Assessing the two-thirds study load concession for ABSTUDY 010-02080050

A student will normally only be eligible for one of the Services Australia administered payments for students if they are studying at least 75% of the accredited full-time study load. However, in certain circumstances they may be paid as a full-time student even though they are studying less than the required minimum 75%. These students are said to be subject to a study load concession. The two-thirds (66%) study load concession is one such concession.

If a student who is not undertaking a full-time study load meets all the other eligibility criteria for the ABSTUDY Tertiary award, the Masters and Doctorate Award, the ABSTUDY Schooling A Award or the ABSTUDY Schooling B Award, they may actually be eligible for a two-thirds study load concession. The student may be eligible for this concession, and be considered a full-time student, if:

• they are undertaking at least two-thirds (66%) of the normal full-time study load, and
• the reason it is not possible to study 75% of the normal study load is because of:
• The institution's normal requirements for the course
• There is a specific direction in writing from the deputy Principal, an academic registrar or an equivalent officer, or
• There is a recommendation in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer, for academic or vocational reasons. Study load requirements cannot be reduced for academic or vocational reasons for more than half of the academic year. Note: The institution does not have to specify the reasons on which the recommendation is based

Full-time students and Australian Apprentices in receipt of ABSTUDY and 21 years of age and under may be entitled to Youth Disability Supplement (YDS). The customer must have been assessed by an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) or Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) as having a partial capacity to work of less than 30 hours per week.