West Australians incentivized with payout to register for digital ID
Parents can receive $250 for each secondary student and $150 for each primary student and kindergartener if they sign up for the ServicesWA app.
West Australian parents can access a Student Assistance Payment from the state government to assist with living expenses. This payment can only be easily accessed through the ServiceWA app, which requires an active digital identity.
All students from kindergarten to Year 12 are eligible for this support, regardless of their schooling situation—public, non-government, or home schooling.
The payment amounts to $250 for each secondary student and $150 for younger children. It is not means-tested, making it available to all families with school-aged children.
Individuals interested in this payment are advised to download the app and visit the Australian Government Digital Identity System website to acquire a digital ID if they don’t have one. Only the federal government’s myGovID is accepted by ServiceWA.
To obtain a myGovID, a person must provide a personal email address (not shared or work-related) and upload two identity documents, like a passport and driver’s license.
Although the opposition supports this payment, families have expressed concerns about the cumbersome application process. They find it puzzling that access to this funding is restricted behind the ServiceWA app.
Trying to Claim Without a Digital ID
Tech expert Rebekah Barnett points out that digital ID is optional in Australia. As a result, the WA government has enabled individuals to claim the payment without a digital ID or creating a profile on the services app.
However, the process of claiming without a digital ID is slower and less convenient. The option is only mentioned in a Q&A section on the website, not prominently displayed on the main page explaining payments. Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Tony Buti did not discuss this choice when announcing the policy.
People looking to claim without a digital ID have limited online guidance, leading them to call the helpline for assistance.
Ms. Barnett shared the frustrating experience of trying to make a non-digital claim via phone, uncovering a complex process with no clear instructions. This ordeal raises concerns about the push towards digital IDs and the potential consequences.
Claims for the WA payments begin on April 15 and must be submitted by June 28.
