Reviews of independence for ABSTUDY 110-07020020

ABSTUDY students and Australian Apprentices who are granted independent status may be granted either permanent or reviewable independent status. Reviewable independent status means the grounds for which independent status was granted may change and therefore affect eligibility for independent status.

The reviewable ABSTUDY independent status grant reasons include:

• the customer is above the age of consent in their state or territory, and living in a de facto relationship which is of at least six months’ duration
• the customer currently has the care or custody of another person's dependent child/student
• the customer is 15 years of age or over and has parent(s) who cannot exercise their parental responsibilities
• the customer is 16 years of age or over and living in an Indigenous Australian community after previously being adopted or fostered by a non-Indigenous family for more than two years, or
• the customer is of minimum school leaving age or at least 16 years of age, and homeless (including customers in state care who are not living with a carer or receiving any ongoing support from the state or territory

A review of independent ABSTUDY status may occur due to a change in the customer's circumstances. ABSTUDY customers granted under a reviewable independence category do not have to reapply for independent status each year, but may need to re-establish eligibility when their circumstances change. They must notify Services Australia of a change in circumstances within 14 days.

The change in circumstance that may affect independence would depend on the reason for grant of independence. See Process for examples.