Increasing study load for ABSTUDY students 102-07020160

Has the student increased their study load from less than 75% of a full time study load to at least 75%?

Note: a student who is already undertaking at least 75% of the normal full-time study load is considered to be full-time. Any increase from their current study load will not affect their payments.

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, go to Step 2

If a concessional study load has not already been considered, the student would have to test their eligibility for either a concessional study load or another Centrelink payment.

If the student meets the qualification for ABSTUDY, see:

Assessing the two-thirds study load concession for ABSTUDY, or

Assessing the disability workload concession for ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES), or

Assessing the pensioner study load concession for ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)

Does the student now meet the requirements to be paid under a concessional study load?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, record any relevant information on a DOC. Procedure ends here

See the table in the Resources page for a list of links to eligibility requirements for the different ABSTUDY awards.

Is the student now eligible for ABSTUDY Schooling B Award, Tertiary Award or Masters and Doctorate Award?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, see Step 6 in the Coding increased study load for ABSTUDY students table

Is the student applying for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, see ABSTUDY Incidentals Allowance. Procedure ends here

Was the student receiving Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES immediately before the increase in study load?

• Yes, see Step 1 in the Coding increased study load for ABSTUDY students table
• No, go to Step 6

Students may be required to provide additional information to be assessed as a full-time or concessional study load student.

Secondary students have the option of providing this information via the ABSTUDY Claiming Tool process. For details, see ABSTUDY Claiming Tool process.

Tertiary students are unable to provide information through the ABSTUDY Claiming Tool. These details can be provided verbally and recorded in a Fast Note to be sent to the processing team.

• Select Auto Text use Students, ABSTUDY and Apprentices > Update > ABSTUDY action required
• Select Confirm
• Include:
• Date study load increased
• Details of study end date change
• Details of employment income
• Details of accommodation details
• Details of parental information (if dependant)
• Relationship status
• Any changes to current assets
• Independent or Away from Home
• Details of scholarships/bursary
• Details of compensation
• Details of any other change in their circumstances since being granted ABSTUDY

Note: as the student has already 'claimed' for ABSTUDY, they do not need to complete a whole new claim form. Taking the information verbally is the most efficient option because the student has already qualified for ABSTUDY and, under the ABSTUDY scheme, they are regarded as changing awards rather than re-claiming.

Does the student choose to provide additional information verbally?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7

All students who do not choose to have the ABSTUDY Claiming Tool run will be required to complete the Student Additional Information form. For details, see Assessing the ABSTUDY Additional Information Form (SY023).

Additional information will also be required based on the student's circumstances:

• Students under 22 will need to supply either verification that they meet requirements for independent status, or parents/guardians details via a MOD JY. For details see Completing Parent(s)/Guardian(s) details for the Base Tax Year and Current Tax Year (MOD JY)
• Partnered students aged 22 or over (or under 22 and meets the requirements for independence based on being in a de facto relationship), must also complete a Partner Details (MOD P) form. For details see Assessing the Partner details (MOD P)

Note: students may choose to lodge a completed Claim for ABSTUDY (SY019) to claim the full-time allowance instead of the forms listed above

Request additional information

• Requests for extra information must be made in writing, see Requesting information (CLK). Tell the customer that eligibility for payment as a full-time or concessional study load student cannot be assessed until the required forms have been returned

Record details on a DOC.

Procedure ends here.

A recipient must meet full Identity Confirmation requirements before granting Living Allowance. Additional procedures exclusive to ABSTUDY apply in some circumstances. See Identity Confirmation for further information.

Has the recipient already met the Identity Confirmation requirements for Living Allowance to be granted?

• Yes, go to Step 10
• No, go to Step 9

The recipient will need to provide the relevant identity documents. See Identity Confirmation for further information.

Has all additional information been provided so that a full assessment can be undertaken for ABSTUDY allowances as a full-time or concessional study load student?

