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Away from Home rate for ABSTUDY 010-02060000

This document explains the Away from Home criteria for ABSTUDY. It is a higher rate of Living Allowance to help students and Australian Apprentices who live away from the parental home.

Assessing eligibility

Step	Action
1	Claim for the Away from Home rate + Read more ... Determine or reassess a student or Australian Apprentice's rate of ABSTUDY if they: lodge a claim for the Away from Home rate, or advise of a change of circumstances, (for example change of address) To assess a claim for the Away from Home rate: Go to the Independent/Homeless/Away from Home Details (NIH) screen Check if the customer is dependent or independent Is the customer independent? Yes, this process does not apply. Procedure ends here No, go to Step 2
2	Living away from the permanent home + Read more ... Will the dependent customer live away from the permanent home? Yes, go to Step 3 No, and the customer is: In state care, go to Step 4 Not in state care, the customer will be paid the at home rate. Procedure ends here
3	State care + Read more ... Is the student or Australian Apprentice in state care? Yes, go to Step 4 No, go to Step 5
4	Foster Care Allowance + Read more ... Is the student or Australian Apprentice's carer receiving a regular foster care (or similar) allowance? Yes, the customer will be paid the at home rate. See ABSTUDY customer in state care No, the customer will be paid the Away from Home rate. See ABSTUDY customer in state care
5	Travel time and access + Read more ... Check the travel time and access between the permanent home and: the education provider for a student or employer location for an Australian Apprentice Is daily travel impossible or unreasonable? Yes, see Assessing ABSTUDY travel time and access for the away from home rate No, go to Step 6
6	Home conditions + Read more ... Do the home conditions impact the educational or training progress for the student or Australian Apprentice? Yes, see Assessing ABSTUDY home conditions for the away from home rate No, if the application is for a: secondary school student, go to Step 7 tertiary student or an Australian Apprentice, go to Step 15
7	Approved special secondary course + Read more ... Is the student studying a special secondary course at a government school? Yes, See Assessing special courses for ABSTUDY Away from Home rate No, go to Step 8
8	Limited local school facilities + Read more ... Are the student's academic needs not met by local secondary facilities? Yes, see Assessing limited local school facilities for ABSTUDY Away from Home rate No, go to Step 9
9	Disability requirement + Read more ... Check if the student: has a physical or intellectual disability has a psychological, emotional or behavioural problem has a medical condition or is pregnant Do they meet any of the above? Yes, see Assessing disability for ABSTUDY away from home rate No, go to Step 10
10	Itinerant family + Read more ... Is the student’s family itinerant? Yes, see Assessing itinerant family for ABSTUDY away from home rate No, go to Step 11
11	Exclusion from local schooling + Read more ... Has the student has been excluded from attending local school/s? Yes, see Assessing exclusion from local schooling ABSTUDY away from home rate No, go to Step 12
12	Racial discrimination + Read more ... Has the student has been subjected to racial discrimination of a serious and continuing nature at the local school/s? Yes, see Assessing racial discrimination for ABSTUDY away from home rate No, go to Step 13
13	Continuity of study + Read more ... Has the student been approved to live away from home previously and it would be unreasonable for the student to break continuity of study? Yes, see Assessing continuity of study for ABSTUDY away from home rate No, go to Step 14
14	Scholarships and mobility provisions + Read more ... Is the student receiving a scholarship to attend a secondary school or lives in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, Mossman Gorge or Doomadgee? Yes, see Assessing scholarships and mobility provisions for secondary students for ABSTUDY away from home rate No: The customer is not eligible for the Away from Home rate Tell the student or Australian Apprentice of the decision A review of the decision can occur if the customer provides further evidence See Making an Unfavourable decision (CLK) Procedure ends here.
15	Compulsory requirement to reside at the educational provider + Read more ... Students may be approved for the Away from Home rate where their course of study requires compulsory residence. See Assessing course of study requires compulsory residence for ABSTUDY away from home rate. Students or Australian Apprentices who need to live away from home due to a block release are not eligible for the Away from Home rate. However, students may qualify for Away from Base assistance for ABSTUDY. If the none of the above apply: Tell the student or Australian Apprentice they are not eligible for the Away from Home rate A review of the decision can occur if the customer provides further evidence See Making an Unfavourable decision (CLK)