Accommodation Benefit

Don’t live with a parent

If you don’t live with a parent, you may be able to get an Accommodation Benefit if:

• you live in a place that is not owned or paid for by your parents
• you live in a place your parents own or pay for and either:
  • you're paying market rent, or
  • you're responsible for the outgoings of the home, or
  • you or your partner have a child.

 Live with a parent

 If you live with a parent, you may be able to get an Accommodation Benefit if:

• you don’t live in a place that your parents own or pay for, for example you and your parent live in a hostel or boarding house
• you live in a place that your parents own or pay for and you or your partner have a child.

Sole parent

If you're a sole parent you also need to:

• be paying at least either:
  • $160 a week for rent or board, or
  • $192 a week for your home ownership costs, for example mortgage, rates, insurance
• have cash assets of less than $16,200.

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Who can't get it

You can't get an Accommodation Benefit if you're:

• not getting a Student Allowance
• over 24, live with your partner and your joint income is at least $540.20 before tax a week, or
• you or your partner have a tenancy agreement with a public housing provider (you may qualify for income-related rent instead).

We won't pay for your lump sum hostel or hall of residence costs.

You don't need to apply for an Accommodation Benefit. We'll ask you everything we need to know when you apply for your Student Allowance.