Assessing ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) claims 010-05030000

This document outlines the assessment of ABSTUDY PES which is paid fortnightly. The amount payable depends on the qualifying payment the applicant is receiving.

PES policy arrangements

PES is administered by Services Australia and is paid under 3 sets of policy:

ABSTUDY policy. This is referred to as ABSTUDY PES
the Social Security Act. This is referred to as simply PES
Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme policy. This is referred to as AIC PES

Eligibility and qualification for PES

Customers receiving a qualifying payment for PES and who are undertaking qualifying study are qualified for PES in addition to the primary qualifying income support payment. Qualification for PES relies mainly on receipt of a qualifying income support payment. Receipt of this payment must be verified before the PES assessment can proceed.

Customers must satisfy basic qualifications:

minimum age
residency requirements
qualifying study
receiving a qualifying income support payment. Receipt of this payment must be verified before the PES assessment can proceed, and
for ABSTUDY, Aboriginality

ABSTUDY PES and PES differences

Customers can choose whether they want to apply for ABSTUDY PES or PES. Care should be exercised in offering customers a choice between the two schemes, as there are differences in additional payments available. For example:

Incidentals Allowance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
Additional Incidentals Allowance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
Away from Base Assistance for ABSTUDY PES recipients
Residential Cost Option for ABSTUDY PES recipients
Education Entry Payment (EdEP) for PES recipients

Note: see Assessing Claim for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) (SY004).

Claim lodgement rules

The closing dates for PES claims differ from other benefits administered by Services Australia.

31 March if the course if a full year course starting before 1 April
31 July if the course starts on or after 1 July, or
28 days from the date of qualification if the course if less than 1 year

To ensure the student is paid from the earliest date possible, they should submit their claim by the closing dates above.

Note: for customers experiencing vulnerability, see Intent to claim and vulnerable customers.

Processing arrangements - ABSTUDY PES, AIC PES and PES

ABSTUDY PES claims are processed by one of four ABSTUDY Smart Centre Processing teams. See Processing arrangements for ABSTUDY claims and enquiries for more information about the responsibilities that each section of the department has when dealing with ABSTUDY related matters.

AIC PES is limited to a very small number of customers and claims and enquiries will be referred to the relevant AIC Smart Centre Processing centre.

Look up Smart Centre Processing details for: Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).