In the 2009/2010 federal budget, the Rudd government announced changes to the eligibility criteria for Youth Allowance.

Previously young people could prove that they were independent of their parents if they:

a) worked part time for 15+ hours per week for two years or more since leaving secondary school, or

b) earned an amount equivalent to 75% of the Commonwealth Award Wage in an 18 month period since leaving secondary school (in 2009 this requires earnings of $19532), or

c) worked 30 hours per week for at least 18 months in the last two years.

The changes announced in the budget mean that only the last criteria remains and that in order to prove independence young people must work full time for 18 months.

This decision has wide reaching implications, especially for those people who made choices about their future prior to this decision being announced!

If you want to support the campaign to have the Senate overturn this decision, go to greensmps.org.au/content/petition/changes-youth-allowance and complete the online petition.