Completing the ABSTUDY Fares Allowance Claim (SY032) 010-02100010

A claim for fares reimbursements can be submitted by a student, parent/guardian, third party person or organisation that incurred the expense for the travel arrangements on behalf of an eligible traveller.

A customer should only have to use private transport for a journey where no public transport was available. If public transport was available for the journey, the person will only be reimbursed for the cost of the cheapest available public transport for that trip.

If the customer travelled by private transport, they must provide in the claim form:

• Engine capacity - include the engine capacity for the car in cubic centimetres, fill in the box for either non-rotary engine or rotary engine (depending on what kind of vehicle was used)
  Note: most car engines are non-rotary, and the engine capacity in cubic centimetres can usually be worked out if the litre capacity of the engine is known, that is 1.6 litre engine= 1600cc, 2 litre engine = 2000cc. Rotary engines are less common and engine capacity is usually only expressed in cubic centimetres, for example, 800cc, 1300cc etc.
• Make and model of vehicle - for example, Holden Barina, Toyota Corolla etc.
• Name of owner of the vehicle - name the person who owns the vehicle
• Number of kilometres travelled - total length of the journey from the departure and arrival destinations, include return travel if applicable

The applicant needs to provide details of the travel arrangements for all travellers. This includes:

• Purpose of travel - include reason for travel such as start of study, compassionate, supervision of students
• Travelled from - include the name of the place the customer travelled from
• Travelled to - include the name of the place the customer travelled to
• Date(s) of travel - include the date the customer left for their destination, and the date they arrived at their destination (for example, customer may have left on 05 March 2013 in the evening and spent 12 hours travelling, therefore arriving at destination on 06 March 2013)

Method of travel - name the type of transport used to make the trip, (for example, private vehicle, train, bus, aircraft etc.)

Cost of travel - include a dollar amount of how much the trip cost. This is the cost of the fare charged by the transport carrier for a trip taken by bus/train/plane, or the cost of fuel bought for a journey taken by motor vehicle. This figure does not include incidental costs such as meals or repairs to vehicle.

If reimbursement is for more than one traveller or multiple journeys, then a separate sheet will need to be completed outlining the travel details for each traveller/trip.

The applicant may be eligible for reimbursement of travel, accommodation, meals and transfers for all travel undertaken.

Travel must not have been organised directly with a travel carrier or travel agent on the provision that ABSTUDY will reimburse these costs. Travel costs must have been paid for by the applicant for FAA reimbursement to be approved.

Tickets, tax invoices or other evidence that supports the travel arrangements should be attached and lodged with the claim. Quotes, remittance advice and purchase orders are not considered tax invoices or confirmation of payment.

If the applicant does not have full evidence of the travel arrangements and proof of payment, then they need to explain why they cannot attach evidence in the space provided or on a separate sheet.

Payment of Fares Allowance (FAA) will be made to the applicant’s account given on the ABSTUDY claim.

A parent/guardian or third party may be reimbursed Fares Allowance for costs incurred for eligible students or non-student travellers.

Note: payments cannot be made to a dependent student until his/her 16th birthday.

If the form is being returned via fax, post or in person, the applicant must print and sign the form by hand before returning.

No interview or appointment is required to lodge an SY032 ABSTUDY Fares Allowance form.

The completed form and evidence (tickets and proof of payment) may be:

• faxed
• online via the Upload documents
• lodged in person at Services Australia service centre or posted

Original documents provided with the claim will be copied and returned to the applicant, in person or by registered mail.

The Resources page contains links to the postal address and fax number.