Determining the entitlement start date for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) 106-05010130

To determine the start date for AIC, gather the following:

• the term entitlement periods
• relevant state/territory school term dates
• date the student commenced study, boarding, living away (as relevant)

Go to Step 2.

Students who are short-term boarders have an entitlement start date of the date they begin boarding.

Is the student a short-term boarder?

• Yes, the start date is the date they begin boarding. For coding of the Living Arrangements (EILA) screen, see Completing and assessing the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Application for Short Term Boarding Allowance (SY068). Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 3

A student needs to:

• commence study no later than the 14th day from the commencement of the school year, and
• meet the eligibility criteria by 1 January, and
• commence to live at the board or second home location no later than the 14th day from the commencement of the school year

Does the student meet these criteria?

• Yes, the entitlement start date is 1 January. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 4

Students must:

• commence study no later than the 14th day from the commencement of the relevant term, and
• meet the eligibility criteria by the first day of the relevant term, and
• commence to live at the boarding or second home no later than the 14th day from the commencement of the relevant term

The Resources page contains examples.

Does the student meet all these criteria?

• Yes, the entitlement start date is the first day of the relevant term entitlement period. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 5

The start date for AIC can be backdated if the student was:

• prevented from starting on time due to circumstances beyond their control, and
• they start as soon as those circumstances end

Did the student commence late due to due to circumstances beyond their control?

• Yes, the claim may be backdated to the start of the relevant term entitlement period. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 6

Sometimes, term entitlement periods and state/territory school term dates do not match.

Did the student commence late in a school term or during school holidays, but the entitlement start date is in the next term entitlement period?

• Yes, and the student will:
• not be eligible for AIC in the next term, go to Step 7
• remain eligible for AIC in the next term and begins the next school term within 14 days of the relevant state/territory school term, the start date is the start of the next term entitlement period. See the Resources page for an example. Procedure ends here
• No, and the student:
• commenced during school holidays, go to Step 7
• otherwise, go to Step 8

When the student's start date falls in the school holidays between school terms:

• 1 and 2, the AIC start date is 1 April
• 2 and 3, the AIC start date is 1 July
• 3 and 4, the AIC start date is 1 October
• 4 and 1, if the student will:
• not be eligible for AIC in the next term, go to Step 8
• remain eligible for AIC in the next term and begins the next school term within 14 days of the relevant state/territory school term, the start date is the start of the next term entitlement period

Procedure ends here.

The student did not:

• start on time or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term
• meet the eligibility criteria by 1 January or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term, or
• begin to live away or study at home on time or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term

The entitlement start date is the later of the date:

• all eligibility criteria are met
• the student commenced study, or
• the student began to live at the boarding or second home location

Procedure ends here.