16 year old daughter. FTB or Austudy?

[Marlene]

Hi there. Can anyone help me?
My DD is just about to turn 16 and I received a form in the mail from centrelink regarding Austudy. I don't know if I should claim Austudy for her or not as it will cut the amount of FTB we get, but I don't know how much Austudy she will get, how do I find out if we will be better off claiming Austudy or not? Will centrelink give me figures for eihter scenario if I ask them?
Either way the money will be going to me...and I will purchase her schoolong needs as I don't trust her with the money, LOL.

[~clover~]

I'm pretty sure you don't have a choice. The Austudy still gets paid into your account, but either way you will lose your payments for her. Once they are 16 it's Austudy or nothing.
I think it's about $170 a fortnight last I heard?

[Marlene]

Ok, cool, thanks. I actually meant youth allowance, but same thing I think.

I will be losing $148 a f/n once she turns 16, so was wondering if youth allowance will make up for that or not? Is youth allowance different to Austudy?

Wow, so many questions.

[briggsy's girl]

sorry hun, but i have to say that you can still get FTB for a 16 yr old, and, unless you;'re a really low income family, you'll be better off. only thing is, you get max 48.30 per fn - you may be getting more now.

call youthy and students - 132490 - and they'll tell you what youth allowance you'd get. i believe once family income is over about 50k you're better off on ftb

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Im still getting Youth Allowance. I assume they are they same thing. My sisters daughter is turning 16 next month and they arnt claiming for it as he hubby earns too much and it would only give them an extra $8 a fortnight or something. My sisters payment drops for my niece and she will only be getting under $20 a fortnight for her but its better than $8.
You can ring centrelink and ask them what ever u like and they dont need to know who you are. When i was 16 my mum got my Youth Allowance put into her bank as she didnt trust me with money either. Tho she wud give me money when i needed it.

HTH

[Marlene]

Thanks Briggsy, I rang centrelink and they said I would get about $50 FTB or $120 Youth Allowance, so looks like we will be claiming Youth Allowance. Thanks for your advice.