Disregarding previous study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-02080100

Tertiary study is divided into 5 levels. The levels are treated separately and study in one level does not affect allowable time for study at another level.

Note: ABSTUDY considers previous study in current courses and considers previous studies at level for statement of attainment, Certificate I and II, degrees, Masters, and Doctorate courses.

As a general rule, most study has a 'use-by-date'. After a period of time, the student will have forgotten much of what was taught and in many fields the course content will also have become outdated. Most education providers will not count study completed more than 10 years ago towards the program requirements. It would be unfair of Services Australia to count study that is no longer useful to the student, as this would prevent them from updating their qualifications.

Note: study undertaken more than 10 years ago is counted for Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) if it was part of a program that was completed within the last 10 years. This is because the student would have a qualification that is 10 years or less old. The 10 years is counted from the first day the customer starts their current course, not their current year of study. Once an allowable time assessment has been completed, it is not reassessed at a later date to allow previous study to 'drop off' and produce a different outcome regarding payability. ABSTUDY disregards studies undertaken more than 10 years ago.

Some study programs have an entry requirement of successful completion of another program.

A student who wants to study program X must first have completed program Y.

If a student cannot do X without having done Y it would be illogical to deny payment for the later program because the student has done the earlier one. It is possible that a course has a prerequisite of part of a course rather than a completed course. The Bachelor of Social Work has traditionally had a prerequisite of 2 years of undergraduate study. This incomplete prerequisite study should be disregarded under this provision.

A program of study which was not approved for one of the Services Australia payments for students (July 1998 to current) or AUSTUDY (pre-July 1998), at the time it was undertaken, is not used to prevent a student being paid now.

Note: a program that was not approved then may be approved now and vice versa. If doubt exists about the approval status of a program, create a referral to a Course Assessment and Liaison Officer. See  Referrals to Course Assessment and Liaison Officers (CALOs).

If a course was not approved for current Services Australia payments for students (July 1998 to current) or Austudy (pre-July 1998) at the time it was undertaken, it should be disregarded in allowable time/reasonable time assessment.

See Resources for examples.

Note: a completed master’s course in Australian or overseas equivalent still precludes qualification to PES. See Qualifying study for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) for more information.

Overseas study is similar to study in a non-approved program. No overseas program (other than those that are part of an Australian program) is approved for student payment purposes. Study in such a program is disregarded when assessing previous study.

Note: A student does not qualify for PES if they have previously completed either a master’s or doctorate level course.

This includes a:

• master’s degree or doctorate or a qualification of the same standing at an Australian institution, or
• qualification of the same standing from an overseas institution

A student who previously did not receive an Austudy, Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY payment for a course due to academic progress rules does not have that ineligible study included in an allowable time assessment for their current course.

See Resources for examples.

ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY PES

Policy allows for the completion of any number of study programs with a duration of one year or less, the exceptions being Statement of Attainment or Certificate courses.

From 1 July 2007, a 4 year limit of assistance for any combination of Statement of Attainment, Certificate Level 1 or Level 2 courses applies. This includes study at these levels in the previous 10 years.

Austudy or PES

Students who always undertake VET or TAFE courses with a full-time duration of one year or less, will never reach their allowable time for their course. This is because previous study undertaking TAFE or VET courses, with a normal full-time duration of one year or less is disregarded.

This may mean that both full-time and 25 per cent concessional students in this situation can continue to receive Austudy or PES for these courses. However, it is subject to meeting all other conditions.

Note: customers can study a second course at the same level within the allowable study time rules.

See Resources for examples.

Study for which ABSTUDY Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES was not paid is not counted as previous study for ABSTUDY purposes (regardless of the reason why it was not paid). Previous study can be found on the Education Course History (EDCH) screen when determining periods for which ABSTUDY Living Allowance or ABSTUDY PES was paid.

Qualification obtained cannot be used in appropriate trade or profession due to illness.

The applicant must have a specific qualification and the illness or injury must mean that the qualification can no longer be used at all.

See Resources for examples.

The progress rules for the various Services Australia payments for students are meant to allow the student income support to finish a study program. The duration of assistance is based on the length of time a student could be expected to need to finish the program in normal circumstances. With this rule, the student has the incentive to complete their program promptly.

A student who has failed part of a program due to illness or circumstances beyond the control of the student (rather than through a lack of effort) has already been disadvantaged by those circumstances.

The student must provide proof that illness or other circumstances caused the failure. They should write a statement about the situation and provide whatever evidence they have. This may take the form of medical reports, statements from other people who were aware of the problem or other similar proof.

Note: ABSTUDY and ABSTUDY PES students do not have this failed study disregarded. Instead, an additional period may be added to the reasonable time for the program where their progress was impeded by circumstances beyond their control and the student is likely to finish their program this year. See Determining progress and duration of assistance for ABSTUDY.

See Resources for examples.

Many students stop one program and start another due to personal choice. This earlier study cannot be disregarded. Some students, however, will have no choice but to discontinue a program due to illness or circumstances beyond their control. In those cases, this study can be disregarded.

The student must provide proof that illness or other circumstances caused the discontinuation. They should write a statement about the situation and provide whatever evidence they have. This may take the form of medical reports, statements from other people who were aware of the problem or other similar proof.

See Resources for examples.

A student may start study but not complete it. Where a student withdraws from a program of study the educational provider must decide how to assess the incomplete study. A student who withdraws early in the program or with an acceptable reason will not usually incur an academic penalty. On the other hand, a student who withdraws late without a valid reason will usually be regarded as having failed the program.

If a student withdraws without academic penalty, then the educational provider must have determined that the student had a valid reason to do so. Effectively the institution regards the student as not having undertaken the study. Services Australia regards it in the same way and this study is disregarded even though payments may have been made to the student.

Note: it is only the actual subjects from which the student withdrew without penalty that are disregarded not the entire semester or study program.

A secondary student is allowed payment for 2 completed attempts at Year 12. A student who has undertaken more than 6 months of study at Year 12 level must be considered to have made an attempt. If study in a year stops before this then the attempt is disregarded.

Note: this is not applicable for ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY PES, as they have no secondary progress rules.

Secondary study was failed because English is not the student's first language

Students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds may face additional problems at school due to a lack of English language skills. If an attempt at Year 12 is failed for this reason, it may be disregarded.

The student would need to provide proof that lack of English caused the failure. This proof would probably take the form of a letter from the school confirming the problems the student faced.

Note: there are no satisfactory/secondary progress rules for:

• secondary students who are not in year 12 and so other secondary study does not need to be either regarded or disregarded
• ABSTUDY or ABSTUDY PES so this not applicable