JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance?

Side by side, so you can choose the route that fits. You can’t be on both at once.

RecommendedJobSeeker Payment while you build your business

RecommendedYouth Allowance while you build your business

What it is

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Stay on JobSeeker Payment while you plan and start a small business. Your net business profit is set as an annual amount and spread across each fortnight, and your Job Plan still applies.
Youth Allowance while you build your business: If you’re 16 to 21, Youth Allowance as a job seeker can support you while you plan and start a business. Business profit is assessed the same way as JobSeeker, and your Job Plan still applies.

Job search · Before you’re approved

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: —
Youth Allowance while you build your business: —

Job search · While you’re on it

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Job search required. On JobSeeker Payment you agree to a Job Plan and meet it: go to appointments with your employment services provider and, with Workforce Australia, earn your monthly points target, which may include a minimum number of job searches. You must also report to Centrelink every 2 weeks.
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Job search required. On Youth Allowance as a job seeker you agree to a Job Plan and meet it, including any points target and job searches, and report every 2 weeks.

Your business work can count

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Self-Employment Assistance earns points: an Exploring Self-Employment Workshop 20, Business Plan Development 25, and Small Business Training replaces your job search requirement for up to 8 weeks. If you already work for yourself, contacting clients, pitching for work or applying for a grant can count as job searches (5 points), and a meeting with a potential client as an interview (25 points). Your business fully meets your requirements only if it passes the sufficient work test: hours = profit ÷ $26.44 minimum wage, and most people need 70 hours a fortnight (30 if you’re 55+, a principal carer or have a partial capacity to work).
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Self-Employment Assistance services earn points, and Small Business Training replaces job search for up to 8 weeks. A Youth Allowance recipient substantially involved in running a family business does not meet their requirements through it.

If you earn money

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: From your own income, $150 a fortnight is free, then your payment drops 50c for each $1 up to $256 and 60c for each $1 above (single principal carers: 40c for each $1 over $150). Business profit is net of the costs Centrelink allows (not donations, borrowing costs, prior-year losses, your own super or instant asset write-offs), set as an annual amount and divided across fortnights. Wages from a job go in your fortnightly report; business income does not.
Youth Allowance while you build your business: $150 a fortnight is free, then 50c for each $1 between $150 and $250 and 60c for each $1 over $250. Business profit is assessed as for JobSeeker: net of allowed costs, as an annual amount. Full-time paid work of 70 hours a fortnight means you’re not unemployed.

What you must do to keep getting it

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: Report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0, or your payment stops. Leave business income out of this report.
Tell Centrelink within 14 days when you start a business, or when its income or assets change: Business details form (MOD F) and a Profit and Loss Statement (SU580).
New business: give an estimate first, then an interim profit and loss statement after 3 months and every 3 months, until a tax return covering 6+ months is available.
Give Centrelink your tax returns and financial statements within 14 days of them being prepared.
If the business gets in the way of your job search or activities, you may no longer count as unemployed.
12 fortnights in a row paid $0 and your payment is suspended or cancelled.
Youth Allowance while you build your business: Report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0. Leave business income out of this report.
Tell Centrelink within 14 days when you start a business or its income changes (MOD F and SU580).
If you’re dependent, keep your parents’ income details up to date when asked.
12 fortnights in a row at $0 cancels your payment; you’d need to reapply.

If you take or turn down a job

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business: You must go to job interviews, accept any offer of suitable paid work and not leave a job without a valid reason. Not meeting your requirements can bring demerits and financial penalties.
Youth Allowance while you build your business: You must go to job interviews and accept any offer of suitable paid work. Not meeting your requirements can bring demerits and financial penalties.

	RecommendedJobSeeker Payment while you build your businessIf you’re 22 or over	RecommendedYouth Allowance while you build your businessIf you’re 16 to 21
What it is	Stay on JobSeeker Payment while you plan and start a small business. Your net business profit is set as an annual amount and spread across each fortnight, and your Job Plan still applies.	If you’re 16 to 21, Youth Allowance as a job seeker can support you while you plan and start a business. Business profit is assessed the same way as JobSeeker, and your Job Plan still applies.
Job search · Before you’re approved	—	—
Job search · While you’re on it	Job search required. On JobSeeker Payment you agree to a Job Plan and meet it: go to appointments with your employment services provider and, with Workforce Australia, earn your monthly points target, which may include a minimum number of job searches. You must also report to Centrelink every 2 weeks.	Job search required. On Youth Allowance as a job seeker you agree to a Job Plan and meet it, including any points target and job searches, and report every 2 weeks.
Your business work can count	Self-Employment Assistance earns points: an Exploring Self-Employment Workshop 20, Business Plan Development 25, and Small Business Training replaces your job search requirement for up to 8 weeks. If you already work for yourself, contacting clients, pitching for work or applying for a grant can count as job searches (5 points), and a meeting with a potential client as an interview (25 points). Your business fully meets your requirements only if it passes the sufficient work test: hours = profit ÷ $26.44 minimum wage, and most people need 70 hours a fortnight (30 if you’re 55+, a principal carer or have a partial capacity to work).	Self-Employment Assistance services earn points, and Small Business Training replaces job search for up to 8 weeks. A Youth Allowance recipient substantially involved in running a family business does not meet their requirements through it.
If you earn money	From your own income, $150 a fortnight is free, then your payment drops 50c for each $1 up to $256 and 60c for each $1 above (single principal carers: 40c for each $1 over $150). Business profit is net of the costs Centrelink allows (not donations, borrowing costs, prior-year losses, your own super or instant asset write-offs), set as an annual amount and divided across fortnights. Wages from a job go in your fortnightly report; business income does not.	$150 a fortnight is free, then 50c for each $1 between $150 and $250 and 60c for each $1 over $250. Business profit is assessed as for JobSeeker: net of allowed costs, as an annual amount. Full-time paid work of 70 hours a fortnight means you’re not unemployed.
What you must do to keep getting it	Report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0, or your payment stops. Leave business income out of this report. Tell Centrelink within 14 days when you start a business, or when its income or assets change: Business details form (MOD F) and a Profit and Loss Statement (SU580). New business: give an estimate first, then an interim profit and loss statement after 3 months and every 3 months, until a tax return covering 6+ months is available. Give Centrelink your tax returns and financial statements within 14 days of them being prepared. If the business gets in the way of your job search or activities, you may no longer count as unemployed. 12 fortnights in a row paid $0 and your payment is suspended or cancelled.	Report every 2 weeks, even if it’s $0. Leave business income out of this report. Tell Centrelink within 14 days when you start a business or its income changes (MOD F and SU580). If you’re dependent, keep your parents’ income details up to date when asked. 12 fortnights in a row at $0 cancels your payment; you’d need to reapply.
If you take or turn down a job	You must go to job interviews, accept any offer of suitable paid work and not leave a job without a valid reason. Not meeting your requirements can bring demerits and financial penalties.	You must go to job interviews and accept any offer of suitable paid work. Not meeting your requirements can bring demerits and financial penalties.

JobSeeker Payment while you build your business

Add this to my plan What is this, and what do I have to do?

Youth Allowance while you build your business

Add this to my plan What is this, and what do I have to do?

This guide explains the official rules in plain words. It isn’t advice about your own claim: your adviser decides. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice.

Cite this page

"JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/compare/jobseeker-vs-ya/ (updated 25 September 2026)