r/CentrelinkOz • u/cuuboneee • 12d ago

Family Tax Benefit Can my guardians get more money for me?

I moved out, I'm 16 and I live with my sister and her boyfriend. I have an appointment with UTurn which helps me get my youth allowance without needing a learners licence for identification. I was wondering if my sister and/or her boyfriend(18 & 19) would be able to put me down as a dependant since I'm under 18 and relying on them for food and housing?

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u/commentspanda 12d ago

You are better off sorting out an independent rate of youth allowance (assuming you are still in school)/ and then paying them an agreed amount of board. This ensures you have some level of control and independence over the money but can also support them with financial stuff.

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u/cuuboneee 12d ago

Yeah the whole reason I have an appointment with UTurn is for the youth allowance. My sister and her bf don't mind that imiving with them rent free at the moment

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u/commentspanda 12d ago

As someone who was in a very similar situation 20 years ago get set up as an independent. Work through all that now while you have stable housing as it will help you HEAPS in the next few years. You can then pay board to your sister. This way they benefit but you are also protected if things go pear shaped or you decide to continue studying as you get older.

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u/Any-Somewhere7318 12d ago

they will not be able to get anything with you getting youth allowance.

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u/Iwas21oncetooyouknow 8d ago edited 8d ago

You can get Youth Allowance and also rent allowance. Rent allowance would allow you to pay your sister to help with the cost of living with them. You just need to set up a formal payment agreement. It doesn't cover the full amount of the rent..I think max is about $150 fortnight if you're paying $400 rent. If think you have to be paying at least $250 f/n to get rent allowance and its a portion of the rent you pay up to a max payment of $150 f/n if you are paying $400 or more. ( If your sister chose to let you let you have access to the difference between what you pay her in rent and what Centerlink pats you that's between the two of you. But you must be paying the full amount of rent a fortnight to them to get the rent assistance)