Assessing eligibility for Fares Allowance for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) after a customer has died 010-04060030

Issue an application for Fares Allowance Tertiary Students Only form (SY005) to the person and ask them to complete it.

Ensure the person has answered all the questions and signed the form.

If one or more people apply to receive the allowance of a deceased student, make a decision about who is the person best entitled to it.

Each case needs to be considered based on its own merits. (Examples: next of kin, solicitor or executor of estate, or person who has paid, or is liable to pay, funeral expenses).

In many cases, it will be appropriate to make the payment to the deceased person’s estate as the Executor of the estate usually has access to the deceased person’s accounts to pay for funeral expenses.

Check the One off payment (OOP) or Document List (DL) screens to see if Fares Allowance or any allowable reimbursements for the year have been paid for the journey in question.

Has the FAA entitlement been paid or have all allowable reimbursements for the year been paid?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, go to Step 4

Did the customer meet the basic eligibility requirements for Fares Allowance (FAA)?

• Yes, see Table 2, Step 1
• No, go to Step 5

Advise the person with an Online Advice Q021 advising them that payment of FAA cannot be made, the reasons for the decision, and their review and appeal rights. See Initial contact about a decision and the review of decision process.

Record details of the claim and decision in a Fast Note using to appropriate Auto-text function:

• Category 1: Students, ABSTUDY & Apprentices
• Category 2: Claims - Students
• Template:
• Fares Allowance Reject
• Fares Allowance Reject – 6 month rule
• Fares Allowance Reject – lodged after 31

Procedure ends here.

Besides the normal time limit for a standard claim (the claim must be submitted by 1 April in the year after the year of study), there is the further requirement that the application for payment be lodged within 6 months of the student's death. This period may be extended in special circumstances. See 'Amounts owed at date of death' in Guide to Social Security Law, 3.1.5.20, Information about Bereavement Payments. The References page contains the link to this.

FAA can be paid if the student had travelled outside of the year of study, provided they are eligible and the journey is completed and claimed prior to 1 April in the year following the year of study, or within 6 months of the student’s death. For example, a continuing student travels in January 2014 to commence a course in March 2014, must claim FAA before 1 April 2015 or within 6 months of the student’s death.

Has the claim for Fares Allowance been lodged within the time limit?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, the fares cannot be reimbursed.

Record details of the claim and decision in a Fast Note using the appropriate Auto Text function:

• Category 1: Students, ABSTUDY & Apprentices
• Category 2: Claims - Students
• Template:
• Fares Allowance Reject – 6 month rule
• Fares Allowance Reject – lodged after 31
• Go to Step 4

For example, tickets, dockets/ticket stubs or other evidence which gives full details of the journey(s) taken.

If the student travelled by private vehicle, ask for details of the journey in a written statement. If doubt exists that the customer took the journey staff may request the customer to provide any available evidence to support their claim, for example receipts for purchase of fuel.

Is there suitable evidence that the journey was undertaken?

Reimbursement of fares is not usually payable when verification has not been provided, but it may be considered in exceptional cases where the Service Officer is satisfied that the student made the journey.

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, fares cannot be reimbursed. Record details of the claim and decision in a Fast Note using the Auto text function:
• Category 1: Students, ABSTUDY & Apprentices
• Category 2: Claims - Students
• Template: Fares Allowance Reject
• Go to Step 4

Determine the amount of the Fares Allowance to be paid and record details of the FAA claim on the system

Arrange for the appropriate reimbursement of fares to be made. For more information, see Reimbursing Fares allowance after the customer has died for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

Customer should be issued with an Online Advice Q021, advising them of the outcome of their claim for Fares Allowance (including rejection reasons).