Chooses to remain on Youth Payment past 18 years of age
Generally, when a young person turns 18 years old the Youth Payment should stop. However, to give a young person a chance to complete the qualification they have started while on Youth Payment, a young person can choose to continue to receive Youth Payment after they turn 18 if they remain in education, training or work-based learning.
Attending secondary education
When a young person reaches the age of 18 years and is attending secondary school their Youth Payment will continue to be paid until the following 31 March. For example a young person attending school who turns 18 years old in June will continue in the Youth Service until the following 31 March.
Attending tertiary education, training or work-based learning
When a young person is attending tertiary education, training or work-based learning and they turn 18 years old, their Youth Payment may continue to be paid until their course finishes, unless their course ends in December. If their course ends in December, their Youth Payment will continue to be paid until 31 March the following year.
Examples:
- a young person is part way through a training course when they turn 18 years old. The training course finishes on 20 November. The young person will be exited from the Youth Service on 21 November.
- a young person is part way through a training course when they turn 18 years old. The training course finishes on 20 December. The young person will continue to receive their Youth Payment and remain in the Youth Service until the following 31 March.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Youth payment: continuation after turning 18 years old section 54 Social Security Act 2018
