Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme Boarding Allowance (BA/ABA) 010-03040010

Customer is applying for the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme BA and ABA or has provided evidence of boarding fees.

Provide general advice (based on information given by the customer) over the phone. Encourage the customer to test their eligibility, particularly in cases of discretionary decisions.

Are general AIC Scheme eligibility criteria met for the applicant and student?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, tell the applicant they are not eligible for AIC Scheme allowances for the student. Check eligibility for other payments for students. Procedure ends here

Is the student living away from home in an approved board arrangement during the school term?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, advise the applicant they are not eligible for BA for the student. Check eligibility for other AIC Scheme allowances:
• Second Home Allowance
• Distance Education Allowance
• Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
• Procedure ends here

Are the student's parents or other dependent sibling/s bearing the costs of maintaining the residence or location where the student lives during the study term?

• Yes, the student is not in a boarding arrangement and the applicant is not eligible for BA/ABA for the student. However, the family may be maintaining what is in effect a second home - check eligibility for AIC Scheme Second Home Allowance. See the Resources page for examples of Boarding Allowance versus Second Home Allowance
• No, go to Step 4

Is the student receiving DSP or PPS?

• Yes, and the student is studying:
• at the primary or equivalent ungraded level, the applicant is not eligible for BA for the student, however, the AIC Scheme Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) is payable
• at the secondary or tertiary level, they are not eligible for the AIC Scheme but may be eligible for PES
• procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 5

Is the student in State care (for example, foster care)?

• Yes, a foster care allowance (or similar) is being received by the applicant for the student and the AIC applicant is:
• a person, Basic BA is payable only
• an organisation, AIC is not payable. Check eligibility for other payments. Procedure ends here
• No, the applicant is eligible for BA for the student, go to Step 6

Has the applicant indicated they are applying for ABA and all relevant information has been provided, including Parental Income Test (PIT) data?

• Yes, go to Step 7
• No, only BA is payable. Go to Step 11

Where boarding charges are left blank, an attempt must be made to contact the applicant by phone to obtain this information verbally. DOC the conversation or contact attempt on the customer's record.

Did the applicant provide boarding fees on their claim, review or verbally?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, only BA is payable:
• in the Living Arrangement Details (EILA) screen, key $1 in the Annual Boarding Fees field
• go to Step 11

Does the annual actual boarding charges for the student, advised by the applicant, exceed the maximum annual rate of Basic BA, less $250 for incidentals?

• Yes, and the provider's website:
• lists boarding charges that exceed this threshold, accept the lower amount advised by the applicant. Go to Step 10
• lists boarding charges that are below this threshold, basic BA is payable only. Accept the lower amount as displayed on the website. Ask the applicant to provide verification of boarding charges. Go to Step 9
• does not state boarding charges, basic BA is payable only. Update the Living Arrangement Details (EILA) screen, key $1 in the Annual Boarding Fees field. Go to Step 9
• No, Basic BA is payable only. Accept the boarding charges stated by the applicant. Go to Step 9

Verification of boarding fees must be requested where the applicant:

• has not provided boarding fees on their claim, review or verbally
• has provided boarding fees that exceed the maximum annual rate of Basic BA, less $250 for incidentals, and the provider's website
• does not state boarding charges, or
• lists boarding charges that are less than the amount stated by the applicant

On the student's record, send a Q999 AIC - Additional Boarding Allowance - Request for Boarding Fees letter to the applicant.

Record details of request and contact attempt/s on a DOC.

Pending verification, Basic BA is payable only. Go to Step 11.

Does the income of the parent comply with the Parental Income Test?

• Yes, go to Step 12
• No, Basic BA is payable only. Go to Step 11

Tell the applicant to lodge a Claim for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) (SY040) if they have not already applied.

BA can be paid for the full calendar year. Pro-rata entitlement applies if a student is not eligible for the full year. For example, for short-term boarding or where eligibility commences during the year.

For AIC Scheme rate information, see Rates and Thresholds > Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC). For students boarding:

• full-time - at least 4 nights per week, the maximum rate is payable
• part-time - 3 nights per week, the rate is based on the number of nights boarding per week. For example, if boarding 3 nights per week, 3/7 of the maximum rate is payable
• short-term - the rate is based on the actual period boarding. BA is paid as a lump sum, either at the start of the boarding period if known, or after the boarding period ends

BA is paid:

• in Term-in-advance instalments for eligible students boarding at a boarding school or school term hostel
• fortnightly in arrears, for eligible students boarding privately

Record details on a DOC.

The maximum rate of ABA payable is determined by the Parental Income Test.

The system will auto-calculate ABA entitlement. This is done by adding the ABA annual rate payable (based on the Parental Income Test) to the BA entitlement and comparing with the level of annual actual boarding charges, plus $250 and paying the lesser amount.

Note: the student's actual BA and ABA entitlement cannot exceed the maximum rate of the combined BA and ABA. See Rates and Thresholds > Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).

Tell the customer to lodge a Claim for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) (SY040) if they have not already applied.

BA/ABA can be paid for the full calendar year. Pro-rata entitlement applies if a student is not eligible for the full year. For example, for short-term boarding or where eligibility commences during the year.

For AIC Scheme rate information, see Rates and Thresholds > Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC). For students boarding:

• full-time - at least 4 nights per week, the maximum rate is payable (BA plus ABA rate subject to the Parental Means Test)
• part-time - less than 4 nights per week, the rate is based on the number of nights boarding per week. For example, if boarding 3 nights per week, 3/7 of the maximum rate is payable
• short-term - the rate is based on the actual period boarding. BA and ABA is paid as a lump sum, either at the start of the boarding period if known, or after the boarding period ends

BA/ABA is paid:

• in Term-in-advance instalments for eligible students boarding at a boarding school or school term hostel
• fortnightly in arrears, for eligible students boarding privately

Record details on a DOC.