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Part 5 : Student Status

5.1 Student Status

• 5.1.1 Introduction to Student Status
  • 5.1.1.1 Five Categories
  • 5.1.1.2 What Can Student Status Determine?
  • 5.1.1.3 Awards for Which Student Status Is Not Relevant
  • 5.1.1.4 Evidence

5.2 Dependent Status

• 5.2.1 Introduction to Dependent Status
  • 5.2.1.1 Definition of Dependent Status
    • 5.2.1.1.1 Dependent Status Students
    • 5.2.1.1.2 Two Types
  • 5.2.1.2 Benefits
    • 5.2.1.2.1 Benefits
    • 5.2.1.2.2 Income Test
• 5.2.2 Living At Home
  • 5.2.2.1 Introduction to Living at Home
    • 5.2.2.1.1 Introduction to Students Living at Home
    • 5.2.2.1.2 Permanent Home
• 5.2.3 Living Away From Home
  • 5.2.3.1 Introduction to Living Away From Home
    • 5.2.3.1.1 Provisions for Approval
    • 5.2.3.1.2 Initial Boarding Approval
    • 5.2.3.1.3 Non Approval of the Away Rate - Living With Either Parent
    • 5.2.3.1.4 Non Approval of the Away Rate - Other Parental Circumstances
    • 5.2.3.1.5 Eligible for Group 2 School Fees Allowance
    • 5.2.3.1.6 Evidence
  • 5.2.3.2 Travel Time and Access
    • 5.2.3.2.1 Approval Criteria
    • 5.2.3.2.2 What Constitutes Reasonable Travelling Time
    • 5.2.3.2.3 Significant Portion of the Year
    • 5.2.3.2.4 Documentation
    • 5.2.3.2.5 Change of Permanent Home
  • 5.2.3.3 Special Courses
    • 5.2.3.3.1 Approval Criteria
    • 5.2.3.3.2 Definition of a Special Course
    • 5.2.3.3.3 Formal Specialising Qualification
    • 5.2.3.3.4 Formal Specialising Qualification for Mature Age Students
    • 5.2.3.3.5 Federation of Independent Aboriginal Education Providers Ltd Members
    • 5.2.3.3.6 Prerequisite to Post-Secondary
    • 5.2.3.3.7 Agricultural Subjects
    • 5.2.3.3.8 Agricultural Study Requirements
    • 5.2.3.3.9 Agricultural Course Components
    • 5.2.3.3.10 One Agricultural Subject
    • 5.2.3.3.11 Specialist Courses in the Arts, Sport, Technology
    • 5.2.3.3.12 Aboriginal Studies
    • 5.2.3.3.13 Documentation
    • 5.2.3.3.14 Accreditation for Years 8-10 Queensland Only
    • 5.2.3.3.15 Approval of Year 8-10 Curriculum
  • 5.2.3.4 Limited Local School Facilities
    • 5.2.3.4.1 Approval Criteria
    • 5.2.3.4.2 Preparation for Mainstream Upper Secondary Studies
    • 5.2.3.4.3 Automatic Approval of Living Allowance
    • 5.2.3.4.4 Living Allowance Will Not Be Paid
    • 5.2.3.4.5 Advice to Applicants
    • 5.2.3.4.6 Documentation
    • 5.2.3.4.7 Advice from Education Authority
    • 5.2.3.4.8 Retaining Eligibility
  • 5.2.3.5 Disability
    • 5.2.3.5.1 Approval Criteria
    • 5.2.3.5.2 Definition of a Disability
    • 5.2.3.5.3 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.5.4 Boarding at a Special Education Institution
    • 5.2.3.5.5 Access to Special Facilities
