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, if the increase is for:
• a new course, see Coding new study details. Procedure ends here
• an existing course, 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 study load concessions for ABSTUDY and 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, student's ABSTUDY entitlement does not change, record details on a DOC of any relevant information. 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, and the student is applying for:
• Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES, go to Step 4
• ABSTUDY Incidentals only, see ABSTUDY Incidentals Allowance. Procedure ends here
• No, no updates required, student remains eligible for the Part-time Award. Record details on a DOC of any advice given to student. Procedure ends here

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

• Yes, for:
• Send a Fast Note to the ABSTUDY Smart Centre Processing team. Select Auto text, use Students, ABSTUDY & Apprentices > Update > ABSTUDY Study Update Required
  Include all relevant details
  Procedure ends here
• See Table 2
• No, go to Step 5

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. They can provide the details verbally for staff to record in a Fast Note and send to the processing team:

• Select Auto Text, use Students, ABSTUDY and Apprentices > Claims - ABSTUDY > ABSTUDY transfer to LA required
• Complete the required fields

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 7
• No, go to Step 6

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:
• they will continue to be paid under the Part-time Award
• 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

Note: there is no closing date for additional information to be provided for ABSTUDY.

Procedure ends here.

A customer 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 customer already met the Identity Confirmation requirements for Living Allowance to be granted?

• Yes:
• The Fast Note will be allocated to an appropriate Service Officer for action. Procedure ends here
• See Table 2
• No, the customer will need to provide the relevant identity documents. See Identity Confirmation for further information. Procedure ends here

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.

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 2
• 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 4

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 3
• 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 4
• No, the student is only eligible to Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from the first day of the study period. Go to Step 4

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, see Start and closing date for ABSTUDY claims to determine correct start date for ABSTUDY Living Allowance.

Go to Step 4.

Change the course that is currently coded as part-time to full-time.

In Customer First:

• Go to the Education Course History (EDCH) screen
• Select 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' = full-time study
• 'C66' = 66% Concessional Student
• 'C25' = 25% Concession Student
• 'U50' = 25-49% no disability concession
• 'O50' = 50-74% no disability concession
• Select 'Ins' in the Action: field select Continue
• This will now show 2 entries on the EDCH screen for the current course, one as part-time and one with the updated status
• Select the new 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
• Select 'Chg' in the Action: field and select Continue
• Select the original entry from the EDCH screen
• Correct the Student End Date to the day before the student became eligible for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES
• Select 'Chg' in the Action: field and select Continue
• Finalise the activity on the Assessment Results (AR) screen and record details on a DOC
• Complete the started ABSTUDY transfer to LA required DOC

Procedure ends here.