Cessation of the ABSTUDY Away from Home rate 010-02070150

A student or apprentice who has a change in circumstances may no longer be entitled to Away from Home rate. A Service Officer is required to determine whether the change in circumstances warrants the cessation of Away from Home rate, and if so, the appropriate date for it to cease.

The most common changes in circumstances that affect eligibility to Away from Home rate are:

• the student is moving or has moved back to the permanent home
• the circumstances that made the student eligible for Away from Home rate have changed
• a student discontinues or completes a course of study
• a secondary non schooling, tertiary student or Australian Apprentice is temporarily returning to the parental home and not maintaining their residence at the study or Australian Apprenticeship location

The correct end date for payment of Away from Home rate is determined by the activity the student is involved in.

The last date of eligibility for the Away from Home rate is determined by the student’s circumstances.

Secondary student

The last date of eligibility for the Away from Home rate for a secondary student that:

• completes the full term of study is, the last formal day of the school term in which the student commenced study
• discontinues study during a term:
• the date the student discontinued, or
• the date from which the student ceases to be approved for Away from Home entitlements

Tertiary or secondary non schooling student

The last date of eligibility for the Away from Home rate is the earlier of:

• the date the student returns to live in the family home on a permanent basis
• the date the student discontinues in a course
• the last day of study in a completed course, or
• the date from which the student ceases to be approved for Away from Home entitlements

Australian Apprentice

The last date of eligibility for the Away from Home rate is the earlier of, the date the student:

• returns to live in the family home on a permanent basis
• discontinues their apprenticeship, or their Commonwealth registration number is suspended or cancelled, or
• ceases to be approved for Away from Home entitlements

A secondary student who returns to the permanent home on a temporary basis during their course of study (such as a study vacation period) can continue to receive the Away from Home rate for the period of the return to the family home. It is not considered to be a permanent return if the student intends to return to his/her course after a recognised holiday period, or a temporary visit.

A secondary non-schooling or Tertiary student who returns to the permanent home on a temporary basis during their course of study (such as a study vacation period) must continue to maintain their residence at the study location for the period of their temporary return to continue to qualify for the Away from Home rate.

An Australian Apprentice who returns to the permanent home for a holiday can continue to receive the Away from Home rate for the period of the return to the family home only if they:

• intend to return to their apprenticeship, and
• they must continue to maintain their residence at the Australian Apprenticeship location

If the student is in receipt of the Residential Cost Option (RCO) and they are planning on accessing RCO again in the next available study period, they are entitled to receive the Away from Home rate during their temporary return home over the vacation period. Only those RCO students who plan on accessing RCO again in the next available study period are considered to be maintaining their term address.

Secondary school students who complete their studies for the year and do not intend to return to studies in the following year are entitled up until the end of their term entitlement period, which is 31 December for Term 4. Therefore, if the student applies for YA prior to the end of the term entitlement period, their ABSTUDY must not be cancelled. The ABSTUDY must continue to remain current until the end of the term entitlement period, for example, 31 December, and then the YA can be granted if eligible.

This is to ensure unnecessary overpayments are not created for Living Allowance and/or Group 2 School Fee Allowance.