ABSTUDY customer in State Care 010-02040060
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Q999 ABSTUDY Student in State Care turning 18
Scenarios where a student may not be assessed for State Care
Table 1
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Scenario |
Description |
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1 |
Left the parental home to live with another carer Amy is a 15 year old secondary student who has left the parental home to live with another carer. If this carer has claimed foster care allowance for Amy, they may also be entitled to Family Tax Benefit (FTB), ABSTUDY School Term Allowance, and School Fees Assistance. This is subject to the usual conditions. Student will be eligible for Health Care Card with no Parental Means Test. |
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2 |
Homeless Rate George is a 16 year old Australian Apprentice who has elected to live in a Government funded refuge or residential care facility. The State has not accepted responsibility for George. Thus, George is not assessed as being in State Care. George should be assessed for Homeless rate as per the usual protocols. |
Student placed into the care of an organisation examples
Table 2
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Scenario |
Description |
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1 |
Students linked to a State/Territory Department A customer who is placed directly into a boarding school, residential facility, only provided with respite care during school holidays, or the State/Territory Department maintains a high level of daily care and control after the customer has been placed with a foster carer etc. When this occurs, an organisation can be an applicant under ABSTUDY Policy 6.1.2 and an officer of that organisation should be able to sign the form. See the References page. |
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2 |
Organisation as the applicant When the State Care organisation returns a letter advising that the student is boarding or planning to commence boarding at a boarding school or hostel. This is sufficient evidence that the child is in the care of the organisation. It can be accepted in lieu of the completion of the 'applicant's' signature on the ABSTUDY forms, in this instance. Where there is insufficient formal correspondence supplied to this effect, confirmation from the relevant state/territory department (verbal or written) is sufficient. Therefore, Services Australia does not need a signature to grant the ABSTUDY for State Care customers in these situations. |
Funding elements provided under State and Territory Government programs
Table 3
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Impacts on ABSTUDY |
Program funding elements |
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Funding elements considered as a regular foster care or similar allowance paid to the carer, and therefore the standard rate of Living Allowance is payable. |
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Funding elements considered assessable income for ABSTUDY unless used as a form of crisis relief. |
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Funding elements with no impacts on ABSTUDY, i.e. not regarded as a regular foster care allowance, and not treated as income. Note: Customers receiving this funding may still be eligible for Rent Assistance. |
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