Commencement date

To decide when the Youth Payment can start you must first find the entitlement date.

This is usually the date that a person no longer has a means of support.

For a list of these dates see:

• Entitlement date

Note young people who are married, in a civil union or de facto relationship must qualify for the Youth Payment in their own right. For more information see:

• Calculating the commencement date for couples

Generally, the Youth Payment is subject to an initial stand-down of up to a maximum of 2 weeks after the entitlement date.

The commencement date is the:

• day after the initial stand down ends or
• application date

whichever is the later.

Applicants for the Youth Payment who are enrolled full-time in a course of secondary education or are in employment-related training or other training course approved by the Ministry are not subject to initial stand-down periods. Therefore, the commencement date is the:

• entitlement date or
• application date

whichever is the later.

There are some situations when an initial stand-down is not imposed.

When no stand-down applies, the commencement date of the benefit is:

• the entitlement date or
• the application date

whichever is the later.