Assessing the ABSTUDY Additional Information Form (SY023) 010-02020080

Check the SY023.

If the customer is lodging the form due to:

• lodging an incomplete ABSTUDY claim - make sure the customer has completed the relevant sections for their claim to be assessed
• lodging an incorrect ABSTUDY claim - See Processing an ABSTUDY claim
• change of circumstances - Check the declaration is signed by the correct applicant, that is:
• the customer or
• the parent if the customer is dependent and 15 years old or younger during the year of study

ABSTUDY customers are subject to Identity Confirmation and may need to confirm their identity.

See Additional procedures exclusive to ABSTUDY apply in some circumstances.

For help in coding when the student has advised they have:

• Changed names, see Changing the legal name of customers or their children
• A known by name, see Aliases and other names (legal, preferred, sex and gender diverse customers, cultural considerations etc)
• Changed gender, see Changing name, sex and/or gender details
• Changed address, see Updating address details
• New contact details, see Updating telephone details and/or paying Telephone Allowance (TAL)
• Became partnered, see Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY customer becomes partnered
• Separated, see Youth Allowance (YA) or ABSTUDY independence impacts when a customer separates
• Started to receive other government assistance, see Not qualified for ABSTUDY if receiving other assistance to study or as an Australian Apprentice
• Updated accommodation details, see Completing the Accommodation Details (AC) screen and assessing Rent Assistance (RA)
• New bank details, see Changing payment destination

Once all above updates have been made, go to Step 4

If the customer advises they:

• Have started employment, record the details of the student's or Australian Apprentice's employment income
• Are involved in a trust, see Assessing and coding the Private Trust details from the MOD PT
• Have started self-employment, see Assessing sole trader income
• Have started a Sole trader or partnership business, see Assessing and coding the Business details for sole traders and partnerships MOD F
• Own freehold land (not native title) or buildings other than the home they live in, issue a Real estate details (MOD R). When they return the MOD R, update the details provided. In:
• Process Direct - Real Estate/Business Details (REBS) screen
• Customer Record/Customer First - Business Details (BUS) screen
• See Assessing and coding the Real estate details Mod R
• Have money held in superannuation or rollover funds and receive a pension from this, issue an Income and Assets (MOD iA). When they return the MOD iA:
• Update the Superannuation/Annuities Identification (SUPI) screen. See Assessing and coding the Income and Assets Mod iA.
• If they have money in superannuation or rollover funds but do not receive a pension from them, update the SUPI screen with the details provided with the form
• Have received a scholarship, see Assessing scholarship income

Once all above updates have been made, go to Step 5.

If the customer advises a change to their assets:

• Go to the Other Assets (OAS) screen
• Record the assets

Once OAS updates have been made, for:

• Students, see Step 1 in Table 2
• Apprentices, see Step 2 in Table 2

If there is a change to the students study details for:

• Decrease in study load, see Changing study load from full-time to part-time or concessional study load for ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
• Increase in study load, see Increasing study load for ABSTUDY students
• Ceased study, see Payment of ABSTUDY when a student is deferring or discontinuing study before the end of the course
• Change of course or institution, Changing or correcting course of study and/or educational institution for ABSTUDY students

Is the customer 22 years and older?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 3

Full-time Australian Apprentices do not need to provide this information. Services Australia will obtain the Australian Apprenticeship details from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Australian Apprenticeship (apprentice or trainee) details need to be coded on the Apprentice Details/Apprenticeship Details (NAPD) screen.

• Go to the EDC screen
• Update to reflect the customer's status as an Australian Apprentice

Is the customer 22 years and older?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 3

Is the customer living away from home while studying or working in an Australian Apprenticeship?

• Yes, see Away from home rate for ABSTUDY. Once coded, go to Step 4
• No, go to Step 4

Is the customer claiming Independence?

• Yes, see Independence for ABSTUDY customers. Once coded, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 5

• For students, check if they qualify for ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES). If they currently receive a PES qualifying payment, check if it is more beneficial for them to claim PES with their current payment rather than transfer to ABSTUDY
• For Australian Apprentices, check if they receive Department of Employment and Workplace Relations' (DEWR) Living Away from Home Allowance. See Not qualified for ABSTUDY if receiving other assistance to study or as an Australian Apprentice

Once all above updates have been made, go to Step 6.

If the customer advises they have dependant children in their care for which they are not currently receiving assistance for:

• Check if the customer is eligible for Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• If the customer appears eligible, see Initial contact by customers claiming Family Tax Benefit (FTB) as a lump sum for a previous year

Once all above updates have been made, go to Step 7.

If the customer has provided their Tax File Number (TFN), input the TFN details on the Tax File Number (TFN) screen.

Once all above updates have been made, go to Step 8.

• Record details on a DOC. Include:
• all updated details and
• action taken