• Yes, see Step 1 in the Coding increased study load for ABSTUDY students table
• No, tell the student that they will continue to be paid under the part-time award until the additional information is provided. Note: there is no closing date for additional information to be provided for ABSTUDY. Record details on a DOC. Procedure ends here.

If the student has increased their study load due to:

• starting a new course, see Coding new study details, procedure ends here
• a change to their existing course, go to Step 2

Did the ABSTUDY student change to a full-time or concessional study load by Friday of the third week in the study period in which the study load increased?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the student is only entitled to Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from the date they changed to a full-time or concessional student. Go to Step 5

Note: if the change of study was outside the first three weeks of classes because of circumstances beyond the control of the student, they are treated the same as those who did start full-time or concessional study load within the first three weeks.

Has the student previously studied a full-time or concessional study load, and is resuming a full-time or concessional study load after a break?

• Yes, and the break was:
• less than or equal to one semester, go to Step 4
• greater than one semester. The student is eligible to Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from the first day of the study period. Go to Step 5
• No, the student is only eligible to Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from the first day of the study period. Go to Step 5

The student is eligible to Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from:

• 1 January if they started the study period between 1 January and 31 March, or
• 1 July if they started the study period between 1 July and 31 July, or
• the first day of the study period if they started the study period outside the above dates

Note: If the student has been in receipt of a Social Security payment past the date they are eligible to receive Living Allowance, then Living Allowance can only be paid from the date the Social Security payment stopped.

Change the course that is currently coded as part-time to full-time on either the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen in Process Direct or the Education Course History (EDCH) screen in Customer First.

Process Direct

• Go to the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen
• Select Add and complete the following Create Education Details fields:
• Participation Status Event Date: enter the date Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES entitlement is to start
• Participation Status: select FTS – Full-Time Student or the relevant code for concessional study load
• Select Save. This shows 2 entries on the EDC screen for the current course, 1 as part-time and 1 with the updated status
• Receipt Date and Channel, Select Save
• Select Edit on the FTS line that was just created
• Student Start Date: enter the date Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES entitlement is to start
• If proof of enrolment is required, update the Enrolment Verification field with 'VRR' for verification required. These changes to VER when enrolment details are provided. See Proof of enrolment (POE) in a course of study
• Select Save
• Select the original PTS line from the EDC screen
• Student End Date: enter the day before the student became eligible for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES
• Select Save
• Select Assess. Address any errors/warnings on the Errors (SWE) screen
• Select Assess again then select Finish
• Record details of the update on the Finalise screen
• Select Finalise

Customer First

• On the EDCH screen, 'S'elect the relevant course to be updated
• Update the Participation Status Event Date: field to the date Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES entitlement is to start
• Code the Participation Status: field as 'FTS' for full-time or the relevant code for concessional study load
• Code 'I' for insert in the Action: field and Press [Enter]. This will now show 2 entries on the EDCH screen for the current course, one as part-time and one with the updated status
• 'S'elect the FTS entry that was just created and correct the Student Start Date: to the date Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES entitlement is to start
• If proof of enrolment is required, update the Enrolment Verification: field with 'VRR' for verification required. This will be changed to 'VER' when enrolment details are provided. See Proof of enrolment in a course of study
• Code 'C' for Correct in the Action: field and Press [Enter]
• Select the original PTS entry from the EDCH screen
• Correct the Student End Date to the day before the student became eligible for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES
• Code 'C' for Correct in the Action: field and Press [Enter]
• Finalise the activity on the AR screen and record details in a DOC

Note: if the student is eligible for Incidentals Allowance and it has already been paid to the student for the current study year as part of the previously coded part-time course, the system will auto-limit the payment of this allowance again. However, if the student has not yet received the allowance for the current study year, an Incidentals Allowance payment will be generated.

Procedure ends here.

The recipient may be eligible for ABSTUDY assistance under:

• ABSTUDY eligibility and requirements

ABSTUDY eligibility and requirements or remain eligible for the Part-time Award

Record details of any advice given to recipient on a DOC.