Determining progress and duration of assistance for ABSTUDY 010-02080040

Item

Scenario

1

Assessing extent of assistance

Jan has applied for ABSTUDY in 2014 to study a Bachelor of Science at Monash University. This is a three year course, therefore reasonable time would be five years (normal course duration plus two years). Jan's academic history is as follows:

• 2002 - paid ABSTUDY for whole year for study in a Bachelor of Law
• 2003 - deferred from course
• 2007-2008 - paid ABSTUDY for two years of a Bachelor of Arts
• 2009 - paid ABSTUDY for Certificate III in Office Skills
• 2010 - studied a Bachelor of Music full-time but did not apply for ABSTUDY as Jan's new partner was earning enough to support them both
• 2011 to mid-2013 - paid ABSTUDY for two and a half years for Bachelor of Business (deferred at end of semester 1 2013)

Jan has studied for seven and a half years in total but all that study can be disregarded for reasonable time. Years of study that can be disregarded (and the reasons why):

• 2002 - more than 10 years ago
• 2007 – 2008 – paid ABSTUDY at Bachelor level but not the same course
• 2009 - not at tertiary level B (TGB)
• 2010 - was not paid ABSTUDY
• 2011 to mid 2013 – paid ABSTUDY at Bachelor level but not the same course

Whilst all the previous time spent in receipt of ABSTUDY can be disregarded for reasonable time, we need to look at limit of assistance. The method to determine reasonable time is also used for determining the upper limit to the duration of ABSTUDY LA/PES for study at the same level under the Limits of Assistance, so for a 3 year degree, the limit of assistance is 5 years. ALL time spent at Bachelor level needs to be taken into consideration for this assessment as follows:

• 2002 - more than 10 years ago, not included
• 2007-2008 – included
• 2009 - not at TGB, not included
• 2010 - was not paid ABSTUDY, not included
• 2011 to mid-2013 - included

This gives four and a half years of study undertaken at TGB level at the start of the 2014 academic year. As this is less than the five years, Jan will be eligible for ABSTUDY in 2014. Jan will NOT be eligible in 2015 as at that time Jan will have exceeded limit of assistance.

Note: while Jan will reach reasonable time by the start of semester two, 2014 Jan will remain eligible as previous study is only measured at the start of the academic year.

2

Assessing limit of assistance for a Bachelor student

Samuel has applied for ABSTUDY in 2018 to study a 4 year Bachelor of Chemical Engineering at The University of Newcastle. Samuel's academic history is as follows:

• 2011-2012 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for 2 years of a 3 year Bachelor of Education
• 2013 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for a Cert 3 in Business
• 2014-2015 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for 2 years of a 4 year Bachelor of Business
• 2016-2017 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for 2 years of a 4 year Bachelor of Arts

Samuel has studied for seven years in total but all that study can be disregarded in the reasonable time assessment for his new claim. Years of study that can be disregarded (and the reasons why):

• 2011-2012 – paid ABSTUDY at tertiary level B (TGB) level but not the same course
• 2013 – not at TGB level
• 2014-2015 – paid ABSTUDY at TGB level but not the same course
• 2016-2017 – paid ABSTUDY at TGB level but not the same course

Whilst all the previous time spent in receipt of ABSTUDY can be disregarded for reasonable time, we need to look at limit of assistance. The method to determine reasonable time is also used for determining the upper limit to the duration of ABSTUDY LA/PES for study at the same level under the Limits of Assistance, so for a 4 year degree, the limit of assistance is 6 years. ALL time spent at Bachelor level needs to be taken into consideration for this assessment as follows:

• 2011-2012 – included
• 2013 – not at tertiary level B, not included
• 2014-2015 – included
• 2016-2017 – included

This leaves six years of study undertaken at TGB level at the start of the 2018 academic year, which count toward limit of assistance. Even though Samuel has not actually completed a Bachelor course, as the time spent is equivalent to one completed Bachelor course, Samuel is no longer eligible for ABSTUDY under the limits of assistance rules.

3

Assessing limit of assistance for a Masters student

Alec has applied for ABSTUDY in 2018 to study a 2 year Master of Professional Engineering (Chemical) at The University of Newcastle. Alec's academic history is as follows:

• 2010-2013 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance to complete a 4 year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
• 2014-2015 - paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for 2 years of a 2 year Master of Engineering Management but did not complete the course
• 2016-2017 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance for 2 years of a 2 year Master of Professional Engineering (Software) but did not complete the course

Alec has studied for eight years in total but all that study can be disregarded in the reasonable time assessment for his new claim. Years of study that can be disregarded (and the reasons why):

• 2010-2013 – not at Masters level
• 2014-2015 – paid ABSTUDY at Masters level but not the same course
• 2016-2017 – paid ABSTUDY at Masters level but not the same course

Whilst all the previous time spent in receipt of ABSTUDY can be disregarded for reasonable time, we need to look at limit of assistance. The method to determine reasonable time is also used for determining the upper limit to the duration of ABSTUDY LA/PES for study at the same level under the Limits of Assistance, so for a 2 year Masters course, the limit of assistance is 4 years. ALL time spent at Masters level needs to be taken into consideration for this assessment as follows:

• 2010-2013 – not at Masters level, not included
• 2014-2015 – included
• 2016-2017 – included

This totals four years of study undertaken at Masters level at the start of the 2018 academic year, which count toward limit of assistance. Even though Alec has not actually completed a Masters course, the time spent is equivalent to one completed Masters course. However, as study at Masters and Doctorate level is limited to the following:

• one (or time equivalent to one) completed course at Master level and one (or time equivalent to one) completed course at Doctorate level
• two (or time equivalent to two) completed at Masters level, or
• two (or time equivalent to two) completed at Doctorate level

Alec still has another Master or Doctorate course available under the limit of assistance rules. Therefore, while Alec has met his limit of assistance for one Masters course, Alec is eligible for ABSTUDY as the current course can be considered to be the second Masters course under limit of assistance rules.

4

Assessing limit of assistance for a Bachelor student who was previously a part time student

Mylee has commenced a 3 year full time Bachelor of Arts course in 2018 and is applying for ABSTUDY Living Allowance. Mylee's academic history is as follows:

• 2012-2017 - paid ABSTUDY under the Part-time Award to complete a 6 year Bachelor of Education

Whilst Mylee has completed a Bachelor degree within the last 10 years, this can be disregarded as ABSTUDY Living Allowance was not paid for the course, therefore Mylee is eligible to ABSTUDY.

5

Assessing limit of assistance for a Bachelor student applying for the Part-time Award

Rhys has commenced a 6 year part time Bachelor of Arts course in 2018 and is applying for the ABSTUDY Part-time Award. Rhys's academic history is as follows:

• 2013-2016 – paid ABSTUDY Living Allowance under the Tertiary Award to complete a 4 year Bachelor of Engineering

Whilst Rhys is not applying for ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Rhys has completed a Bachelor degree for which ABSTUDY Living Allowance was paid within the last 10 years, therefore Rhys is not eligible to ABSTUDY as the limit of assistance has been reached.