ABSTUDY customer leaving parental home 102-03010110

If an ABSTUDY student or Australian Apprentice leaves their parental home, the reasons for their departure should be investigated as they may need a reassessment of their rate of payment.

The departure of the ABSTUDY customer from the family home could also affect the entitlements of other young people in the family unit.

An ABSTUDY student or Australian Apprentice may be considered independent and therefore not subject to the Parental Means Test if it is unreasonable for them to live at the home of either or both parents for any of the following reasons:

• extreme family breakdown, or similar exceptional circumstances
• living at home would cause a serious risk to the customer's mental or physical well-being due to family and domestic violence, sexual abuse or other similar unreasonable circumstances
• parents are unable to provide them with a suitable home because of their own lack of stable accommodation

An ABSTUDY student or Australian Apprentice may still be considered dependent (and therefore still be subject to the Parental Means Test) but be entitled to an away from home (AFH) rate if they are required to live away from home to access full-time study, training or undertake an Australian Apprenticeship (apprenticeship or traineeship).

Changes affecting eligibility for Rent Assistance should also be investigated

An ABSTUDY student receiving Schooling A allowances (under 16 and student is living at home) who changes care to another parent/guardian may remain qualified for Schooling A Award. For Schooling A Award, the parent/guardian is the applicant for the ABSTUDY payment and a new claim may be required.