Zac Atkins had only been in his dream job at a Canberra events company for three weeks before it had to close due to coronavirus safety restrictions.
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It's been a "wild year" for the 24-year-old viticulture student, who in February was let go from his previous job at a Wagga winery after it was overwhelmed by the impact of the summer bushfires.
He felt lucky to get the job in Canberra "almost right away", but this too, he said, "was not meant to be".
Mr Atkins, who was doing his viticulture course at CSU by distance, has returned to Wagga and is looking for work.
As a full-time student under the age of 25, Mr Atkins receives youth allowance from the government, which until recently meant a maximum payment of $462.50 per fortnight depending on how many hours he worked in a week.
Thousands of students around Australia who rely on youth allowance, many of whom will have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic, should automatically receive an additional $550 per fortnight from the end of April for the next six months.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said about 235,000 full-time students, including those on AUSTUDY and ABSTUDY payments, would get the boost.
"The government has made this decision in recognition that many full-time students also supplement their income through part-time and casual work which may not be available over coming months," Minister Ruston said.
"Under this change we will be able to provide more support to rural and regional students who are living away from home for their study as well as mature age students who are also supporting a family."
The government has passed legislation which gives Minister Ruston the power to change welfare settings via legislative instrument until the end of 2020, which it says is to allow for flexibility in providing support.
The new powers will allow the government to alter settings associated with payment rates, means testing and eligibility criteria.
Mr Atkins said while the situation was stressful, he had been in a financial "juggling act before 2020", and it would be worse for his older colleagues who were not already receiving payments.
"From the time the packages roll out, that will be six weeks since people have been off work. It's a long time to be left without any income," Mr Atkins said.
"It's a bit rough. They give me $250 a week in fortnightly installments and by the time you pay rent and try and eat something you're pretty much in the negative already."
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