Reimbursing fares and additional costs after travel has been undertaken for ABSTUDY 010-02100050

To be eligible for FAA reimbursement:

• The student and/or non-student traveller must be eligible for Fares Allowance
• A Fares Allowance Claim has been lodged by the relevant ABSTUDY closing dates
• Travel and additional costs have been paid for and confirmation of payment for travel arrangements can be provided

Note: FAA reimbursement may still occur where:

• student and/or non-student traveller meets eligibility criteria for FAA, but
• travel has not been able to be undertaken due to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, and
• travel costs have been incurred

Travel carriers, such as charter or transfer companies, cannot claim FAA reimbursement. Customers and third parties must not organise travel arrangements with carriers or accommodation providers on the provision that ABSTUDY will reimburse these costs directly to the company.

The Service Officer will reimburse for the total cost of the journey, after the journey has been undertaken and after determining:

• the appropriate mode of transport for the journey
• the appropriate travel destination for ABSTUDY Fares Allowance (FAA), and
• if additional costs associated with travel, such as transport terminal transfers and overnight accommodation can be reimbursed

Other costs that may not be reimbursed include:

• costs involved with taking an indirect route to the permanent home or study location
• additional meals
• expenses from a mini bar
• additional room cleaning charges

FAA reimbursement can only be paid if proof of payment for travel arrangements has been provided. Paid tax invoices, receipts and/or travel tickets must be lodged as proof of payment and travel completion. Travel quotes, remittance advice and/or purchase orders are not considered proof of payment for FAA reimbursement.

Reimbursement of costs for travel, and any other approved additional costs associated with a journey, can be paid directly to either the applicant, student or third party who has paid for the travel arrangements. However, payments cannot be made to a dependent student until their sixteenth birthday.