- Voluntary HELP repayments of $500 or more received after 31 December 2011 now attract a bonus of 5%. Find out more about Voluntary HELP repayments.
- The Age of Independence for Youth Allowance has been lowered from 23 to 22 years.
- The Family Tax Benefit Part A has increased for dependent 16 to 19 year olds in full-time secondary study.
- Relocation Scholarships rates are now higher for students who are in their second and third years of living away from regional homes.
- The Student Start-up Scholarship has been adjusted down from $1,097 to $1,025 per half year.
- Approved Masters by coursework are now eligible for Youth Allowance and Austudy.
For Home Buyers
- It should now be easier to compare apples with apples when you talk to a lender about a home loan. Ask them for a key facts sheet on the home loan.
- NSW first-home buyers are now only eligible for stamp-duty exemptions or concessions if the property or land purchased is for the construction of a new home. Find out more about first-home buyer benefits in NSW.
Source: MoneySmart, https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources/news
