The Farm Household Allowance is income support for farmers and their partners facing financial hardship.
It helps with living costs, provides access to financial coaching, and can fund essential training or advice so your farm business can recover or transition.
FHA is paid fortnightly and is benchmarked to base working-age payments, so the exact rate you receive depends on which base payment your situation maps to.
Why You Keep Seeing $663
You’ll often see “$663 per fortnight” linked to FHA because some recipients are mapped to Youth Allowance (job-seeker categories) where the maximum rate is about $663.30 per fortnight.
However, many farmers—especially single recipients aged 22+—are mapped to JobSeeker, where the rate is higher.
From 20 September 2025, indexation applies to base payments, so your FHA may change from that date based on which base payment you’re aligned to.
FHA Amounts & Mapping (September 2025)
Below are typical fortnightly amounts many FHA recipients align to. Your exact rate depends on age, partner status, children, and which base payment applies.
| Situation (Base Payment Mapping) | Fortnightly Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Youth Allowance job-seeker (common for younger or partnered) | $663.30 |
| JobSeeker – partnered (each) | $715.10 (indexed from 20 Sep) |
| JobSeeker – single, 22+ (no children) | $781.10 (indexed from 20 Sep) |
| JobSeeker – single with dependent child | $836.50–$836.60 (indexed from 20 Sep) |
Important: FHA mirrors these base rates. If your payment date falls on/after 20 September 2025, you’ll see the indexed figure for your mapped category.
Eligibility-Who Can Get FHA in September 2025?
To qualify, you generally must:
- Be an Australian resident living in Australia.
- Be a farmer or the partner of a farmer, and the farm must operate with significant commercial purpose (scale, consistency, and profit intention are considered).
- Meet the income and assets tests, including a combined net assets cap of $5.5 million (personal + farm).
- Agree to mutual obligation requirements (e.g., financial improvement actions, training, or participation in a plan).
Time limit: You can receive FHA for up to 4 years in any 10-year period (current 10-year window covers 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2034).
Extra help available: Many recipients can access an Activity Supplement (up to $10,000) over your FHA period for approved training, advice, or professional services, plus financial assessments and a Health Care Card.
Payment Schedule for September 2025
- Frequency: FHA is paid every two weeks on your assigned Centrelink pay cycle (visible in myGov).
- Public holidays: If your payday hits a public holiday, payment usually arrives earlier.
- Indexation date: From 20 September 2025, base payments are indexed. If your FHA payday lands on or after this date, your new indexed rate (based on your mapping) will be paid automatically.
- Managing your cycle: You can check upcoming pay dates, letters, and any rate changes in your myGov/Centrelink account.
How to Apply
- Prepare documents: Farm ABN (if applicable), recent financials, debts, assets (including land, plant, livestock), and details on farm activity.
- Apply online via myGov (Centrelink) or by phone/visit if you need help.
- Complete assessments: You may be asked for financial assessments and to agree on an improvement plan.
- Use support services: Consider the Rural Financial Counselling Service for free help with budgets, loan talks, and business planning.
The Farm Household Allowance remains a vital safety net for farming families under pressure.
The widely quoted $663 figure is correct for some Youth Allowance-mapped cases, but many recipients—especially single farmers aged 22+—are aligned to JobSeeker and receive higher payments.
With indexation from 20 September 2025, check your myGov account to confirm your exact rate and payday.
Use available advice and training support to stabilise your household finances and strengthen your farm’s long-term resilience.
FAQs
Does everyone get exactly $663 per fortnight on FHA?
No. $663.30 applies to some Youth Allowance-mapped recipients. Many farmers map to JobSeeker, which has higher fortnightly rates. Your case details determine your mapping.
Will my FHA go up on 20 September 2025?
If your FHA is paid on/after 20 September 2025, your amount reflects the indexed base payment you’re mapped to, so you may see an increase.
Can I reapply if I used FHA before?
Yes, but the program has a cap of 4 years within a 10-year period. Previous time on FHA counts toward that total.
