Austudy student or Australian Apprentice becomes incapacitated or impacted by unforeseen or extreme circumstances 102-07020110

Is the customer receiving or claiming Austudy as an Australian Apprentice?

• Yes, see Table 2
• No, go to Step 2

Customers may continue to receive Austudy under the reasonable excuse provisions if they remain enrolled in their course of study and are:

• ill, injured or impacted by unforeseen or extreme circumstances, and
• unable to study full-time

To determine if previous study can be disregarded due to illness or other circumstances beyond the control of the student, see Disregarding previous study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

If the customer is unable to study full-time due to:

• medical reasons, go to Step 5
• an unforeseen or extreme circumstance (for example, fire, flood, escaping family violence or homelessness), go to Step 3

If the customer:

• is currently unable to study full-time due to an unforeseen circumstance, go to Step 4
• previously reduced their study load and failed to advise within their notification period, go to Step 7

Is the customer still enrolled in their course, and intends to return to full time study once the unforeseen circumstance has been resolved?

• Yes, contact the Student Programs Team and provide the:
• customers circumstances, detailing how they are impacted by an unforeseen or exceptional circumstance, and
• date they intend to return to full-time study
• the Student Programs Team will review the information and determine if the customer remains eligible. They will advise the staff member on the next steps required. For example, additional coding may be required on the record to continue eligibility, or the customer may need to claim a more suitable income support payment
• procedure ends here
• No, the customer is not eligible to continue receiving Austudy:
• cancel Austudy
• consider other payments for the customer as they are no longer considered a student
• procedure ends here

Due to incapacity, has the student:

• reduced their study load, go to Step 6
• deferred or ceased study and/or taken a leave of absence, go to Step 11

A 25% study load concession may be granted if the customer has a substantial physical, psychiatric or intellectual disability that prevents them undertaking a full-time study load in the course.

Does the student have a substantial physical, psychiatric or intellectual disability that prevents them undertaking a full-time study load and undertaking at least 25% study load?

• Yes, see Assessing eligibility for 25% concessional study load for Austudy, Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 7

Students may continue to receive Austudy in certain circumstances as if they were a full-time student.

To decide if a person has a reasonable excuse, consider if they have:

• an illness, impairment or condition requiring treatment (whether episodic or unpredictable), and/or
• other medical issues, such as cognitive, neurological, psychiatric, psychological impairment or mental illness

Medical conditions forming a reasonable excuse for a reduced study load may be temporary or permanent. Customers who have a permanent medical condition, may have a temporary incapacity that is not related to their medical condition, or a temporary exacerbation of their permanent condition.

Does the customer have a reasonable excuse for reducing their study load?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, go to Step 11

In order to remain qualified for Austudy, the student must:

• intend to resume full-time study once their reasonable excuse circumstances are resolved, and
• remain enrolled in their course of study

Does the customer meet these conditions?

• Yes, go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 11

For Services Australia to determine if a student still qualifies for Austudy, the customer must supply the following within 14 days:

• A medical certificate
• Evidence that they remain enrolled, and
• Verbal advice they intend to return to full-time study following the incapacity

Issue a Request for Information for required documents, see Requesting information (CLK)

Note: students who advise of a reduction in their study load due to illness or injury through the Manage study details online service will be advised to provide evidence within 14 days when they submit their update.

The student must also provide further verification from their educational institution if:

• the period of incapacity ends part way through a study period, and
• due to institutional requirements, they cannot resume a full-time study load until the next study period

Has the customer given sufficient evidence within 14 days and is entitled to remain on Austudy?

• Yes, go to Step 10
• No, go to Step 11

Treat these customers as full-time students for the purpose of qualifying for Austudy.

To record the approved reduced study load:

• Create a Fast Note – select Auto Text, use Students, ABSTUDY and Apprentices > Update > AUS Approved Reduced Study Load
• Tell the customer they must advise Services Australia within 14 days if they are unable to return to full-time study following the exemption period and that their payment will be cancelled as they no longer meet approved reduced study load requirements
• If the customer has an Allowable Time End Date recorded, complete an Allowable Time assessment to account for the reduced study load period

If the customer provides a medical certificate in person, scan it to their record and close it.

Do not:

• record a medical certificate/exemption for any period that they are in receipt of Austudy, or
• make any updates to:
• Customer Study Details (EDC) screen in Process Direct, or
• Education Course Details (EDC) screen in Customer First

Procedure ends here.

Students are not qualified for Austudy if they:

• cease study, or
• cannot provide evidence to support an approved reduced study load

If the customer is not eligible to continue receiving Austudy:

• cancel Austudy
• consider other payments for the customer as they are no longer considered a student

The customer will need to re-apply for Austudy if they:

• do not want to apply for another payment, and
• are intending to return to their course of study

For more information, see Initial contact with students or Australian Apprentices claiming Austudy.

The customer will remain eligible for Austudy as an Australian Apprentice if their Apprenticeship Identification Number remains current for the period they are:

• temporarily incapacitated, or
• impacted by unforeseen or extreme circumstances

Will the Apprenticeship Identification Number remain current?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 5

If the Australian Apprentice is:

• Incapacitated, go to Step 3
• Impacted by unforeseen or extreme circumstances, go to Step 4

The Australian Apprentice must provide:

• A medical certificate. See Requesting information (CLK).
• Verbal advice they intend to return to full-time Apprenticeship/Traineeship following the incapacity

Has the customer given sufficient evidence within 14 days and is entitled to remain on Austudy?

• Yes:
• DOC the record, stating their incapacity period and that the medical certificate has been recorded
• Tell the customer they need to advise Services Australia within 14 days if they are unable to return to their Apprenticeship following the exemption period and their payment would be cancelled at that time. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 6

Will the customer’s Apprenticeship Identification Number remain current and do they intend to return to their apprenticeship once the unforeseen circumstance has been resolved?

• Yes, contact the Student Programs Team and provide the:
• customers circumstances, detailing how they are impacted by an unforeseen or exceptional circumstance, and
• date they intend to return to their Australian Apprenticeship
• the Student Programs Team will review the information and determine if the customer remains eligible. They will advise the staff member on the next steps required. For example, additional coding may be required on the record to continue eligibility, or the customer may need to claim a more suitable income support payment
• procedure ends here
• No, the customer is not eligible to continue receiving Austudy. Staff must:
• cancel Austudy
• consider other payments for the customer as they are no longer considered a student

The customer is no longer qualified for apprentice payments. See Customer is no longer an Australian Apprentice.

Check if the customer may be eligible for another income support payment:

• For temporary incapacity, see Customers claiming Jobseeker Payment (JSP)/ Youth Allowance (YA) (incapacitated)
• For long term incapacity, see Eligibility for Disability Support Pension (DSP)

Record the details of the decisions on a DOC.

Procedure ends here.

If the customer fails to provide Services Australia with evidence of their change of circumstances within 14 days, their payment should be cancelled until evidence is provided.

See Customer no longer an Australian Apprentice.