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3.02 Government payments

Worksheet
Austudy and ABSTUDY
1

To be eligible for Austudy you must satisfy the following:

  • Be 25 years or more, and

  • Studying full-time in an approved educational institution, or

  • Undertaking a full time Australian Apprenticeship.

The following table shows the fortnightly payments that eligible people could receive on Austudy:

Payment per fortnight
Single, no children\$455.20
Single, with children\$596.50
In a couple, no children\$455.20
In a couple, with children\$499.90

Consider each of the following cases and determine:

i
Whether the person is eligible for Austudy.
ii
If eligible, how much are they entitled to each fortnight.
a
Cassie is 28, a single parent and is undertaking a full-time apprenticeship as a hairdresser.
b

Jenny is 21, a single parent and is studying part time at TAFE.

c
Christa is 40, married with 2 children and is studying full time.
2

The following tables provide a summary of the maximum fortnightly payments through ABSTUDY for those who are dependent and those living away from home:

Dependent living at home:

Fortnightly payment
Younger than 16, in tertiary education\$34.30
16 to 17\$249.20
18 to 21\$299.80
22 or older\$555.70

Living away from home:

Fortnightly payment
Younger than 16\$355.20
16 to 21\$455.20
22 or older\$555.70

Based on the information provided, what would be the maximum fortnightly payment for a 20 year old student who is living away from home?

Youth allowance
3

To be eligible for Youth Allowance, you must satisfy one of the following:

  • Be 16 to 21 years of age and looking for full time work

  • Be 18 to 24 years of age and studying full time

  • Be 16 or 17 years of age and studying full time and have completed year 12 or equivalent

  • Be 16 or 17 years of age, studying full time and either independent or need to live away from home to study

  • Be 16 to 24 years of age and undertaking a full time Australian Apprenticeship

The following table shows the fortnightly payments that eligible people could receive on Austudy:

Payment per fortnight
Single, no children, younger than 18 years, and living at parental home\$249.20
Single, no children, younger than 18 years, and required to live away from parental home to study, undertake training, or looking for work\$455.20
Single, with no children, 18 years or older and living at parental home\$299.80
Single, with no children, 18 years or older and required to live away from parental home\$455.20
Single, with children\$596.50
Member of a couple, with no children\$455.20
Member of a couple, with children\$499.90

Consider each of the following cases and determine:

i
Whether the person is eligible for Youth Allowance.
ii
If eligible, how much they are entitled to each fortnight.
a

Xanthe is aged , has two children, is living with her parents, and studies part time.

b

Homer is living with his parents, aged 18, and studying full time.

c

Paul is 22, the single parent of two children, living with his parents, and doing a full-time apprenticeship.

4

The following tables show how much Youth Allowance a person can receive when they already have an income:

For a student on Youth Allowance:

EarningsFortnightly payment reduces by:
\$437 - \$524\text{50 cents for each dollar earnt over } \$437
\text{More than } \$524\$43.50 \text{ plus }60 \text{ cents for each dollar you earn over } \$524

For a job-seeker on Youth Allowance:

EarningsFortnightly payment reduces by:
\$143 - \$250\text{50 cents for each dollar earnt over } \$143
\text{More than } \$250\$53.50 \text{ plus }60 \text{ cents for each dollar you earn over } \$250

Consider each of the following cases and determine how much Youth Allowance they are entitled to each fortnight. Use the above tables and the tables in the previous question.

a

Anne, aged 19, is living with her parents, working part-time, and seeking full-time work. She earns \$207 a fortnight.

b
Bill is required to live independently, aged 21, working part-time but looking for full-time work. He earns \$569 per fortnight.
Family tax benefit and newstart allowance
5

Consider the following information that outlines the family tax benefit (FTB) payable to families with one child, based on their level of income:

Combined annual incomeFamily tax benefit for the year
\text{Up to }\$53\,728\$9052
\$53\,728\text{ to }\$98\,988\$9052 \text{ minus }20 \text{ cents for each dollar over }\$53\,728
\text{Over }\$98 988\text{Nil}
  • For 1 child aged 0 - 12: the maximum benefit is \$182.84 per fortnight.

