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Assessing eligibility for 25% concessional study load for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-05110030

This document outlines how assess a student’s eligibility for the 25% concessional study load for PES and the coding process.

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Assessing eligibility for PES 25% concessional study load

Coding PES 25% concessional study load

Assessing eligibility for PES 25% concessional study load

Table 1

Step	Action
1	Assess the customer’s study load + Read more ... Gather details about the customer’s study load. This information can be found in: the study details section in the online claim or Assisted Customer Claim (ACC), or Section B of the Claim for Pensioner Education Supplement (SY004) Assess the customer’s study load. If the customer's study load is: between 75% and 100% of the normal amount of full-time study, they are a full-time student. See Assessing qualifying study for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES). Procedure ends here between 66% and 74% of the normal amount of full-time study, go to Step 2 between 25% 64% of the normal amount of full-time study, go to Step 3 less than 25% of the normal amount of full-time study, they do not satisfy the study load requirements and therefore do not qualify for PES. See Step 1 in Table 2
2	66% concessional study load + Read more ... A customer may qualify for PES as a 66% concessional study load student if they have a study load of at least 66% and the reason for their reduced study load is one of the following: Conflicts with the institution’s normal requirements for the course, for example: timetable clashes subject prerequisites not satisfied because of failure or other reasons subject cancelled or over-enrolled, or reduced study needed to complete the course There is a specific direction in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer A recommendation in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer for academic or vocational reasons, regardless of whether the reason is given with the recommendation or not Is the customer’s study load between 66% and 74% because of any of the above reasons: Yes, go to Assessing eligibility for 66% concessional study load for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) No, go to Step 3
3	25% concessional study load + Read more ... A customer may qualify for PES as a 25% concessional study load student if they have a study load between 25% and 74% and one of the following applies. They: have a substantial physical, psychiatric or intellectual disability receive Disability Support Pension receive Parenting Payment Single receive Carer Payment under the Social Security Act receive Invalidity Service Pension or Income Support Supplement (invalidity) from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) have a dependent child aged under 16, and receive one of the following payments: Defence Widow/er's Pension JobSeeker Payment (JSP) as a single principal carer Special Benefit as a single parent War Widow/er's Pension Does the customer qualify for a 25% concessional study because of any of the above reasons? Yes, go to Step 4 No, they do not satisfy the study load requirements and therefore do not qualify for PES. See Step 1 in Table 2
4	Reason for reduced study load + Read more ... If the customer is studying part time because they choose to study part time, see Step 2 in Table 2. Not all customers need to provide evidence of their disability and its effect on their ability to undertake the normal amount of full-time study. Is the customer receiving a DVA payment and does not have a child under the age of 16? Yes, go to Step 5 No, and the customer receives: Disability Support Pension, they do not need to provide evidence. See Step 3 in Table 2 an income support payment or a DVA payment and they have a child under the age of 16, they do not need to provide evidence. See Step 2 in Table 2
5	Customer receiving DVA payment and does not have a child under the age of 16 + Read more ... The customer must provide evidence of their disability and the effect it has on their ability to successfully undertake the normal amount of full-time study for the course. If the customer was undertaking a course in the previous study period and had already been assessed as meeting the requirements for the concessional workload, and the customer's circumstances haven’t changed, a new assessment is not needed. See Step 3 in Table 2. If a new assessment is needed, ask the customer to provide a recent report or medical evidence detailing the nature of the disability (that is, how it affects the student’s ability to undertake full-time study) from a health professional. If it is a: medical condition, a medical practitioner psychiatric condition, a psychiatrist, or an intellectual disability, a psychologist Record the details of discussion with the student (including the request for medical evidence) on a Note/DOC. Procedure ends here for Service Centre and Smart Centre Call staff. Once evidence is available, PES processing staff go to Step 6
6	Make decision based on evidence + Read more ... When evidence is available, determine if the 25% concessional study load applies. Does the student's disability mean they are able to study at least 25% of the normal amount of full-time study but they are unable to study more than 74% of the normal amount of full-time study? Yes: The customer qualifies for PES at a 25% concessional study load. Students who qualify for the 25% concessional study load can take up to twice the minimum allowable time to complete their course. This applies to secondary and tertiary students. If an allowable time assessment is needed, see the following before returning to this process: Assessing satisfactory progress for secondary students for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES), or Assessing satisfactory progress for tertiary students for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) See Step 3 in Table 2 No, see Step 1 in Table 2

Coding PES 25% concessional study load

Table 2

Step	Action
1	Customer does not qualify for the 25% concessional study load + Read more ... As the customer does not qualify for the 25% concessional study load, they do not qualify for PES. Tell the customer their review and appeal rights. If the customer is: claiming, reject their claim for PES currently receiving payment, cancel their PES Record details of the decision and any discussion with the customer on a Note/DOC Procedure ends here.
2	Customer qualifies for a 25% concessional study load + Read more ... Complete the following: Go to the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen in Process Direct or the Education Course Details (EDC) screen in Customer First. Code the Participation Status field for customers who are studying between: 25% and 49% of a full-time load as U50 - 25 to 49%, No concession 50% and 74% of a full-time load as O50 - 50 to 74% No concession See Coding new study details Record details of decision and discussion with the customer in a Note/DOC Procedure ends here.
3	Customer qualifies for a 25% concessional study load on the basis of their disability, illness or injury + Read more ... Complete the following: Go to the Customer Study Details (EDC) screen in Process Direct or the Education Course Details (EDC) screen in Customer First. Code the Participation Status field for customers who are studying between: 25% and 49% of a full-time load as C25 - 25% Concessional Student 50% and 74% of a full-time load as C50 - 50 to 74% Concessional Student See Coding new study details Record details of decision and discussion with the customer in a Note/DOC Procedure ends here.