[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

It seems that I now should be advising my DD to go onto Youth Allowance.

I'm currently on hold to Centrelink so looking around their site to kill time and noticed there is a Student Start Up Scholarship payment available. Anyone know how this works?

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/s...-up-scholarship

DD is currently busting a gut to earn enough money to cover her Uni book costs and if she was eligible for this it would be a big load off her mind.

[Apageintime]

My sister got it last year, I thought it just came in her account automatically.

Don't forget she won't need every textbook for every subject - the lecturer will often say don't worry about the textbook, or we're only using this 1 chapter.

Also, she can get them in Ebook form for a lot cheaper, and second hand for cheaper that that.

In my humanities and business degrees I've never paid more than 50% of the reccommended cost of uni textbooks. DH studies pharmacy and his are slightly more expensive, but he applied for a scholarship through uni, and they now supply his text books, so there are other options availabe for your DD.

[asdf89]

If she's eligible for YA, it would be silly not to get it.

I was on YA + rent assistance throughout my degree, but had to work and earn $17000 (its more now) to be classed as independent.

In my last year of uni they introduced a $700 payment at the beginning of each semester (not sure if it was this start-up scholarship) and it was a lifesaver. I paid my rent for a a month or so in advance and then was able to stretch my regular payments that bit further.

Also, being on centrelink may make her eligible for some uni scholarships. I applied for one in my first year (before my payments kicked in) and didn't get one. Applied the following year with no changes to my circumstances apart from YA, and I got it.

Re: text books. Try secondhand/online or borrow them from the library and copy the relevant chapters. that's what i did

This post has been edited by asdf89: 08/01/2013, 12:44 PM

[cardamom]

I was on YA + rent assistance throughout my degree, but had to work and earn $17000 (its more now) to be classed as independent.

In my last year of uni they introduced a $700 payment at the beginning of each semester (not sure if it was this start-up scholarship) and it was a lifesaver. I paid my rent for a a month or so in advance and then was able to stretch my regular payments that bit further.

Also, being on centrelink may make her eligible for some uni scholarships. I applied for one in my first year (before my payments kicked in) and didn't get one. Applied the following year with no changes to my circumstances apart from YA, and I got it.

This exactly for me. The payment I got at the beginning of each semester was classed as the start up scholarship, it's meant to help with costs like texts and stationery.

Book Depository is great for some textbooks. My uni also had a second hand textbook shop.

If she receives any Centrelink payment, a scholarship called Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship may also be possible. I received one of these (needs-based, not merit, you apply and it's simply luck of the draw as to whether you get one) and it was $4000 per year of my degree, and was an incredible help.

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

Thanks.

I spoke with Centrelink and the person I spoke too didn't really seem to know all that much even though it was their area.

Anyway the application is in now awaiting approval. As soon as it was submitted my payments went down.

This post has been edited by ~*Twilight~Zone*~: 08/01/2013, 03:30 PM

[*melrose*]

I spoke with Centrelink and the person I spoke too didn't really seem to know all that much even though it was their area.

What's new.

[tweedy08]

You will also find that once on YA you child will only be able to earn something like $62 in the fortnight before they start to lose money. Kind of hard for these kids who do their HSC and then try to get on their own 2 feet......my DD is working part time and still needs to be looking for work!! Yet gets nothing some fortnights cause she has earnt a $400 for that pay period.

Its stupid crazy how it works! No idea how they are meant to survive on that. You were lucky to have the payments at all. They cut mine on the 30th November. No questions just bam and gone.

No idea if its different once at uni though. DD is eagerly awaiting main round offers so we will find out soon enough I guess.

[anabh]

I am receiving no payment at all for my daughter since she finished year 12, they automatically cut her off of my FTB. Might have to look into the youth allowance for her.

[jks91]

I remember from another thread ~*Twilight~Zone*~ that your DD was looking to go to Murdoch Uni. The guild there offers textbook vouchers to eligible students, those with HCC's go to the top of the pile.

Applications dont seem to be open yet but have a look at this website for some more info:
http://www.the-guild.com.au/BSS

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

jks91 - thanks for that I'll have a look.

anabh - mine reduced by $98/fn. So whilst it reduced I didn't lose all of it. Not sure how old your Dd is but my DD is still only 17 so I still recieved FTB for her.

Tweedy you should check that about her income. According to their website

Personal Income Test

A Personal Income Test will be used to determine your eligibility for Youth Allowance and how much you can get.

As a student or Australian apprentice on Youth Allowance:
•you can earn up to $405 before tax per fortnight before your payment is affected
•income over $405 and up to $486 reduces your payment by 50 cents in the dollar
•income over $486 per fortnight reduces your payment by 60 cents in the dollar.

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