Age requirements for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme 010-03030020

To qualify for AIC, students must meet all eligibility requirements for AIC. One of these conditions is that the student must be between the minimum and maximum ages for AIC.

Students are generally eligible for AIC if they have reached the minimum primary school entry age for the state or territory in which they attend a primary school. However, if a child has a disability or other health-related condition which requires them to live away from the family home, the minimum age is 3 years and 6 months.

Note: home schooling age rules may impact eligibility for AIC. See the Resources page in Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme Distance Education Allowance (DED).

For primary, secondary or ungraded level studies, maximum age is under 19 years on 1 January in the year of study. However, students receiving Disability Support Pension (DSP) or Parenting Payment Single (PPS) and studying full-time at primary or equivalent ungraded level may receive the Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) under AIC until they turn 21 years of age.

The maximum age limit may be extended by one year (to under 20 years of age as at 1 January) for students undertaking primary, secondary or ungraded level studies if the student's progress through school has been delayed by special circumstances such as:

• illness
• English language difficulties
• transfer from a different education system, or
• periods of employment or training

Note: home schooling age rules may impact eligibility for AIC. See the Resources page in Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme Distance Education Allowance (DED).

For tertiary students, the maximum age is the minimum age at which the state or territory requires the student to participate in education.

Secondary or tertiary students 16 years of age and over may be eligible for Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY Living Allowance in their own right. Students may choose to receive either one of these payments or their parent may choose to receive AIC and retain eligibility for Family Tax Benefit (FTB).

FTB Part A can continue to be paid with AIC for dependent students aged up to 19. FTB cannot be paid for students aged 16 years of age or over receiving Youth Allowance (YA), ABSTUDY Living Allowance, or means tested School Fees Allowance.

In addition, most state and territory governments also provide assistance to isolated students that in some cases are linked to eligibility for AIC. This assistance does not affect eligibility for AIC or FTB. Families should choose the scheme which best suits their needs.

Proof of age is not required if another Centrelink payment has been claimed for, or on behalf of, the student where proof of age has already been provided.

Proof of age is required if it is the first AIC claim for the student and family assistance has never been paid for the student:

• original Birth Certificate or Certified Extract
• passport, Citizenship certificate or evidence of permanent residence that show the student's date of birth
• previous government records that have been verified

Original documents or photocopies that have been certified by a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner of Declarations are required. However, applicants living in isolated areas may have their original documents photocopied and endorsed by an official of the local court, police station or other government office. The photocopies must be stamped (if an office stamp is used), signed and dated by the official viewing the documents.