    • 5.2.3.5.6 Documentation Not Required
    • 5.2.3.5.7 Medical Certificate
    • 5.2.3.5.8 Access to Regular Medical Treatment
    • 5.2.3.5.9 Access to a Different Climate
  • 5.2.3.6 Itinerant Family
    • 5.2.3.6.1 Itinerant Because of Occupation
    • 5.2.3.6.2 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.6.3 Significant Amount of Time
    • 5.2.3.6.4 Documentation
    • 5.2.3.6.5 Demonstration of Itinerancy
    • 5.2.3.6.6 Assessment of Itinerancy for Employment Reasons
    • 5.2.3.6.7 Evidence That Family Has Moved
    • 5.2.3.6.8 Eligibility for Assistance
    • 5.2.3.6.9 Two Moves in First Term
    • 5.2.3.6.10 Accepted as Itinerant for the First Term
    • 5.2.3.6.11 Three or More Moves in First Term
    • 5.2.3.6.12 Four Moves Over Two Terms
    • 5.2.3.6.13 Ineligibility
    • 5.2.3.6.14 Constant Movement
    • 5.2.3.6.15 Temporary Movement for Employment
    • 5.2.3.6.16 Temporary Residence in Locality
    • 5.2.3.6.17 Permanent Residence During a School Year
  • 5.2.3.7 Exclusion From Local Schooling
    • 5.2.3.7.1 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.7.2 Documentation
  • 5.2.3.8 Home Conditions
    • 5.2.3.8.1 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.8.2 Serious Impediment to Educational Progress
    • 5.2.3.8.3 Deprived of Basic Necessities
    • 5.2.3.8.4 Threat to Health
    • 5.2.3.8.5 Disruption to Study
    • 5.2.3.8.6 Not Included as Impediments to Study
    • 5.2.3.8.7 Factors to be Considered
    • 5.2.3.8.8 Approval Requirements
    • 5.2.3.8.9 Documentation and Verification
    • 5.2.3.8.10 Independent Authorities
  • 5.2.3.9 Racial Discrimination
    • 5.2.3.9.1 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.9.2 Attempts to Resolve Problem
    • 5.2.3.9.3 Approval and Evidence
    • 5.2.3.9.4 Documentation
  • 5.2.3.10 Compulsory Residence
    • 5.2.3.10.1 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.10.2 Approval and Evidence
    • 5.2.3.10.3 Documentation
  • 5.2.3.11 Continuity of Study
    • 5.2.3.11.1 Eligibility - Students Previously Eligible for AFH Rate
    • 5.2.3.11.2 Unreasonable to Break Continuity of Study
    • 5.2.3.11.3 Special Concessions for Yr 12 Students
    • 5.2.3.11.4 Eligibility - Students Not Previously Eligible for AFH Rate.
    • 5.2.3.11.5 School fees allowance
    • 5.2.3.11.6 Documentation
  • 5.2.3.12 Independent School Scholarship
    • 5.2.3.12.1 Eligibility
    • 5.2.3.12.2 Income Testing
    • 5.2.3.12.3 Documentation
  • 5.2.3.13 Students in State Care
    • 5.2.3.13.1 Criteria for Students in State Care
• 5.2.4 Change of Status
  • 5.2.4.1 Cessation of Dependent Status
  • 5.2.4.2 Cessation of Away Rate
  • 5.2.4.3 Temporary Return Home for Study
  • 5.2.4.4 Temporary Return Home for Vacation

