Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) eligibility 010-03030000

To be eligible for AIC an approved applicant must meet the primary eligibility criteria:

• normally live in Australia and be either:
• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident within the meaning of regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994; or
• a New Zealand citizen who meets the permanent settlement rule
• not be receiving certain other Australian Government assistance
• have primary (or joint) responsibility for the student’s care and support, and
• be either:
• a legal guardian of the student
• a natural, adoptive, de facto or step parent of the student
• a person with whom the student normally lives (when not living away to attend school), or
• in certain circumstances, a third party, an organisation or an institution

To be eligible for AIC a student must meet the primary eligibility criteria:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who lives in Australia during the school year
• meet the age criteria
• be undertaking approved studies
• not be receiving certain other Australian Government assistance
• not be in a custodial institution or certain state-authorised care situations
• not have reasonable daily access to an appropriate state school due to isolation conditions or special needs, and
• due to isolation or specials needs must:
• board away from home, or
• live in a second family home, or
• study by distance education methods

The following assistance is available for students:

• Boarding Allowance - help with the cost of boarding fees for students who live away from home to attend school. May also include Additional Boarding Allowance
• Second Home Allowance - assistance for families to maintain a second home so the student can attend a local school
• Distance Education Allowance (DED) - help with study costs for students undertaking approved distance education studies
• Short-term Boarding Allowance - help with the cost of boarding fees for short periods for students who live away from home to attend school
• Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) - help for students who receive Disability Support Pension (DSP) or Parenting Payment Single (PPS) to undertake study

For information relating to an applicant claiming AIC, see Claiming Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).

AIC claims and supporting documents can be lodged by using any of the following options:

• Online - using the Upload documents service
• Fax - see Processing Services
• Post - via a reply paid envelope or by posting to Services Australia. See Processing Services
• In person - at a service centre, or in remote areas, with a Centrelink field officer