  • For 1 child aged 13 - 15: the maximum benefit is \$237.86 per fortnight.

Determine the annual family tax benefit paid to a family with one child aged 14 meeting the FTB requirements, with a combined annual income of \$85\,208. Assume there are 26 fortnights in a year.

6

Consider the following information that outlines the family tax benefit (FTB) payable to families with one child, based on their level of income.

Combined annual incomeFamily tax benefit for the year
\text{Up to }\$53\,728\$9052
\$53\,728 \text{ to } \$98\,988\$9052 \text{ minus }20 \text{ cents for each dollar over }\$53\,728
\text{Over }\$98\,988\text{Nil}
  • For 1 child aged 0 - 12: the maximum benefit is \$174.07 per fortnight.

  • For 1 child aged 13 - 15: the maximum benefit is \$207.86 per fortnight.

Determine the annual family tax benefit paid to a family with one child aged 9 meeting the FTB requirements and with a combined annual income of \$40\,000. Assume there are 26 fortnights in a year.

7

Use the following tables regarding Newstart allowance found on the Australian Department of Human Services website to answer the following questions.

Applicant DetailsFortnightly paymentPayment reaches Nil once income reaches this per fortnight
\text{Single, no children}\$555.70\$1054.17
\text{Single, principal carer, with a dependent child}\$776.10\$1442.50
\text{Single, with a dependent child but not the principal carer}\$601.10\$1130.83
\text{Partnered}\$501.70\text{ each}\$965.17
Your income per fortnightReduces your fortnightly payment by
\text{Up to }\$104\$0
\$104 \text{ to }\$25450 \text{ cents for each dollar over }\$104
\text{Over }\$254\$75 \text{ plus } 60 \text{ cents for each dollar over }\$254
a

Partners, Katrina and Adam, are trying to calculate how much newstart allowance Katrina is entitled to. Katrina earns \$200 per fortnight. Calculate her fortnightly newstart allowance in dollars.

b

Uther is trying to calculate how much newstart allowance he is entitled to. Uther is single with no children and earns \$800 per fortnight. Calculate his fortnightly newstart allowance in dollars.

Age pension
8

To be eligible for Age Pension you must satisfy the following:

  • Be at least 65 years old

  • Meet an income and assets test

The following table shows the fortnightly payments that eligible people could receive on Age Pension:

The person is singleThe person is in a couple
Maximum basic rate\$843.60\$635.90
Maximum pension supplement\$68.50\$51.60
Energy supplement\$14.10\$10.60
Total\$926.20\$698.10

Use the above information to find what the following people are entitled to:

a
Helen is 62 and has no income. She qualifies for all of the supplements. How much pension is she entitled to each fortnight?
b
Rosey is 82, single and doesn’t qualify for any supplements. How much pension is she entitled to each fortnight?
c
Justin is 81, single and qualifies for a Maximum Pension supplement. How much pension is he entitled to each fortnight?
d
Derek and Tara are a couple who live together. Derek is 77 and Tara is 79. As a couple, they qualify for one energy supplement and currently have no income. How much age pension are they, as a couple, entitled to each week?
9

The following table shows how much Age Pension can reduce by if a person already has an income:

Marital status of PensionerIncome per fortnightAge Pension Payment will reduce by
\text{Single Person}\text{Up to }\$172\$0
\text{Single Person}\text{Over }\$17250\text{ cents for each dollar over }\$172
\text{A Couple}\text{Up to }\$304\$0
\text{A Couple}\text{Over } \$30450 \text{ cents for each dollar over }\$304

Use the above table and the table in the previous question to answer the following questions:

a
Kevin and Bea are a couple who live together. They are both aged over 65 and they qualify for an energy supplement. The couple sell vegetables from their garden at a Thursday market where they make \$125 a week. How much Age Pension do they, as a couple, receive each fortnight?.
b
Ray and Eileen are a couple who live together. They are both aged over 65 and neither of them qualify for a supplement. Eileen works part-time and earns \$191 a week. How much age pension do they, as a couple, receive each fortnight?
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Outcomes

1.1.2

calculate payments based on government allowances and pensions

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