Chapter 102 PES Entitlement and Payment

PES rate of entitlement is determined by the study load and the type of PES qualifying income support payment received. This chapter examines the entitlements eligible students can receive under ABSTUDY PES.

Chapter Content

This chapter contains the following topics:

Entitlement

Entitlement to other allowances

Payment

Recovery of overpayments

102.1 Entitlement

102.1.1 Period of entitlement

Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) has the same period of entitlement conditions as for Living Allowance except PES students who complete a course of at least 30 weeks duration, ie a long course and this course is completed after 15 September are entitled to payment up to 31 December of that year.

Where a post-schooling student in receipt of ABSTUDY Living Allowance completes a course, they are entitled to payment only up to the last day of the course.

NB. Secondary school students in receipt of ABSTUDY Living Allowance are entitled to payment up to 31 December of that year.

102.1.2 Prior year arrangements

ABSTUDY PES students continuing study from 1999 will be maintained at the 1999 rate of PES until the completion of the course given the same personal, financial and academic circumstances apply. If a continuing student went onto the 2000 rate s/he cannot then go back to the 1999 rate should a change in her/his circumstances make the 1999 rate more attractive.

102.1.3 Income testing

PES is not subject to income testing. The student will usually have met the FaCS or DVA means test to get the qualifying pension or allowance.

102.1.4 Tax exemption

PES is a tax exempt payment. Students can, however, continue to elect to have tax deducted from their primary Centrelink payment.

102.2 Entitlement to other allowances

102.1.2 Prior year arrangements

ABSTUDY PES students continuing study (see 102.1.2.1) from 1999 will be maintained at the 1999 rate of PES until the completion of the course given the same personal, financial and academic circumstances apply. If a continuing student went onto the 2000 rate s/he cannot then go back to the 1999 rate should a change in her/his circumstances make the 1999 rate more attractive.

102.1.2.1 definition of continuing student

A continuing student is one who has not had a break in study between 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, except where, in exceptional circumstances that are generally beyond a student’s control, the break in study can be justified on:

• Medical grounds,
• Personal circumstances; or
• Academic course requirements.

102.3 Payment

The amount payable under ABSTUDY PES is aligned with PES payable under Social Security law.

102.3.1 Lodgement of PES Application

An ABSTUDY PES Application must be lodged:

• within 28 days from the commencement of a short course or
• by 31 March for full year courses or
• 31 July for second semester courses

or payment will only be made from the date of lodgement of the PES claim.

102.3.2 Due date for payment

Pensioner Education Supplement is paid fortnightly in arrears

102.3.3 Payee

Pensioner Education Supplement is paid to the applicant.

102.4 Recovery of overpayments

Refer to 133.2 to identify the responsible payee where an overpayment of this allowance has been made.