Returning to the permanent home when in receipt of the Away from Home rate of ABSTUDY 102-03010130

To keep receiving the Away from Home rate, the customer must have returned home:

• to undertake a part of their course (for example, practical training) for up to one term/semester (depending on the structure of the course)
• during a vacation period, (secondary students only)
• during a vacation period and continue to maintain their secondary location residence (secondary non-schooling, tertiary students or Australian Apprentice), or
• for a short visit (for example, a weekend visit)

If the customer has not returned for a valid reason, their eligibility for ABSTUDY and/or Rent Assistance (RA) may be affected.

To ensure ongoing entitlement to ABSTUDY:

• if they a student, they must continue to meet their obligations under the study requirements for ABSTUDY
• if they are an Australian Apprentice. their Commonwealth registration number must remain current in relation to their Australian Apprenticeship

Their rate of payment and entitlement to Rent Assistance (RA) will be reviewed. Where applicable the customer's independent status will also be reviewed.

If a parent/guardian has been receiving FTB for the customer:

• FTB will cease to be paid for the customer if they are receiving ABSTUDY at home rate
• FTB may still be payable for the customer if they are continuing in full-time secondary study and they are no longer receiving ABSTUDY

A secondary boarding student, who is in receipt of the Away from Home rate of ABSTUDY, may have an arrangement where they do not live on campus 100% of the time. They may reside at their permanent home for a few days each week. Away from Home entitlements can continue to be paid as long as the student boards for a minimum of 4 days per week.

A customer who is approved for independent status is not in receipt of the 'Away from Home' rate of payment. They will receive a higher rate of allowance that is determined by whether they live in, or away from the parental home. An independent customer who returns to the parental home will require a review of independence for ABSTUDY.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some students were required to leave their campus term accommodation. Many students transitioned to online study, as face-to-face teaching was unavailable.

Secondary boarding students

Secondary boarding students who were eligible for or receiving the Away From Home (AFH) rate and unable to commence or continue boarding because of COVID-19, remained eligible for the AFH rate as long as:

• the student stayed enrolled/registered for the same boarding arrangement, and
• the student’s boarding spot was held for their return as soon as they could reasonably commence or resume boarding, and
• the school/boarding provider kept in touch with the student and/or their family during this time, and
• if the student usually lived at a boarding school, the school provided the student with the curriculum and necessary educational support and pastoral care to keep the student engaged in remote learning

During this period, the student was considered to be boarding away from home for school attendance.

This also applied to situations where the student did not start or return to school because of community and family concerns around the safety of travel, including the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Tertiary students

Tertiary students who were receiving the AFH rate and temporarily transitioned to online learning because of COVID-19, remained eligible for the AFH rate. To continue to be eligible for the AFH rate, tertiary students must have returned to face-to-face study as soon as it became available.

Where a student had to move out of education provider accommodation (such as on campus) and were temporarily staying at their home address, they remained eligible for the AFH rate providing they:

• remained enrolled in their course of study, and
• intended to return to their campus accommodation as soon as the education provider allowed them to return

In this case, the change in accommodation should be assessed as temporary.