Assessing ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) claims 010-05030000

Customers receiving a qualifying payment for ABSTUDY PES and who are undertaking qualifying study are qualified for ABSTUDY PES in addition to the primary qualifying income support payment. Qualification for ABSTUDY PES relies mainly on receipt of a qualifying income support payment. Receipt of this payment must be verified before the ABSTUDY PES assessment can proceed.

Customers must satisfy basic qualifications:

• minimum age
• residency requirements
• qualifying study
• receiving a qualifying income support payment. Receipt of this payment must be verified before the PES assessment can proceed, and
• Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander status for ABSTUDY

Indigenous customers can choose whether they want to apply for ABSTUDY PES or PES. Care should be exercised in offering customers a choice between the two schemes, as there are differences in additional payments available. For example:

• Incidentals Allowance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
• Additional Incidentals Allowance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
• Away from Base Assistance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
• Residential Cost Option for ABSTUDY PES recipients
• Education Entry Payment (EdEP) for PES recipients

Note: see Assessing claim for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

The closing dates for an ABSTUDY PES claim differs from other benefits administered by Services Australia:

• 31 March if the course if a full year course starting before 1 April
• 31 July if the course starts on or after 1 July, or
• 28 days from the date of qualification if the course if less than one year

To make sure the student is paid from the earliest date possible, they should submit their claim by the closing dates above.

Note: for customers experiencing vulnerability, see Intent to claim and vulnerable customers.

ABSTUDY PES claims are processed by ABSTUDY Smart Centre Processing teams. See Processing arrangements for ABSTUDY claims and enquiries.

Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) PES is limited to a very small number of customers and claims and enquiries will be referred to the relevant AIC Smart Centre Processing centre.

See Smart Centre Processing details for: Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).

PES processing has been consolidated nationally and claims are processed by the Student Network - PES Processing Service Centres. Search PES in Office Locator for details. The Resources page has a link to Office Locator.

When making an unfavourable decision, speak to the customer:

• explain the decision
• give them a chance to provide more information, and
• advise their review and appeal rights