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ABSTUDY School Term Allowance 010-02050020

This document explains ABSTUDY School Term Allowance. It is paid to help with the cost of equipping the student for school, for example, uniforms, textbooks and materials.

Assessing eligibility

Table 1

Step	Action
1	Eligible for Schooling A Award + Read more ... Does the student meet the eligibility criteria for Schooling A Award? Yes, go to Step 2 No, go to Step 6
2	Student dependent status + Read more ... Does the student have dependent status? See Independence for ABSTUDY customers. Yes, go to Step 3 No, go to Step 6
3	Student circumstance + Read more ... Do any of the following apply? The student: would, but for age (that is, under the minimum school leaving age), qualify for independent status as: an orphan a student whose parent(s) cannot exercise parental responsibilities, or as a homeless student is in State care, under the minimum school leaving age and not eligible for Away from Home entitlements If: Yes, go to Step 5 No, go to Step 4
4	Applicant/applicant's partner circumstance + Read more ... Do any of the following apply? The applicant or the applicant's partner: qualifies for one of the prescribed forms of Commonwealth Government assistance is taken to be receiving their income support payment during an employment nil rate period is the holder of a current Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) or an automatic issue Health Care Card (HCC), including an HCC issued on the basis of receipt of maximum rate Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A or an extension HCC An exemption does not apply: for a period after the expiry date on the card if an applicant holds a HCC because they receive a social security Mobility Allowance (MOB) or Carer Allowance (CA) (in respect of a disabled child) if the concession card is a: Foster Child HCC (FST) issued due to another child in care (not the ABSTUDY student) Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and the card holder no longer receives an income support payment If: Yes, go to Step 5 No, go to Step 6
5	Attendance requirement For Term 1 + Read more ... Is/was the student enrolled in and attending in Term 1 of the school year? Yes, School Term Allowance is payable for Term 1 automatically. Procedure ends here No, the student is not eligible for School Term Allowance. Go to Step 6 For Terms 2, 3 or 4 + Read more ... A student must attend at least 85% of the required days in the term prior to the term being claimed for. Services Australia must receive the evidence of attendance of 85 per cent or more in the previous term(s) before payments will be made. Students undertaking secondary studies via home schooling, distance education or non-school institutions (such as TAFE) will need to establish they have completed the workload requirements of the course. If the student is undertaking Home Schooling in NSW, they will need to confirm their current registration. Has the school advised the student attended 85% of the required school days in the term previous to the one for which payment is being assessed? Yes, School Term Allowance is payable for Term 2, 3 or 4. See Processing ABSTUDY School Term Allowance payments No, go to Step 6
6	Not eligible for School Term Allowance in Term 1 + Read more ... Tell the customer they are not eligible for School Term Allowance. Advise that if there are any changes in their circumstances, they should contact Services Australia within 14 days, and their situation will be reviewed. While staff can give general advice based on information provided by the customer, tell them to test their eligibility by lodging a claim. Do this via the ABSTUDY Claiming Tool or by completing the Claim for ABSTUDY Schooling A (SY018). Record details on a Note/DOC.