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Benefits - income deduction tables

Use these tables to estimate how much will be deducted from your Jobseeker Support Student Hardship or Emergency Benefit when you're earning income.

Important information

These tables are just an estimate. The deduction could change depending on your individual circumstances.

You can earn up to $160 a week before tax before it affects your benefit.

Once you earn over $160 a week before tax, your benefit reduces by 70 cents for every extra $1 of income you earn.

To work it out, take your income - 160 and x 0.7.

If your benefit payment is reduced by the same amount you receive, you'll be paid nothing. Any other payments you receive, e.g. Accommodation Supplement, may also be affected.

Gross Income (before tax) Amount deducted from benefit payment
$ 170 $ 7
$ 190 $ 21
$ 210 $ 35
$ 230 $ 49
$ 250 $ 63
$ 270 $ 77
$ 290 $ 91
$ 310 $ 105
$ 330 $ 119
$ 350 $ 133
$ 370 $ 147
$ 390 $ 161
$ 410 $ 175
$ 430 $ 189
$ 450 $ 203
$ 470 $ 217
$ 490 $ 231
$ 510 $ 245
$ 530 $ 259
$ 550 $ 273
$ 570 $ 287
$ 590 $ 301
$ 610 $ 315
$ 630 $ 329
$ 650 $ 343
$ 660 $ 350
$ 670 $ 357
$ 677 $ 361.90

If you're a sole parent, you can earn up to $160 a week before tax, before your benefit is affected.

Once you earn over $160 a week (before tax):

  • any income you get between $160 and $250 a week (before tax) will reduce your benefit by 30 cents for each $1 of income
  • any income you get over $250 a week (before tax) will reduce your benefit by 70 cents for every $1 of income.

To work it out:

  1. Take the income you get between $160 and $250 (maximum will be $90) and x 0.3.
  2. If your income is over $250, take your total income - $250 and x 0.7.
  3. Add these 2 amounts together.

If you're paying for childcare, you may be able to earn up to $180 a week (before tax), before your benefit is affected. This depends on the amount you’re paying for childcare while you’re working. It can include private childcare arrangements and childcare costs not covered by a Childcare or OSCAR Subsidy.

If your benefit payment is reduced by the same amount you receive, you'll be paid nothing.  Any other payments you receive, e.g. Accommodation Supplement, may also be affected.

Gross Income (before tax) Amount deducted from benefit payment
$ 170 $ 3
$ 190 $ 9
$ 210 $ 15
$ 230 $ 21
$ 250 $ 27
$ 270 $ 41
$ 290 $ 55
$ 310 $ 69
$ 330 $ 83
$ 350 $ 97
$ 370 $ 111
$ 390 $ 125
$ 410 $ 139
$ 430 $ 153
$ 450 $ 167
$ 470 $ 181
$ 490 $ 195
$ 510 $ 209
$ 530 $ 223
$ 550 $ 237
$ 570 $ 251
$ 590 $ 265
$ 610 $ 279
$ 630 $ 293
$ 650 $ 307
$ 670 $ 321
$ 690 $ 335
$ 710 $ 349
$ 730 $ 363
$ 750 $ 377
$ 770 $ 391
$ 790 $ 405
$ 810 $ 419
$ 830 $ 433
$ 850 $ 447
$ 870 $ 461
$ 890 $ 475
$ 910 $ 489
$ 930 $ 503
$ 934 $ 505.80

If you have a partner and you're both getting, or entitled to get, a benefit in your own right (other than Veteran's Pension) then:

  • you can jointly earn up to $160 a week before tax, before it affects your benefit
  • each of your benefits is reduced by 35 cents for every $1 of income you and your partner earn over $160 a week before tax.

To work it out, take your joint income - 160 and x 0.35.

If your benefit payment is reduced by the same amount you receive, you'll be paid nothing.  Any other payments you receive, e.g. Accommodation Supplement, may also be affected.

Gross Income (before tax) Amount deducted from benefit payment (each)
$ 170 $ 3.50
$ 190 $ 10.50
$ 210 $ 17.50
$ 230 $ 24.50
$ 250 $ 31.50
$ 270 $ 38.50
$ 290 $ 45.50
$ 310 $ 52.50
$ 330 $ 59.50
$ 350 $ 66.50
$ 370 $ 73.50
$ 390 $ 80.50
$ 410 $ 87.50
$ 430 $ 94.50
$ 450 $ 101.50
$ 470 $ 108.50
$ 490 $ 115.50
$ 510 $ 122.50
$ 530 $ 129.50
$ 550 $ 136.50
$ 570 $ 143.50
$ 590 $ 150.50
$ 610 $ 157.50
$ 630 $ 164.50
$ 650 $ 171.50
$ 670 $ 178.50
$ 690 $ 185.50
$ 710 $ 192.50
$ 730 $ 199.50
$ 750 $ 206.50
$ 770 $ 213.50
$ 790 $ 220.50
$ 810 $ 227.50
$ 830 $ 234.50
$ 850 $ 241.50
$ 870 $ 248.50
$ 890 $ 255.50
$ 910 $ 262.50
$ 930 $ 269.50
$ 950 $ 276.50
$ 970 $ 283.50
$ 990 $ 290.50
$ 1,010 $ 297.50
$ 1,030 $ 304.50
$ 1,050 $ 311.50
$ 1,070 $ 318.50
$ 1,088 $ 324.80

Related

Benefit rates
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