Assessing eligibility for Fares Allowance (FAA) for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-04060020

Description

Aaron is receiving Austudy and is an online student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Aaron lives with their partner in Melbourne. However, Aaron must attend the University in Brisbane for a compulsory residential unit.

Aaron should submit a claim for Fares Allowance (FAA), with evidence of the residential component requirement. Aaron can either submit a claim asking Services Australia to pre-book their travel arrangements or they can submit a claim to have the travel expenses reimbursed after they have travelled.

Maikeli is about to move from Dubbo to Sydney to commence the first year of university. Maikeli needs to take 3 large suitcases, bedding, kitchenware and study materials. There is a bus route between Dubbo and Sydney, however the bus company restricts luggage to one large suitcase per passenger.

It is not practicable for Maikeli to travel via bus on this occasion. Maikeli will be entitled to the private vehicle rate of FAA if they decide to travel from Dubbo to Sydney using their car.

Sonya is studying at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, NSW. Sonya is receiving Youth Allowance (YA) as a dependent student at the away from home rate because their parent's home is in Townsville, Queensland.

Sonya paid for an economy flight home to see their parents at the end of the study year and had to take a bus to the airport.

Sonya should submit a claim for Fares Allowance (FAA) for both the cost of the flight and the bus ticket. If Sonya chose to travel by private vehicle instead of the bus, they would only be paid the amount of a bus fare, as this is the cheapest form of public transport available.

Elizabeth is receiving Youth Allowance (YA) as a dependent student and lives in Sydney to attend university. Elizabeth's permanent home is in Perth.

Elizabeth wants to travel home to see their parents at the end-of-year break, returning to university in the new year. Elizabeth can ask Services Australia to book and pay for the most practical mode of transport to travel, for example, return flights from Sydney to Perth.

Elizabeth catches the local bus to and from the airport, which cannot be pre-booked. Elizabeth will need to submit their bus travel expenses for reimbursement after they have travelled.

Kim has completed Year 12 in 2021, and will commence a 3 year Bachelor of Education at Gold Coast University in 2022.

Kim needs to travel from their home in Victoria to the Gold Coast to commence studies in February 2022.

Kim's Youth Allowance (YA) is granted from 1 January 2022, as they are deemed a continuing student due to completing Year 12 in 2021.

Kim is eligible for travel from their family home to the university at the start of the study year, and return to their family home at the end of the study year.

Kim will also qualify for a mid-year return trip back to the family home once they have been in receipt of YA for 3 months.

Jodie is granted Youth Allowance (YA) from 17 July 2022, as they have been accepted in the mid-year intake at the University to commence a nursing degree.

Jodie is entitled to the following travel while studying:

• in the first year of study (2022):
  • travel from the family home to the University to commence studies and return at the end of the study year
  • one mid-year return trip to the family home, when they have been in receipt of YA for 3 months. As Jodie is a continuing student, the mid-year trip can be completed on or after 1 April 2023, as they have been receiving YA for 3 months from 1 January
• subsequent years of study:
  • travel from the family home to the University to commence studies and return to the family home at the end of the study year
  • one mid-year travel from the University to the family home and return to the University when they have been receiving YA for 3 months

Bella is a dependent 20 year old, who will live away from home to commence University in March 2023. Bella's Youth Allowance (YA) is granted with a start date on 15 March 2023. Bella needs to travel from their parental home to the student accommodation on 1 March 2023.

As Bella is assessed for YA and deemed eligible, FAA can be approved and can be undertaken before the YA payments commence. Bella lodges a FAA claim for reimbursement on 5 March 2023, however the claim is held until the YA payment is issued after 15 March 2023.

In September, Bella is unwell and has had to discontinue studies early. Bella's YA is cancelled on 15 September 2023, as they are no longer a full-time student. Bella still has a lease on the student accommodation until October. In October, Bella travels back to the parental home and lodges a FAA claim for reimbursement before 1 April of the following year. The travel is approved and reimbursement paid, as Bella received YA within the study year.