5.3 Independent Status

• 5.3.1 Types of Independent Status
  • 5.3.1.1 Two Types
  • 5.3.1.2 Permanent Independent Status
  • 5.3.1.3 Retaining Independent Status
  • 5.3.1.4 Reviewable Independent Status
  • 5.3.1.5 Re-Application
• 5.3.2 Assessment and Verification of Claims
  • 5.3.2.1 Assessment of Permanent Independent Status
  • 5.3.2.2 Assessment of Reviewable Independent Status
  • 5.3.2.3 Authorised Officer
  • 5.3.2.4 Nomination of an Authorised Officer
• 5.3.3 Benefits
  • 5.3.3.1 Entitlement
  • 5.3.3.2 Income, Assets and Family Actual Means Tests
  • 5.3.3.3 Permanent Home
• 5.3.4 Approval of Independent Status
  • 5.3.4.1 Age
    • 5.3.4.1.1 Age of Independence
    • 5.3.4.1.2 Students Under 25 Previously Granted Independent Status
    • 5.3.4.1.3 Example 1 - Maintained from 1998 Studies
    • 5.3.4.1.4 Example 2 - Not Maintained from 1997 Studies
    • 5.3.4.1.5 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.2 Current or Previous Marriage
    • 5.3.4.2.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.2.2 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.3 Parenthood
    • 5.3.4.3.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.3.2 Dependent Child
    • 5.3.4.3.3 Dependent Student
    • 5.3.4.3.4 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.4 Workforce Participation
    • 5.3.4.4.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.4.2 Definition of Workforce Participation
    • 5.3.4.4.3 Periods Included in Workforce Participation
    • 5.3.4.4.4 Full-time Employment
    • 5.3.4.4.5 Periods Excluded from Workforce Participation
    • 5.3.4.4.6 Registration With Centrelink While at School
    • 5.3.4.4.7 Waiting Period for FaCS Benefit by School Leavers
    • 5.3.4.4.8 Registration with Centrelink While Qualified to Get ABSTUDY
    • 5.3.4.4.9 Example
    • 5.3.4.4.10 ABSTUDY Starts or Stops During the Year
    • 5.3.4.4.11 Periods of Full-time Post Secondary Education
    • 5.3.4.4.12 Sporting Activities
    • 5.3.4.4.13 Periods of Unemployment While Overseas
    • 5.3.4.4.14 Periods in Self-Development and Adventure Programs
    • 5.3.4.4.15 Supporting Evidence Not Normally Required On Initial Claim
    • 5.3.4.4.16 Evidence of Employment
    • 5.3.4.4.17 Supporting Evidence of Group Certificates and Statements of Earnings
    • 5.3.4.4.18 Supporting Evidence of Tax Documents
    • 5.3.4.4.19 Supporting Evidence of Statement of Hours
    • 5.3.4.4.20 Supporting Evidence from Family Businesses
    • 5.3.4.4.21 Supporting Evidence of Self Employment
    • 5.3.4.4.22 Supporting Evidence in Cases of Doubt
    • 5.3.4.4.23 Supporting Evidence of Statements from Centrelink
    • 5.3.4.4.24 Supporting Evidence by Student Declaration
    • 5.3.4.4.25 ABSTUDY Records
  • 5.3.4.5 Special Adult Status
    • 5.3.4.5.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.5.2 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.6 Previous Lawful Custody
    • 5.3.4.6.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.6.2 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.7 Orphanhood
    • 5.3.4.7.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.7.2 Definition of an Orphan
    • 5.3.4.7.3 Living With Other Than Natural Parents
    • 5.3.4.7.4 Parent Missing and Presumed Dead
    • 5.3.4.7.5 Evidence
  • 5.3.4.8 De facto Relationship
    • 5.3.4.8.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.8.2 Dependent Children
    • 5.3.4.8.3 Dependent Student
    • 5.3.4.8.4 Documentation
    • 5.3.4.8.5 Change of Status
  • 5.3.4.9 Child in Student’s Care
    • 5.3.4.9.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.9.2 Dependent Children
    • 5.3.4.9.3 Dependent Student
    • 5.3.4.9.4 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.10 Parents Cannot Exercise Parental Responsibilities
    • 5.3.4.10.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.10.2 Parent(s) Temporarily Incapacitated
    • 5.3.4.10.3 Parent(s) Missing
    • 5.3.4.10.4 Student Dependent on Another Person
    • 5.3.4.10.5 Evidence - Parent(s) in Prison
    • 5.3.4.10.6 Evidence - Parent(s) Indefinitely Incapacitated
    • 5.3.4.10.7 Evidence - Parents Missing
  • 5.3.4.11 Returning Home
    • 5.3.4.11.1 Eligibility
    • 5.3.4.11.2 Review of Independence
    • 5.3.4.11.3 Documentation
  • 5.3.4.12 Homeless Students
    • 5.3.4.12.1 Criteria for Homeless Students
• 5.3.5 Change of Status
  • 5.3.5.1 Independent Status Commences
  • 5.3.5.2 Independent Status Ceases

5.4 Students in State Care

• 5.4.1 Introduction to State Care
  • 5.4.1.1 Eligibility
  • 5.4.1.2 Definition
  • 5.4.1.3 Minimum School Leaving Age
• 5.4.2 Parental Income Concession
  • 5.4.2.1 Parental Income Concession - State Care
  • 5.4.2.2 Who Can Get the Concession
  • 5.4.2.3 Who Does Not Get the Concession?
  • 5.4.2.4 Cessation of Care Order Due to Age
  • 5.4.2.5 Cessation of Order for Other Reason
  • 5.4.2.6 Visits Home
• 5.4.3 Evidence Required
  • 5.4.3.1 Statement From Relevant Government Agency
  • 5.4.3.2 What Family Details Are Required?
• 5.4.4 Benefits
  • 5.4.4.1 Living Allowance Rate of Payment
  • 5.4.4.2 Standard Rate
  • 5.4.4.3 Away From Home Rate
  • 5.4.4.4 Independent Rate
  • 5.4.4.5 Other Government Payments
  • 5.4.4.6 Rent Assistance, Remote Area Allowance and Pharmaceutical Allowance
• 5.4.5 Payments
  • 5.4.5.1 Who is ABSTUDY Paid to?

