There are 2 ways to get Remote Area Allowance.
Option 1: You can get it if you live in a remote area and get either:
- an income support payment
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance.
Option 2: You can get it if you moved to a remote area, and will stay longer than 12 months.
Students
You can get this allowance for 8 weeks from the date you leave your usual home if you:
- are a student
- get Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY Living Allowance or Austudy
- live in a remote area, except during your study.
NB. The 8 week limit doesn’t apply to secondary school students getting ABSTUDY Living Allowance.
Remote area
Tax zones define remote areas. The Tax Office determines tax zones. You can receive Remote Area Allowance if you receive one of these payments: Service Pension, Income Support Supplement, Age Pension, or Veteran Payment and You are a permanent resident of one of these zones.
- tax zone A
- special zone A
- special zone B.
Visit the Australian Taxation website to see which towns fall under each of the above-mentioned zones.
You can’t get Remote Area Allowance if you move outside the tax zones above live in tax zone B, or live in a certain region within special zone A.