Youth Allowance: What Counts as a "Break in Payment"?

L[Deactivated] on 11/08/2016 - 15:49
Last edited 11/08/2016 - 15:49 by 1 other user

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on this before I call Centrelink (who usually gives me varying answers anyway).

Currently I'm receiving a start up scholarship as part of Youth Allowance. As of this year, if you have a break in payment you'll no longer be eligible but what does this entail?

I am going overseas for 3 months over the uni break for personal reasons (I know I won't be paid YA in this period but that's fine) I'm just wondering if I'll get the start up scholarship still. I won't be taking time off uni or anything so no gap in study.

Thanks in advance if anyone has anything to offer!

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• 

  Settero on 11/08/2016 - 16:28

  if they are canceling/suspending it for that period then you wont get the scholarship payment until your payments resume, but should automatically get it as soon as your payments start again.

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  Brendoo on 11/08/2016 - 18:11

  +1

  Travelling overseas for 3 months can definitely count as a break in payment. Highly advisable to let Centrelink know via your online account of your plans to travel before you travel and also talk to them. But like you said, often you'll get a muppet on the end of the phone who can tell you incorrect information.

  If 3 months holiday is indeed a break in payment, you will no longer qualify for the Start Up Scholarship, it no longer exists except for people already on it without a break in payment. It was replaced by the Student Start Up Loan. It's pretty much the same though, but the key difference is that you have to apply for it, you don't get the money automatically even if eligible.

  Hopefully they will not count your 3 months as a break in payment as it's during the uni break, but get it documented against your account and talk to someone beforehand well ahead of time.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 11/08/2016 - 21:48

    Thank you for the advice! I submitted my travel plans to myGov and it only says "Youth Allowance will stop being paid once you leave Australia" or something along those lines.
    I'll have to double check with them on the scholarship tomorrow~

• 

  indium on 11/08/2016 - 21:37

  +1

  Break in payment
  You can generally have up to 6 consecutive fortnights of not receiving a student payment due to earnings before it is classified as a break in payment.
  Some examples of when a break in payment can occur are:

  your student payment is cancelled for any reason
  you temporarily stop studying for a semester, or
  you reduce your study load to less than full time

  Travelling overseas can also cause a break in payment. Before you undertake any travel, you should advise us of your travel plans using your Centrelink online account through myGov.

  https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelin…

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 11/08/2016 - 21:49

    +1

    Thank you! I never saw this page when I was looking all this up a few months ago.

    • 

      indium on 11/08/2016 - 21:54

      +1

      I was actually looking at it a few days ago because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to pay tax on it (which you don't lol) and remembered seeing that. It says generally so I'm sure if you told them the reasoning and it was a little longer it would be fine.