ABSTUDY customer in State Care 010-02040060

Amy is a 15 year old secondary student who has left the parental home to live with another carer.

If this carer has claimed foster care allowance for Amy, they may also be entitled to Family Tax Benefit (FTB), ABSTUDY School Term Allowance, and School Fees Assistance.

This is subject to the usual conditions. Student will be eligible for Health Care Card with no Parental Means Test.

George is a 16 year old Australian Apprentice who has elected to live in a Government funded refuge or residential care facility.

The State has not accepted responsibility for George. Thus, George is not assessed as being in State Care.

George should be assessed for Homeless rate as per the usual protocols.

A customer who is placed directly into a boarding school, residential facility, only provided with respite care during school holidays, or the State/Territory Department maintains a high level of daily care and control after the customer has been placed with a foster carer etc.

When this occurs, an organisation can be an applicant under ABSTUDY Policy 6.1.2 and an officer of that organisation should be able to sign the form. See the References page.

When the State Care organisation returns a letter advising that the student is boarding or planning to commence boarding at a boarding school or hostel. This is sufficient evidence that the child is in the care of the organisation.

It can be accepted in lieu of the completion of the 'applicant's' signature on the ABSTUDY forms, in this instance.

Where there is insufficient formal correspondence supplied to this effect, confirmation from the relevant state/territory department (verbal or written) is sufficient.

Therefore, Services Australia does not need a signature to grant the ABSTUDY for State Care customers in these situations.