Away from Home Allowance
Overview
An Away from Home Allowance provides assistance with accommodation costs for the caregivers of dependent 16–17 year olds who move away from home to undertake tertiary study or employment-related training.
For the caregiver to receive an Away from Home Allowance, they must be:
- the principal caregiver for the child
- entitled to receive Family Tax Credits for the child.
In addition, the child must be living away from home in order to undertake a course that would qualify them for a Student Allowance or an Unemployment Benefit if they were old enough to receive one.
The amount of Away from Home Allowance payable is calculated based on:
- the same threshold for rental or boarding costs as would be applied to a single 18 year old receiving an Unemployment Benefit
- maximum accommodation costs funded, which are the same as those for an Accommodation Supplement.
All accommodation costs must be verified when applying for an Away from Home Allowance. The allowance is income tested, but is non-taxable and is not asset tested.
Trends in the number of clients receiving an Away from Home Allowance
The number of clients receiving an Away from Home Allowance has increased over the last two years, from 39 in 2006 to 60 in 2008. Between 2006 and 2008, the proportion of recipients who were not receiving a pension or main benefit has increased from 44% to 75%, with a corresponding decrease in the proportion receiving a carer's benefit.
The number of Away from Home Allowances granted has increased over the last two years, from 92 in 2005/2006 to 108 in 2007/2008. Sixty-nine percent of clients granted an allowance in 2007/2008 were receiving no main benefit or pension, compared with 42% in 2005/2006. There was a corresponding decrease in the proportion granted to clients who were receiving a carer's benefit.
