Austudy customer going overseas 102-11110020

A student, Chris, is receiving Austudy and is travelling outside Australia from April for 6 months. Chris has no leave from the study institution and has no plans to study while overseas.

Cancel Austudy from the date study ceased, as Chris is no longer a full-time student and is not continuing with the course at present.

Jessie, who is receiving Austudy, advises of an overseas holiday after final exams, from November until December.

Austudy is not payable in this situation because the absence is not for an approved reason. If the absence is less than 6 weeks, payment should automatically restore upon return to Australia.

Carl is receiving Austudy and has provided a statement from the Australian institution stating Carl is leaving Australia on 16 February for 2 semesters in the United States of America (USA).

It is a requirement of the Australian course Carl remains enrolled with the Australian institution while overseas and will maintain a qualifying study workload. The course work completed overseas will be credited towards the Australian course and Carl will continue in the course on return to Australia. Carl's course in the USA starts on 20 February and the last lecture is on 15 November.

Carl's Austudy is portable for the duration of the course in the USA. The approved study period may include additional travel time to allow Carl to prepare for the study and/or to finalise affairs and return to Australia. Carl is travelling 4 days before the course start date, which will be included in the approved study period. The end date of the approved study period will depend on what date Carl has advised for return to Australia. If no date has been provided the end date will be the study end date of 15 November. If Carl has advised any date up to November 21 record this as the end date of the approved study period.

If Carl is returning after November 21 this would be in excess of the total allowable 10 days additional travel time and be considered a holiday. The end date in this instance would be November 15, the last day of study.

Andrew has submitted a claim for Austudy as a student on 1 February. Andrew was previously studying part-time, has recently stopped working and has an Income Maintenance Period imposed until 12 March. Andrew leaves Australia on 23 February to undertake full-time approved study that will contribute to the Australian course.

Andrew's Austudy can be paid from 13 March, as Andrew lodged a claim before departing Australia and became payable within 13 weeks from the date of first becoming eligible.

Jennifer has submitted a claim for Austudy and recently took a study break, but will start full-time study next semester at a campus in Hong Kong. The overseas course starts on 15 February, ends on 5 August, and will count towards a degree at Sydney University. The course at Sydney University starts on 1 March.

Jennifer's Austudy cannot be paid during studies in Hong Kong as Jennifer is not qualified and payable as a student until the first day of the course, at which time Jennifer is not in Australia. Overseas study provisions do not apply unless the student was eligible to receive payment before leaving Australia.

Note: reject Jennifer's claim and send advice so Jennifer can consider options.

Dana recently stopped full-time work to start a Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Canberra. On the claim for Austudy, lodged on 10 February, Dana advises of a period of study in Canada from 22 February as part of the Australian course and will be departing Australia on 16 February.

Semester 1 at the University of Canberra starts on 12 February for the course. As this is before Dana's departure date, the start date for Austudy can be deemed as 12 February.

Dana's Austudy can be paid from 12 February and also while studying overseas because Dana is qualified for Austudy and payable prior to leaving Australia.

Johnny, who is receiving Austudy, will be starting study overseas on 1 May. Johnny also wants to have a holiday overseas before starting study and leaves Australia on 1 March.

Johnny's Austudy will stop on 1 March. As long as Johnny remains qualified for Austudy while outside Australia the Austudy can be restored and continue to be paid from 1 May for the duration of the approved study.

Note: no additional travel time is added to the beginning of the approved overseas study period, as all travel prior to commencing study is deemed as a holiday. The end date of the approved study period will be decided based on the evidence provided for study and travel dates.

The Service Officer must record on RSCD:

• a line with departure date of 1 March as the event date, no reason is required
• a further line with study commencement date of 1 May as the event date, reason OFS and end date as per evidence provided
• a further line with Johnny’s return to Australia date as the event date, and Australia as the country, if known. If this is not known, this further coding is not required

Casey is receiving Austudy as an Australian Apprentice and wants to spend a few weeks in Nepal as a holiday. The apprenticeship has not ended and Casey’s Commonwealth Registration Number will remain current during the break.

Casey’s Austudy is not payable in this situation because the reason for absence is not an approved reason. An Australian Apprentice customer may continue to receive Austudy while they are outside Australia only if they are working or training overseas as part of their apprenticeship.

Alex is studying an Australian course full time. As part of this course, Alex is required to complete a unit lasting 10 weeks in the USA from 1 August. Once the course is completed, Alex will remain in the USA for a further 3 weeks to tour the local area. Alex is leaving Australia on 29 July.

Generally, it is reasonable to allow additional travel time either before and/or after the study period to travel and set up or pack up. The 3 days prior to the course start date can be included in the approved portability period, however as Alex is having a holiday after the course there is no allowance for additional travel time. In this case the start date of approved portability is the departure date.

Alex's Austudy is payable for the full time the USA course is being undertaken, which ends on 10 October.

The Service Officer must record on RSCD:

• a line with departure date 27 July as the event date, reason OFS and end date 10 October
• a further line with Alex's return to Australia date (if known) as the event date and Australia as the country

Austudy will stop on 11 October, but should automatically restore when Alex returns to Australia if Alex remains qualified for payment.

An Austudy customer comes into the service centre about going overseas as a parent is missing after an earthquake in Turkey. Note: a social worker may be able to help in these circumstances.

The Service Officer confirms the situation in Turkey through news articles.

This is an acute family crisis and an acceptable reason for an absence overseas. If a customer has advised their overseas travel meets the initial criteria for an approved reason, the case must be referred to Centrelink International Services (CIS) for assessment.

Note: customers who are overseas can contact CIS on freecall numbers from some countries or use reverse charges from any country.

Madeline is receiving Austudy, is a full time student and is completing 2 semesters overseas as part of a course. Madeline will be studying during the first semester in France from 1 March to 15 June and the second semester in Switzerland from 15 August to 1 December.

Where a customer completes a period of approved study in 1 country, travels to another country and there, undertakes another period of approved study, payment for the intervening holiday period cannot be made under overseas study provisions.

This is because, although they are qualified for payment (assuming they remain enrolled in Australia as a full-time student), SSA 1991 section 1218 allows for payment overseas only for the duration of an approved overseas course that counts toward their Australian qualification. The break described in this example is not a “semester break” – the 2 overseas courses are separate courses.

The study of 2 different units in 2 different countries does not constitute a semester break.

Separate decisions must be made for each semester of study in each country. Madeline could be approved for each and be paid with a break in entitlement. No additional travel time is allowed where a student is having a holiday between courses.