Determining the Entitlement Start date for the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme 106-05010130

Applicants must lodge a claim by 1 March of the year following the year they seek assistance for, or no allowance is payable.

If a customer experiences pre-claim vulnerable circumstances in the 8 weeks prior to contacting the agency about their intent to claim they get an extra 14 days to submit their claim. They may get an extra 13 weeks to claim in some circumstances.

In these cases, the AIC claim lodgement date is the day the applicant contacts Services Australia.

Check the applicant’s record for an Intent to claim (ITC) DOC to determine the correct deemed date of claim.

Is the student a short-term boarder?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 3

Did the applicant meet all the general eligibility conditions for AIC by the date they started board?

• Yes, the entitlement start date is the date they started board:
• update the AIC Living Arrangements (EILA) screen
• record details on a DOC
• procedure ends here
• No, the entitlement start date is the date they met all the eligibility criteria. Go to Step 8

A student needs to:

• commence study on time
• meet the eligibility criteria by 1 January, and
• commence to live away or study at home on time

Does the student meet this criteria?

• Yes, the entitlement start date is 1 January:
• assess and code the claim for AIC
• use the determined entitlement start date on the Living Arrangements (EILA) screen
• No, go to Step 4

A claim may be backdated when unforeseen circumstances delay the start of study. This can include:

• sudden illness
• accident, or
• disruption to international travel

Note: If the student had a temporary overseas absence at the beginning of the year:

• view the Immigration Advised Movements (RSIM) screen for the student and note all the departure and return dates and countries
• update the Customer Advised Travel Details (RSCD) screen with the departure and return details with a reason of HOL or OTH

Does the AIC claim advise a delay to the start of studies due to unforeseen circumstances?

• Yes, the claim may be backdated to the start of the relevant term if applicable. Go to Step 8.
• No, go to Step 5

Does the student need a home schooling/education registration certificate or letter?

• Yes, the start date is:
• the registration date it advises, or
• the date the certificate was issued, or
• the first day of the relevant term entitlement period if the registration date or certificate issue date is within 14 days of the school start date for their state or territory
• Go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 6

Students must:

• start study no later than 14 days after the first day of a term, and
• met the eligibility criteria by the first day of the relevant term, and
• begin to live away or study at home no later than 14 days after the first day of the relevant term

The Resources page contains examples and details of the AIC Term Instalment Periods.

Does the student meet all this criteria?

• Yes, the entitlement start date is the first day of the relevant term instalment period. Go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 7

The student did not:

• start on time or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term
• meet the eligibility criteria by 1 January or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term, or
• begin to live away or study at home on time or within 14 days of the first day of the relevant term

The entitlement start date is the later of:

• eligibility criteria met
• the date study commenced study, or
• the date they began to live away from home or study at home

On the AIC Claim Details (EICD) screen:

• Manual Assessment Start Date field: code the entitlement start date
• Reason for Manual ASD field: code the relevant reason