ABSTUDY and Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Rates of Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-05070000

With the exception of the requirement to be undertaking a full-time study load, does the student meet all other eligibility criteria for the:

• ABSTUDY eligibility criteria for Tertiary Award
• ABSTUDY eligibility criteria for Masters and Doctorate Award or
• ABSTUDY eligibility criteria for Schooling B Award?

Note: the ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) is only available for the above awards.

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, see Step 5 in the ABSTUDY PES rates based on study load table

Is the student receiving one of the certain income support payments that attract Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, see Step 5 in the ABSTUDY PES rates based on study load table

Is the student either undertaking:

• 75-100% of the normal full-time study load for their course, or
• 75-100% of the normal full-time study load for their course in accordance with the terms of the coherent course sequence study load concession, or
• 66-74% of the normal full-time study load for their course and qualified for a two-thirds study load concession, or
• 25-74% of the normal full-time study load for their course and qualified for either a disability study load concession or a pensioner study load concession?
• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, see Step 5 of ABSTUDY PES rates based on study load table

Is the student receiving one of the following payments:

• Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Youth Allowance (YA) with the customer target category of partial capacity for work
• Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Invalidity Service Pension
• War Widow/er Pension, where the customer both has a dependent child under 16 years and receives a DVA Income Support Supplement due to permanent incapacity for work?
• Yes, see Step 1 in the ABSTUDY PES rates based on study load table
• No, see Step 2 in the ABSTUDY PES rates based on study loadcertain income support payments that attract Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) table

The student is entitled to the normal rate of PES, provided that they are studying at least 25% of the normal full-time study load for their course.

Update the Participation Status: field in Process Direct on the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen or in Customer First on the Education Course details (EDC) screen to 'U50' (25-49% of full-time study load), 'O50' (50-74% of full-time study load) or 'FTS' (75-100% of full-time workload) depending upon actual study load. The system will automatically calculate the correct rate of PES.

Procedure ends here.

The rate of payment of PES for all other ABSTUDY PES recipients will be determined by their actual study load.

If the customer is undertaking:

• 25-49% of the normal full-time study load for the course, go to Step 3
• 50-100% of the normal full-time study load for the course, go to Step 4

The customer is entitled to the reduced rate of PES.

Update the Participation Status field in Process Direct on the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen or in Customer First on the Education Course Details (EDC) screen to 'U50' (25-49% of full-time course, no disability concession).

Note: if a disability study load concession applies, the Participation Status: field should be coded to 'C25' (25% concessional student).

Go to Step 6.

The customer is entitled to the normal rate of PES.

Update the Participation Status field in Process Direct on the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen or in Customer First on the Education Course details (EDC) screen to 'O50' (50-74% of full-time course, no disability concession) or 'FTS' (75-100% of full-time course), depending upon the actual study load.

Note: if a disability study load concession applies, the Participation Status field should be coded to 'C50' (50-74% concessional student).

If a two-thirds study load concession applies, the Participation Status field should be coded to 'C66' (66% concessional student).

Go to Step 6.

The customer does not qualify for the ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

Record details of the discussion with the student in a DOC.

Consider other possible entitlements under Eligibility for ABSTUDY, including the ABSTUDY Part-time Award.

Note: those students who are undertaking a workload of less than 25% do not qualify for ABSTUDY PES, but may qualify for the ABSTUDY part-time award.

Procedure ends here.

ABSTUDY PES payments are:

• paid at a daily rate of 1/14 of the fortnightly rate
• generally paid on the same date as the student's qualifying payment