Assessing entitlement to the Long Term Income Support rate of Austudy for students or migrants studying English language courses 010-04040000

Does the customer have a dependent child?

• Yes, the customer would be considered for the dependent child rate of Austudy (or some other payment) rather than the LTIS rate. The dependent child rates are higher than the standard rate. Record the reasons for the decision on a DOC. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 2

Is the customer undertaking full-time study in an approved course or undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, the customer is not eligible for Austudy and the LTIS rate of payment is not applicable. Record details on a DOC. Go to Step 8

A break occurs when a customer ceases to meet study/apprenticeship requirements for a period because of:

• a student deferring, withdrawing or reducing their study load, or
• an apprentice ceasing their Australian Apprenticeship

If there is a break in qualifying study or apprenticeship, the start of the qualifying study or apprenticeship is the day they restart after the break.

Did the customer start qualifying study or an Australian Apprenticeship after turning 21 years of age?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, the customer is not eligible for the LTIS rate of payment. Record the reasons for the decision on a DOC. Go to Step 8

Is the student's first language a language other than English?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, go to Step 7

Is the customer undertaking an approved English language course (as a second language)?

• Yes, the student is eligible for the LTIS rate of payment. Go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 7

LTIS is defined as being in receipt of one or more of the relevant income support payments (Austudy rules) for at least 26 weeks out of the 39 weeks before starting or restarting qualifying study or Australian Apprenticeship:

• Following a break in study or an apprenticeship, the student/apprentice must satisfy the eligibility criteria for LTIS from the date they restart the qualifying study or apprenticeship. See the Resources page for an example
• Existing LTIS customers starting a new course or apprenticeship without a break in qualifying study or apprenticeship can continue to receive LTIS
• The customer is not required to be continuously on income support as this could discourage a prospective student or Australian Apprentice from taking on short-term employment. See the Resources page for more information
• The details of periods on benefit can be found on the Payment Summary (PS) screen. However, the customer may have ceased qualification or payability for these payments, and had debts raised. Do not count periods in the assessment where a customer was not eligible for payment but received payments

In the 39 weeks immediately before starting or restarting qualifying study or an Australian Apprenticeship, was the customer receiving one or more of the relevant income support payments (Austudy rules) for at least 26 weeks (182 days)?

• Yes, go to Step 9
• No, go to Step 8

Usually, the system automatically determines the LTIS rate, although in very limited circumstances manual coding may be required. This includes when a customer previously received the LTIS rate but is no longer eligible.

When all updates are completed, check the LTIS rate is not applying:

• For a new claim:
• select Assess
• view the system applied rate on the NSS Period Rate Explanation (NREX) screen
• For a non-new claim update:
• go to the Assessment Results (AR) screen but do not finalise the activity
• from the menu, select Newstart
• select the Rate Details (RATS) screen to view the system applied rate

If the system is incorrectly applying the LTIS rate and the customer is not eligible, see NSS system coding for manual rate of payment.

Record the reasons for the decision on a DOC.

Procedure ends here.

Usually the system automatically applies the LTIS rate, but in very limited circumstances, manual coding may be required.

Do not code LTIS on the Rate Component Override (RCO) screen if it has been automatically applied by the system. When all updates are completed:

• For a new claim:
• Select Assess
• View the system applied rate on the NSS Period Rate Explanation (NREX) screen
• For a non-new claim update:
• Go to the Assessment Results (AR) screen but do not finalise the activity
• From the menu, select Newstart
• Select Rate Details (RATS) to view the system applied rate

If manual coding is needed, contact Local Peer Support (LPS). Note: LPS do not need to contact another LPS for coding.

LPS must:

• Check LTIS rate is not automatically applied by the system
• Help Service Officers with coding LTIS manually on RCO (if required)

To code the LTIS rate on RCO:

• In the Start Date: field, enter the correct date. This should be the Australian Apprenticeship start date, course start date, or the entitlement start date (whichever is later)
• In the End Date: field, code the date the customer is expected to finish their course or Australian Apprenticeship
• In the Type: field, enter the code 'VBM' (this will change to 'BB RATE' once [Enter] is pressed)
• In the Reason: field, enter one of the following as appropriate:
• 'LTE' - LTU English 2nd (for LTIS rate customers with a first language other than English who are undertaking an English course)
• 'LTS' - LTU DSS Student (for other students and Australian Apprentices)
• Do not enter anything in the AMOUNT: field. The system will calculate the correct rate of payment
• Press [Enter]
• Finalise the activity

Note: the system automatically pays the higher rate of Energy Supplement once VBM is updated using LTE/LTS reason. Do not code a separate energy supplement line on RCO.

Include the following:

• name, start date and length of course, or details of Australian Apprenticeship
• dates of payment and payment types for periods that counted towards the 26 weeks
• the rate coded (that is, LTE or LTS), and
• any other relevant details

If RCO was coded within a claim activity, the grant letter will include the required rate information.

If coding was done outside of a claim, a manual letter is required. Create a Q999 letter to tell the customer the new rate. See the Resources page for text to use in the letter.