As the uni year creeps closer, students are sorting timetables, housing, and what\u2019s left of their summer. But many don\u2019t realise Centrelink might owe them money\u2014real money. It\u2019s easy to miss, and even easier to overlook when there\u2019s already so much going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thousands of young Australians may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support from Centrelink through the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP)<\/a>, designed to help students from regional or remote areas who need to move for study. It\u2019s not a loan and doesn\u2019t need to be paid back\u2014but many don\u2019t even know it exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea is pretty straightforward: cover some of the upfront costs that come with relocating\u2014think rent, transport, and groceries in the first few months of uni or TAFE. The payment is usually delivered in two instalments and, for eligible students from inner regional areas, a $3,000 one-off payment may apply instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n