[Velvetta]

I don't know how this works anymore, having not been on the dole for about 20 years. My son has just finished school, he's 18, he has a part time but very unreliable job as a waiter (as in shifts change from week to week, this week he only got one day). He is taking a gap year before uni and needs to save money.

I think he should "go on the dole" and then be able to access employment agencies - do you need to be on Newstart to do this? Agencies would be better than walking the street dropping off resumes, surely?

He doesn't like the stigma of centrelink payments, but our family benefits part A will stop in two weeks and I think he needs to contribute.

I just don't know how the system works - are we obliged to support him 100% if he is living at home? I want to provide maybe 50 -75%, but he is an adult now and needs to start pulling his weight. We are middle income - about $95K between us, plus 4 more children under 15.
I know I can ask centrelink all this, but it's Saturday and I'm trying to work it all out.

Basically, what is he 'entitled' to and what not? He really wants to work BTW, DH and I both work, so I am SO not encouraging welfare dependency before you all jump on me
Thx

[Wyn99]

He can't get Newstart as it's for people over 22. He can apply for Youth Allowance but there is are Personal and Parental income assets tests which affect his rate of payment - you can read more here.

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

Why don't you contact Centrelink instead of EB?

[MissBB]

Yes that all sounds ok, he would be on youth allowance, as new start is for over 21,NAND I think he'd have to report what he earns from his Job so he probably won't get much (it all depends on what you earn) I applied at the same age, while I was studying and it all went on what my mum earned. They offered me $60 a fortnight.
Good luck op.

[Lyn86]

Why don't you read the op Madame catty!

[MissBB]

Madame catty, read the whole post before replying. Op said she knows she can contact centrelink but it Saturday night so she wants an idea of what will happen.

[bottle~rocket]

I'm not completely sure about this, but I think you will find that he is not entitled to anything. Still best to check it out with Centrelink.

He could apply for Youth Allowance, but unless he qualifies as being "independent" for the purposes of this payment, there is a parental means test. Your combined family income will be over the threshold for payment.

Basically the government expects parents to support their children until they are at least 21 years old. In some cases young people may be considered independent of their parents and the parental means test does not apply, but the criteria are quite strict.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/e...dependence-test

[mum201]

I would be encouraging him to go on seek.com.au, my career.com.au, pound the pavement of local retailers, pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and take away joints.
If you want to start charging him board, then do so when the whatever payment is about to stop, stops. Am sure he could make enough from one day a week to pay board. For anything else he wants....well then more motivation to find something else.....

[Sinister Bonnet]

It's all there on the Centrelink site, complete with calculators.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/e...ome-assets-test

With a family income of 95k, he's screwed though as he is still considered your dependent. He is eligible for jobseeker assistance though.

[Liadan]

He can apply for youth allowance, but he probably won't get anything from them as he is considered a dependent until he is 22.