Exemptions from study for ABSTUDY 010-02080090

One of the general eligibility criteria for ABSTUDY is that students must be undertaking approved study. However, if a student is not able to undertake full-time study due to circumstances beyond his/her control the student may be granted a concession from studying for a period. These absences from study may be regarded as approved absences. Generally, these absences are approved by the school.

An absence of up to 10 days may be disregarded where it results from a transfer between schools for secondary schooling students.

Secondary student - Full-time secondary school students will retain their entitlement to ABSTUDY during extended periods of approved absence, unless they discontinue study.

Tertiary student - a tertiary or secondary non schooling student can remain entitled to payment for up to eight weeks for a medical condition for which the student supplies a medical certificate.

A tertiary or secondary non schooling student may also receive one additional period of extension if a further medical certificate is provided. For further details, see Payment of ABSTUDY when a student or Australian Apprentice becomes incapacitated.

Full-time students and Australian Apprentices in receipt of ABSTUDY who are 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.

Where an approved absence extends into an end of year vacation period and the student intends to continue with full time education in the following year, Living Allowance can continue to be paid until the day before commencement of study in the following year. Subsequent year entitlement will be assessed on the student's circumstances in that year.

Note: a secondary school student has no entitlement to Living Allowance, Rent Assistance, Remote Area Allowance or Pharmaceutical Allowance for a period during which s/he is expelled, suspended or excluded from school.