have parents or guardians whose income is under the combined limit of $250,000 if you are a dependant.
If you are eligible, you can claim the payment by December 31 in your first year of study.
You can find more information and claim here.Sign in to access your portfolio
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