Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Second Home Allowance (SHA) 010-03040030

To be eligible for SHA:

• the student and applicant must both meet general AIC eligibility criteria
• the student must live at an approved second family home during the school week
• costs of maintaining the second family home must be incurred by the student's family
• the nominated principal family home must remain approved as the principal family home

See the Process page to determine a student's eligibility for SHA.

SHA is automatically calculated and paid as part of a customer's new claim for AIC.

To claim AIC, applicants can submit a Claim for Assistance for Isolated Children (SY040) form.

See Claiming Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).

The Second Home Allowance (SHA) rate depends on how many nights a student stays in the second home during the school week:

• 4 nights or more per school week: The student is considered full-time and the maximum rate is payable
• 3 nights or fewer nights per school week: The student is considered part-time and a pro rata rate is payable based on number of nights stayed

For the maximum SHA rate, see the Rates and Thresholds index.

SHA is not taxable, it is not means-tested, and entitlement is not affected by study load.

Payments are delivered in fortnightly instalments during the entitlement period, limited to a maximum of 3 students per family.