Reimbursing fares for the use of a private vehicle or taxi for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-04060060

Note: an Australian Apprentice is not entitled to Fares Allowance for travel related to their Australian Apprenticeship.

See Assessing Eligibility for Fares Allowance for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

Did the customer travel by public transport?

• Yes, see Reimbursing fares for the cheapest mode of public transport for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy, Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
• No, go to Step 3

If the student has used private transport, they need to provide information to explain why public transport was not practicable. Reasons may include:

• Where living necessities or personal belongings, such as essential kitchenware and bedding, need to be transported by the student from their family or permanent home in order to undertake study and it is not practicable to transport the items by public transport (for example, due to strict luggage limits or the amount of luggage is difficult to manoeuvre)
• If their permanent home and place of study are not connected by public transport (including rail, air, bus, ferry)

Was it practicable for the student to use private transport?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, see Reimbursing fares for the cheapest mode of public transport for Youth Allowance (YA), Austudy, Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)

Note: if further information is required to determine the requirement to transport living/study needs, attempt to contact the customer via phone to request further evidence. If contact is unsuccessful create an Online Advice (OLA), see Resources for the approved free text.

The amount of FAA for travel by private vehicle or taxi is based on:

• the number of kilometres travelled (for private vehicles and taxis) and
• (for private vehicles only) the size of the vehicle

Multiply the number of kilometres travelled by the appropriate per kilometre rate shown in the link to reimbursement rates on the References page.

Note: the per kilometre rate for taxi travel is a set rate, regardless of the engine capacity of the actual taxi used. The current rate is available by following the link to the reimbursement rates on the References page.

If a student provides a fuel receipt as verification of the trip, reimburse the value of the trip based on the capacity of the car and the number of kilometres travelled, not the value of the receipt.

Record the amount of reimbursement on the system, and arrange for the customer to receive payment.

For PES, go to Coding Fares Allowance (FAA) Pensioner Education Supplement (PES). Procedure ends here.

For Austudy or YA:

• Open Customer First and access the customer's record
• Within the customer's record, access the One Off Payment (OOP) screen
• Enter the date of the payment in the Effect Date: field and FAA in the payment type: field and press [Enter]
• On the Assessment Results (AR) screen, select the One Off Payment field and type OOP in the Nxt: field. Press [Enter]
• Enter the amount to be paid in the Amount: field and press [Enter] to exit the OOP screen

Record details of the claim and decision in a Fast Note. Select Auto Text option > Students, ABSTUDY & Apprentices > Claims - Students > Fares Allowance GRANT.

Finalise the activity.

Advise the customer, in writing, of the decision of their FAA claim by sending a letter Q021 (Fares Allowance - grant/reject/pay).

This advice may be tailored according to whether the claim has been approved, amended or rejected, as per approved wording.