5.5 Homeless Students

• 5.5.1 Introduction to Homeless Criteria
  • 5.5.1.1 Eligibility
  • 5.5.1.2 Age
  • 5.5.1.3 Minimum School Leaving Age
  • 5.5.1.4 State Wards
  • 5.5.1.5 Status Assessed Against Natural or Adoptive Parents
  • 5.5.1.6 Rent Assistance
  • 5.5.1.7 Student Homeless Rate (SHR) Additional Information Form
  • 5.5.1.8 Early Application for SHR/UNLAH Continuing Students
  • 5.5.1.9 Commencement of Payments
• 5.5.2 Transfer from Family and Community Services Homeless Rate
  • 5.5.2.1 Transferring to ABSTUDY from FaCS Benefit as a Homeless Young Person Under 18 Years of Age
  • 5.5.2.2 Centrelink Payment Recipients Transferring to ABSTUDY SHR
  • 5.5.2.3 Parental Contact
• 5.5.3 Homeless Youth Protocol
  • 5.5.3.1 Homeless Youth Protocol Requirements for Under 15 Year Olds
  • 5.5.3.2 Homeless Youth Protocol Requirements for Students Aged 15 to 17 Years Old Inclusive
• 5.5.4 Approval Factors
  • 5.5.4.1 Overview
  • 5.5.4.2 Definition
  • 5.5.4.3 All Available Relevant Information Taken Into Account
  • 5.5.4.4 General Factors To Be Taken Into Account
  • 5.5.4.5 Do Visits Home Affect SHR?
  • 5.5.4.6 Monitoring Possible Change in Circumstances
• 5.5.5 Social Worker
  • 5.5.5.1 Role of the Social Worker
  • 5.5.5.2 Assistance Provided by the Social Worker
  • 5.5.5.3 Social Worker Referral
• 5.5.6 Application Process
  • 5.5.6.1 Documentation
  • 5.5.6.2 Difficulties in Completing/Providing Documentation
  • 5.5.6.3 Inadequate Supporting Documentation
  • 5.5.6.4 Procedure for Assessing a SHR Claim
• 5.5.7 Contacting Parents
  • 5.5.7.1 Natural or Adoptive Parents
  • 5.5.7.2 Separated and Non-Custodial Parents
  • 5.5.7.3 Purpose of Parental Contact
  • 5.5.7.4 Permission to Contact Parents
  • 5.5.7.5 Student Refuses Permission to Contact Parents
  • 5.5.7.6 Approval Without Contacting Parents
  • 5.5.7.7 Process for Contacting Parents
• 5.5.8 Criteria and Verification Procedures
  • 5.5.8.1 Violence
    • 5.5.8.1.1 Violence - Definition
    • 5.5.8.1.2 Required Information
    • 5.5.8.1.3 Perpetrator
    • 5.5.8.1.4 Victim
    • 5.5.8.1.5 Medical Attention
    • 5.5.8.1.6 Lack of Supporting Evidence
    • 5.5.8.1.7 Contact With Parents Where Violence is Alleged
    • 5.5.8.1.8 Unacceptable Grounds
    • 5.5.8.1.9 Temporary Accommodation
    • 5.5.8.1.10 Homeless Youth Protocol Requirement
  • 5.5.8.2 Sexual Abuse
    • 5.5.8.2.1 Sexual abuse - Definition
    • 5.5.8.2.2 Required Information
    • 5.5.8.2.3 Lack of Supporting Evidence
    • 5.5.8.2.4 Sexual Abuse of Another Person
    • 5.5.8.2.5 Sexual Abuse by a Frequent Visitor
    • 5.5.8.2.6 Homeless Youth Protocol Requirement
  • 5.5.8.3 Other Similar Unreasonable Circumstances
    • 5.5.8.3.1 Other Similar Unreasonable Circumstances - Definition
    • 5.5.8.3.2 Criminal Activity
    • 5.5.8.3.3 Serious Neglect
    • 5.5.8.3.4 Substance Abuse
    • 5.5.8.3.5 Psychiatric Illness
    • 5.5.8.3.6 Psychological Abuse
    • 5.5.8.3.7 Abnormal Demands of a Cultural Nature
    • 5.5.8.3.8 Nature and Severity of Situation
