Young people who are in a relationship

When a young person is in a relationship, their eligibility for Youth Payment depends on their partner's age and whether they get a main benefit. A relationship means the couple are:

• legally married
• in a civil union
• in a de facto relationship with Family Court Judge consent

When a young person in a relationship applies for Youth Payment and both partners are aged 16 or 17 years old, each partner must qualify in their own right. They do not need to have a parental support gap.

These couples cannot get any other main benefit, except when the partner qualifies for Supported Living Payment – health condition, injury, or disability. In this situation, the young person can be included in their partner's Supported Living Payment.

A young person cannot get Youth Payment if their partner is aged 18 years or older and is getting one of the following benefits:

• Emergency Benefit
• Jobseeker Support
• Supported Living Payment - health condition, injury, or disability

In these situations, the young person can be included in their partner's main benefit.

Note if the partner is getting Supported Living Payment - caring for a person, the young person can get Youth Payment in their own right.