OK this is from the centrelink website:
Eligibility for youth allowence:
you have to be:
aged 16-24 and studying full time (or aged 15 if considered independent); or
aged 16-20 and looking for work full time (or aged 15 if considered independent), undertaking a combination of approved activities like Work for the Dole or volunteering, or have a temporary exemption from the Activity Test (for example, due to illness); or
aged 25 and over and studying full time, if you were getting Youth Allowance immediately before turning 25 and are still doing the same course. (Other full time students aged 25 and over can apply for Austudy); and
meet residence requirements.
On being 'independant':
If you apply for Youth Allowance, you will be assessed to see if you are considered independent or not. You only need to meet one of the critieria below to be considered independent.
If you are considered independent, parental income and a family actual means test will not be taken into account when working out how much you get paid. If you are considered dependent, a Parental Income Test and a Family Actual Means Test will be taken into account when working out how much you get paid.
You are considered independent if you are aged 16 or over and :
have been out of school at least 18 months and earned at least $15 990 in an 18 month period before lodging a claim (this amount is 75 per cent of the Commonwealth Training Wage); or
have worked to support yourself for at least 18 months, working full-time at least 30 hours a week during the preceding two years (or for a period or periods of 12 months if you are considered disadvantaged); or
have worked part-time for at least 15 hours a week for at least two years since last leaving school; or
are 25 or more and a full-time student (in special circumstances).
You are also considered independent if you are aged 15-24 and :
are above school leaving age in your state or territory; and
are a refugee, an orphan or it is unreasonable for you to live at home; or
are in state care, or only stopped being in state care because of your age;
have, or have had a dependent child;
are or have been, married , including living in a marriage-like relationship for 12 months or more, or six months (in special circumstances);
have parents who cannot exercise their responsibilities.
To qualify as independent on the grounds that you have been in a de facto or marriage-like relationship for at least 12 months, the 12 months must have been while you were over the age of consent in the state or territory you live in
BTW: studying full time is considered an 'approved activity'
if you are not independant:
If parent/s get an income support payment, the parental income and assets tests do not apply, although the Family Actual Means Test may apply.
If parent/s have a low-income Health Care Card, the Parental Income test does not apply, but the Parental Assets and the Family Actual Means Test does apply.
Income Test
If your parent's taxable income for the 2002 - 2003 financial year is $28 150 or less (plus additional amounts for each dependent child other than yourself), your payment will not be affected by the income test.
If your parent/s have other dependent children, their taxable income can increase by the following amounts before it affects your payment:
$1230 for the first other dependent child aged under 16;
$2562 for each additional dependent child aged under 16;
$3792 for each dependent child:
aged between 16-24 in full-time study; or
aged between 16-20 and seeking employment; or
who receives a boarding allowance or second home allowance under the Assistance for Isolated Children scheme;
$7585 for a tertiary student getting living away from home rate of Youth Allowance where there are two such children in the family.
The rate of payment payable is reduced by $1 for every $4 of income over these amounts.
After applying parental income test, a personal income test is applied.
In some circumstances (where parental income decreases/increases substantially) parent/s income in the current tax year is used.
Info on Family actual means test
This means test is effective from 1 January 2004. The Family Actual Means (i.e. family spending and savings) applies if you get ABSTUDY Payment or Youth Allowance, are not independent and where one or both of your parents in the previous financial year:
had an interest in a trust, private company or unlisted public company;
was self employed (except as a sole trader engaged wholly or mainly in primary production *note from me: this pretty much means a farmer*) or a partner in a partnership;
earned in excess of A$2500 (including tax exempt income) from a source in Norfolk Island or overseas;
was a wage of salary earner who claimed or will claim a tax deduction for a business loss (whether current or carried forward) that does not consist only of a passive investment loss in your partnership income tax returns;
had an interest in assets held overseas in excess of A$2500 or is a migrant who first entered Australia under a business skills category (business migrant) after 31 December 1987.
In certain circumstances family actual means in the current tax year may be used.
RATES OF PAYMENT
Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance rates if you have no dependent children
Situation Maximum payment per fortnight No payment if your fortnightly rent is less than Maximum payment if your fortnightly rent is more than
Single, no dependent children $94.40 $83.80 $209.67
Single, sharer, no dependent children $62.93 $83.80 $167.71
Couple, no dependent children $89.20 $136.60 $255.53
One of a couple who are separated due to illness, no dependent children* $94.40 $83.80 $209.67
One of a couple who are temporarily separated, no dependent children $89.20 $83.80 $202.73
* Includes respite care and partner in gaol.
Youth Allowence Rates
At home rate: $174.30 or $209.70 if you are over 18
Away from home rate: $318.50 regardless
All the info about youth allowence is avaliable in a PDF from:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/filestores/co035_0401/$file/co035_0401en.pdf
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