If you’re a young learner or apprentice struggling to make ends meet in 2025, you’ve probably heard of the Centrelink Youth Allowance— which is a lifesaver for thousands of young Australians.
And for June 2025, qualifying recipients will be able to claim a base payment of $355, depending their own circumstances.
With the cost of living continuing to go up, a couple of hundred dollars can be the difference between getting by and falling behind.
So let’s break it down — who this payment is for, what it’s meant to cover, and how you can do your part to ensure you’re not left out.
So, What Is Youth Allowance, Anyway?
The Youth Allowance is the Centrelink payments Services Australia pays our jobless and studying youth as a financial lifeline. It’s designed for:
Full-time students or Australian apprentices under 25 years of age
Work applicants who are 16-21 years old in the search of a full-time job
Sick people in need of temporary break from studying
It’s essentially to help you float while you study, train or just try to get your foot in the workforce.
As of June 2025, the fortnightly base rate is set at an average of $355, but this figure increases depending on your living arrangements, independence, and whether you’re eligible for extra supplements.
Who Receives the June 2025 Youth Allowance of $355?
Let’s be clear — it’s not a $355 flat fee for everyone. That’s a rough base rate for nonworking dependent children under 18 living in the home. Here’s how it usually works:
Living at home? Lower base rate (such as the $355).
Living away from home? The higher rates of up to $639.00+ a fortnight.
Do you live alone, with a partner or with children? Even more support may apply.
There are other factors that may make you eligible as well, such as:
Your age
If you are a dependent or independent
Income of parents (dependents only)
The income/assets of the individual and their partner
Study/apprenticeship status
If you’re in doubt about which category you’re in, it’s always best to check with Centrelink or use its online eligibility calculator.
How Do You Claim It?
You do not need to reapply if you are already receiving Youth Allowance, Your next payment will be at your normal payment date.
But if you’re new to Centrelink or about to turn 16, here’s what you’ll need:
Create a myGov account and link it to Centrelink.
Submit identification documents, course/apprenticeship details and financial information.
Give us a shout with your claim submission online, then check your inbox for all the latest.
After the approval, payments are typically made bi-weekly. Most recipients should receive the payment by Monday, June 17, 2025, right on schedule for June 2025, depending on your payment cycle.
Is It Enough? The Reality of $355
Come on, $355 doesn’t go a long way in 2025, especially if you live in a city. Rent, groceries, travel, textbooks — all of that can eat into one tenth of that pretty quickly. That’s why many young people also:
Take on part-time work
Apply for rent assistance
Use student concessions
Supplement with other payments such as the Student Start-up Loan or Energy Supplements
The Youth Allowance isn’t intended to pay for everything, but it can take the strain off and allow you breathing space as you study or train.
Centrelink Youth Allowance $355 for June 2025
The $355 Youth Allowance for June 2025 isn’t huge, for sure, but for many young Aussies, it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle.
It can help fill the space between what you make (if anything) and what you need to keep chugging along — particularly when trying to balance studies, work and life.
But it’s not perfect. Combined with the spiralling cost of living, it has only become more difficult for her to rely on Youth Allowance in recent years.
We can only hope that their review of the scheme will include some kind of increase or top-up. In the meantime, if you’re eligible, be sure to get what’s yours — because every little bit is a help.
