Payment of ABSTUDY when a student is deferring or discontinuing study before the end of the course 102-07020040
Expand allThis document outlines the process for ABSTUDY students, including ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES), who have deferred or withdrawn from full-time studies prior to the end of their course.
Actions required for deferring or discontinuing students not eligible for ABSTUDY
This table describes further coding information and steps to follow when assisting ABSTUDY students who have ceased studies or who are continuing in part-time study without qualifying for a workload concession.
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Step |
Action |
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1 |
Student in receipt of ABSTUDY + Read more ... If the student:
For all other circumstances, where the student is in receipt of:
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2 |
Intended to commence but did not start + Read more ... Was the ABSTUDY student intending to commence full-time study in the next available study period, but did not commence by the third Friday?
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3 |
Intending to continue in the same course in the next term/semester in the following year + Read more ... For secondary students, see Customer will not commence full-time study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES), Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) and AIC PES. A continuing ABSTUDY student who did not commence studies in the new academic year (in the same course) will be entitled to payment of Living Allowance/PES up to the date they became aware they would not be recommencing as a full-time student. As entitlement to Incidentals Allowance is established by course commencement in the academic year, the ABSTUDY student is not entitled to Incidentals Allowance. For example, if a student completes the first year of a 3 year course and does not return in the second year by the third Friday of Semester 1, they have not commenced and therefore are not entitled to Incidentals Allowance in the second year of that course. In Customer First:
Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. |
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4 |
Intending to continue in the same course in the next term/semester of the same year + Read more ... Continuing ABSTUDY students who did not commence studies in the new study period (in the same course) will only be entitled to payment of Living Allowance/PES up to the date they became aware they would not be recommencing as a fulltime student. If they commenced a course in the calendar year and did not return to studies when the next semester recommenced, they retain their eligibility for the Incidentals Allowance for that year. For example, if a student has been paid Incidentals Allowance for that year and completes the first semester of a year-long course and does not return for Semester 2 they remain entitled to Incidentals Allowance. In Customer First:
Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. |
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5 |
For all ABSTUDY students that have already commenced study in the current study period + Read more ... If the ABSTUDY student has commenced but then discontinued studies or has completed studies before the anticipated course end date:
If the student is unsure of their last date of attendance, go to Step 10. Is the Enrolment Verification: field on the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen in Process Direct or Education Course Detail (EDC) screen in Customer First displaying as 'VER' (Enrolment verified/verification provided) or 'VNR' (verification not required)?
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6 |
Student ceased studies prior to the date they have been paid to + Read more ... The date they supply as their last date of attendance must be accepted. The student does not need to supply proof of enrolment prior to the ABSTUDY being cancelled, unless:
Is the last date of attendance advised by the student more than 28 days past the start date of the course, or is there any doubt about the student's enrolment status and/or their last date of attendance?
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7 |
Has the student provided proof of enrolment within 14 days? + Read more ...
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8 |
Update the education details for ABSTUDY student + Read more ... Update the student's record in Customer First:
Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. |
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9 |
Student in receipt of School Term Allowance Select the most appropriate circumstance below. Continuing student does not start study in term 1: + Read more ... The student is not entitled to ABSTUDY. Update the Supplementary Education Summary (EPSS) screen before the EDCH screen if the school has been incorrectly paid the School Fee Allowance (SFA). This is because the system will not allow the school to be deleted from the EDCH screen if SFA has been paid during that year to that school:
Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. New student doesn't start study in Term 1, for which a School Term Allowance instalment has been made: + Read more ... The student is not entitled to the ABSTUDY, reject the payment:
See Rejecting an ABSTUDY claim for more information. Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. Student discontinues study during a school term: + Read more ... If the student's end date is unknown, suspend the payment and follow up the Last Date of attendance. Go to Step 10 for further information. If the student's end date is known:
Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. |
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10 |
The student no longer qualifies for one of the Centrelink administered payments for students + Read more ... For ABSTUDY students only, where the action cannot be resolved at the first point of contact. For example, if the student does not know their last day of study/attendance, suspend the payment.
Within the suspension activity, send a Q134 letter detailing the reasons for suspension, the date of effect and the relevant section of the policy. The advice must also include the customer's review and appeal rights. See Cancellation or suspension of ABSTUDY Payments. As a general principle, action to cancel or suspend ABSTUDY (including Schooling A and ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement) may be taken by Smart Centre Telephony staff where:
Record details on a DOC of the decision to cancel and any other action taken. Note: if the activity created a debt shell, processing staff should complete the debt raising process end to end. See Raising ABSTUDY debts. Procedure ends here. |