Late commencement of course for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES), Austudy, PES, and Youth Allowance (YA) 106-05010120

• Yes, the procedure does not apply. See:
• Calculating the start date for ABSTUDY, or
• Calculating the start day for Austudy and Youth Allowance (YA) students and Australian Apprentices claims
• No, go to Step 2

Is the student claiming or receiving ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, go to Step 4

Did the student start the course after the Friday of the third week?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, and they have lodged an ABSTUDY claim by the relevant ABSTUDY closing date or ABSTUDY PES claim by the closing dates for PES. See Calculating the start date for ABSTUDY to work out the normal start date, according to the student's circumstances. Go to Step 9

Did the student start the course after the second Friday after the course start date?

• Yes, for:
• Youth Allowance (YA) or Austudy, go to Step 5
• PES, see Calculating the start day for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) and ABSTUDY PES
• No, if the student started within the first 2 weeks they are eligible from the course start date. Go to Step 9

Were there circumstances beyond the student’s control that stopped them from starting the course by the third Friday of classes?

• Yes, for:
• Youth Allowance ( YA) or Austudy, go to Step 7
• ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY PES, go to Step 6
• No, the student is eligible from the date they started full-time study. Go to Step 9

Were there circumstances beyond the student’s control that stopped them from starting the course by the third Friday of classes?

• Yes, go to Step 7
• No, the student is eligible for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES from the date they started the course. This is provided they have met ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY PES closing date requirements. See Calculating the start date for ABSTUDY for more information then return to this process. Go to Step 9

Ask the student for evidence to support the circumstances that stopped them from starting their study before the

• second Friday of classes for the: YA and Austudy or
• third Friday of classes for ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES

Has the student provided evidence of the circumstances beyond their control affecting their study start date, or sufficient evidence to support their statement for secondary students?

• Yes, for:
• ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES, go to Step 8
• Youth Allowance and Austudy, the student meets study requirements from the course start date. Go to Step 9
• No, and the student cannot or did not provide the requested information within required period. The student is eligible for their payment type from the date they started the course, and met study load requirements. This is unless the payment is affected by:
• ABSTUDY closing dates, or
• ABSTUDY PES closing dates

Go to Step 9.

Students that have started study outside the first 3 weeks of class due to circumstances beyond their control are treated the same as those who did commence study within the first 3 weeks.

The student is eligible for Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES when they provide evidence and an:

• ABSTUDY claim lodged by the relevant ABSTUDY closing date, or
• ABSTUDY PES claim by the closing dates for PES the student is eligible for Living

Staff should use:

• 1 January if the student has not had a break in full time (or concessional study load) study of greater than one semester, or
• the course start date if the student has had a break in full time (or concessional study load) study of greater than one semester

• For ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES, record the details of the decision to approve or not approve backdating of payments in a DOC
• For YA and Austudy, backdating does not apply unless a vulnerable circumstance impacts their claim lodgement

Include the outcome of any amended start date decision in the claim or activity DOC.