New information has come to light that means students intending to study at UNE next year will still be able to receive Youth Allowance, despite living less than 90 minutes from the university.

New England MP Tony Windsor has been in contact with the Minister for Education's office and discovered students will still get the payment if there is no reliable public transport in the area.

"This is good news to students in my electorate," Mr Windsor said.

"As there is no reliable public transport between many of the towns that could possibly be affected and Armidale the change in rules will not affect them.

Mr Windsor had come under fire from Nationals senator John Williams who said Mr Windsor had abandoned students in the area by supporting the changes.

"The idea behind not allowing students who live closer than 90 minutes to the university they are enrolled at is to stop students who are able to remain living at home with their parents and attend university from draining the system," Mr Windsor said.

"Country kids don't have that luxury and have a different economic circumstance when attending university, so it is fortunate that this change to the rules does not affect them."

Changes to the structure of Youth Allowance have been on the political agenda since the Federal budget came out in May.

Previously students could work for one year, earning enough to make them financially independent of their parents and eligible for youth allowance.

Students who earn $19,532 in an 18-month period are considered independent from their parents and eligible for youth allowance, but under the proposed rules, students would have to work at least 30 hours a week for at least 18 months to qualify through workforce participation.

The proposed changes, which were to take effect from January 1, would affect students who finished secondary school last year and took a gap year in order to qualify for the allowance next year.

But the Government is now expected to delay the changes for 12 months so that students who made decisions last year based on the existing rules are not disadvantaged.