Satisfying the full-time study requirements for customers intending to study for Youth Allowance (YA) 010-06070020

Continuing/intending students are considered to be satisfying the full-time study requirements for students. This means, in some circumstances, they are considered to be a full-time student during study breaks, such as semester/trimester holidays.

If a customer is not considered a continuing/intending student, they will not meet the student study requirements until they commence their course.

Students not considered to be 'intending students' are those who:

• did not study in or complete the last available semester or study period immediately prior to claiming
• did not study in an approved course in the previous study period, or
• deferred their course for a period of time and are now planning to continue the course

These customers will not be considered to be a full-time student until they start their course. Until they qualify for YA (student) they may need to test their eligibility for another payment, for example, JobSeeker Payment or YA (job seeker) if they require assistance before the course commences.

Receipt of JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or YA (job seeker) does not prevent a customer from being a continuing/intending student. Customers transferring from JSP or YA (job seeker) who are not continuing/intending students continue to receive this payment until they start study, as long as they continue to meet the mutual obligation requirements. While these customers would normally be expected to look for all suitable work, for the interim period they may satisfy the mutual obligation requirements by looking for suitable work that would not prevent them from starting study (for example, part-time or casual work).

If a YA (student) ceases full-time study, they must notify Services Australia and register as a job seeker within 14 days. Failure to notify cessation of study within 14 days will result in cancellation of YA from the study end date plus 1 day. In these circumstances, payment of YA as a job seeker may only commence from the date the customer contacts the agency and lodges a new claim. A debt may be generated for students who fail to notify cessation of studies. There is no change to policy or process for customers advising an intention to study.

When making an unfavourable decision, speak to the customer:

• explain the decision
• give them a chance to provide more information, and
• advise their review and appeal rights