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Dealing with ABSTUDY customer enquiries about annual Parental Income Test (PIT) reviews 110-07060050

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This document outlines the process of dealing with enquiries in relation to ABSTUDY annual Parental Income Test (PIT) reviews.

Annual reviews

The rate of payment for a dependent ABSTUDY customer is based on their parent(s)/guardian(s) financial situation. The Parental Income Test (PIT) assesses the combined parental income in the base tax year. As the base tax year changes each calendar year, parental income details must be updated annually. This information is usually collected in the annual PIT review, however in some cases, the customer's record may be automatically updated by use of data available on the parent/guardian's family assistance record via a process known as PIT Copy.

Every dependent ABSTUDY customer will require this reassessment. If the required information is not coded into the system by 31 December, the customer's Living Allowance rate will be reduced to zero from 1 January.

Dependent ABSTUDY customers whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are exempt from the PIT, or whose income details have already been obtained via the PIT Copy process, will not receive the annual PIT review letter.

The annual PIT review requests information about the combined parental income for the most recently completed financial year.

The PIT review letter will be automatically issued to customers the Monday after the September systems release (usually the first Saturday in September). However, sometimes it may be necessary to issue a manual SY012 (A) when a parent/guardian is unable to use the Advise Parental Income option online. See Completing Parent(s)/Guardian(s) details for the Base Tax Year and Current Tax Year (MOD JY) for information.

Customer or parent/guardian enquiries

Customer or parent/guardian enquiries may include:

  • lost or misplaced letters
  • when parents/guardians do not have proof of taxable income
  • request for an extension or provide an estimate of parental income
  • explanation of annual PIT review process

The Resources page contains links to information on the Services Australia Website about annual parental income test reassessment and the Parental Income Assessment (single year) (SY012A) form.

The Resources page contains links to information on the Services Australia Website about annual parental income test reassessment and the Parental Income Assessment (single year) (SY012A) form.

Completing Parent(s)/Guardian(s) details for the Base Tax Year and Current Tax Year (MOD JY)

Youth Allowance (YA) and ABSTUDY Parental Income Test (PIT) reviews

ABSTUDY annual Parental Income Test (PIT) reviews

Archive and Culling Engine (ACE) to access archived letters

Restoration of ABSTUDY payments