Study exemptions for ABSTUDY and Activity Test exemptions for Austudy and Youth Allowance (YA) 010-02080120

ABSTUDY students must undertake the course in which they are enrolled. However, concessions are available to the study requirement for ABSTUDY where a student is incapacitated or cannot undertake the study because of circumstances beyond their control.

YA students must be undertaking full time study. However, they may be exempted from the requirement to undertake full-time study or training if they have an allowable exemption. Customers who are 22 and over should test their eligibility for another income support payment. If they are applying for JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Parenting Payment (PP), they may gain an exemption from their participation requirements.

Austudy students must be enrolled in and undertaking a full-time study load in order to satisfy their requirements. They have no exemptions from undertaking full-time study. They are able to undertake other activities (for example, attending Defence Force Reserve Services training camps) during the vacation periods, but not at other times and still be eligible for the payment.

Where a student is receiving Austudy or YA and they fail to undertake full-time study, they may incur a student participation failure.

ABSTUDY tertiary and secondary non-schooling students may incur an overpayment of benefits if they are not undertaking the approved study. ABSTUDY secondary students may incur an ABSTUDY breach penalty where they have had more than 5 unapproved absences in a term.