    • 5.5.8.3.9 Unacceptable Grounds for "Other Unreasonable Circumstances"
    • 5.5.8.3.10 Parents Disapprove of a Student's Relationship
  • 5.5.8.4 Extreme Family Breakdown
    • 5.5.8.4.1 Eligibility on Grounds of Extreme Family Breakdown
    • 5.5.8.4.2 Definition of 'Extreme Family Breakdown'
    • 5.5.8.4.3 Cannot Live At Home
    • 5.5.8.4.4 Not Accepted That the Student Cannot Live At Home
    • 5.5.8.4.5 Social Worker to Advise on Nature of Breakdown
    • 5.5.8.4.6 Family Breakdown Not Considered Extreme
  • 5.5.8.5 Circumstances Beyond the Family’s Control
    • 5.5.8.5.1 Other Circumstances Similar to Extreme Family Breakdown
    • 5.5.8.5.2 Parents Unable to Provide a Home, Care and Support
    • 5.5.8.5.3 Support Provisions
    • 5.5.8.5.4 Verification
    • 5.5.8.5.5 Parent(s) Overseas
• 5.5.9 Receiving Support
  • 5.5.9.1 Support Provisions Must Be Satisfied
  • 5.5.9.2 Continuous Support From a Parent
  • 5.5.9.3 Examples of Continuous Support
  • 5.5.9.4 Financial or Other Support
  • 5.5.9.5 Direct or Indirect Support
  • 5.5.9.6 At Boarding School When Applying for SHR
  • 5.5.9.7 Parents Offer to Provide Support
  • 5.5.9.8 Disregarded Parental Support
  • 5.5.9.9 Court Ordered Maintenance
  • 5.5.9.10 Accommodation Owned or Leased by a Parent
  • 5.5.9.11 Wholly or Substantially Dependent
  • 5.5.9.12 Long-term Basis
  • 5.5.9.13 Support From a De Facto Partner
  • 5.5.9.14 Ineligible on Grounds of Long-term Support
  • 5.5.9.15 Other Support Arrangements
  • 5.5.9.16 Income Support from the Commonwealth, State or Territory
  • 5.5.9.17 Ineligible Commonwealth Support
  • 5.5.9.18 Disregarded Commonwealth/State/Territory Support
• 5.5.10 Release of Information
  • 5.5.10.1 Confidentiality
  • 5.5.10.2 Release of Information by Student Authorisation
  • 5.5.10.3 Release Under the Student Assistance Act
  • 5.5.10.4 Handling Requests for Confidentiality
  • 5.5.10.5 Freedom of Information Act
• 5.5.11 Mandatory Reporting
  • 5.5.11.1 Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse
  • 5.5.11.2 Mandatory Reporting Obligations
  • 5.5.11.3 Cost of Mandatory Reporting
• 5.5.12 Review of Decisions
  • 5.5.12.1 Review of Decisions
  • 5.5.12.2 Appeal Against Decision

5.6 Pensioner Students

• 5.6.1 Definition of Pensioner Students
  • 5.6.1.1 Definition
  • 5.6.1.2 Orphan’s Pension
  • 5.6.1.3 FaCS Benefits
  • 5.6.1.4 Allowances Included as Pensions
• 5.6.2 Types of Pension
  • 5.6.2.1 Acceptable Income Support for PES
• 5.6.3 Benefits
  • 5.6.3.1 Entitlement
  • 5.6.3.2 Pensioner Education Supplement
  • 5.6.3.3 PES/CDEP
  • 5.6.3.4 Part-time Pensioner Student
• 5.6.4 Change of Status
  • 5.6.4.1 Change of Status

5.7 Students in Lawful Custody

• 5.7.1 Definition of Lawful Custody
  • 5.7.1.1 Definition
  • 5.7.1.2 Not in Lawful Custody
  • 5.7.1.3 Availability of ABSTUDY Assistance
• 5.7.2 Change of Status
  • 5.7.2.1 Study Ceases on Commencement of Period of Lawful Custody
  • 5.7.2.2 Continues With Approved Study in Custody
  • 5.7.2.3 Continue Study After Custody

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