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You are here: ABSTUDY > 7 Benefits and Allowances > 7.1 Benefits and Allowances

7.1 Benefits and Allowances

• 7.1.1 Introduction to Benefits and Allowances
  • 7.1.1.1 Voluntary Reduction of Benefits
  • 7.1.1.2 Non Application for Certain Benefits
  • 7.1.1.3 Attendance
• 7.1.2 Overpayments
  • 7.1.2.1 Definition
  • 7.1.2.2 Debtor
  • 7.1.2.3 Exceptions
  • 7.1.2.4 Parent/Guardian as the Responsible Payee
  • 7.1.2.5 Student as the Responsible Payee
  • 7.1.2.6 Boarding Institution as the Responsible Payee
  • 7.1.2.7 School as the Responsible Payee
  • 7.1.2.8 Tertiary Education Institution as the Responsible Payee
  • 7.1.2.9 Additional Information

Introduction

This chapter details the benefits and allowances available to eligible ABSTUDY applicants. Entitlement to certain allowances is determined by students meeting the general eligibility criteria set out in Policy Manual 3.1.1, the specific eligibility criteria set out under the relevant Award in Policy Manual 3.2.1, and the status of students detailed in Part 5. The Awards identify the allowances for which a student may be entitled while student status determines the level of allowance entitlement.

Note: There is a maintenance of 1999 levels of payment for continuing students for ABSTUDY Living Allowance and Pensioner Education Supplement who would otherwise be financially disadvantaged by the 2000 ABSTUDY changes. (See Manual 7.1.1 and 7.6)

Quick reference

A table in Policy Manual 3.2.2 of these Guidelines provides a quick reference to the benefits that are available to eligible ABSTUDY applicants.

7.1.1 Introduction to Benefits and Allowances

Note 1: Students aged 21 years or more in receipt of the ABSTUDY living allowance, who given their current personal and partner circumstances will not receive as high a level of overall benefit in 2001 as they would have received in 1999 given the same circumstances, will be maintained at the 1999 rate of living allowance until the completion of their current course because of the ABSTUDY changes in 2000. Similarly Pensioner Education Supplement recipients of any age will be maintained at 1999 levels until the completion of their current course of study.

Note 2:  ABSTUDY customers can make use of Centrelink's Centrepay service which enables deductions from ABSTUDY entitlements, such as Living Allowance, Rent Assistance, Pharmaceutical Allowance and Remote Area allowance, to be directed to approved third parties in accordance with Centrelink/Centrepay Organisation Agreements.

7.1.1.1 Voluntary Reduction of Benefits

Applicants may choose to receive any of their benefits at a reduced rate, but must request this in writing. The reduced entitlements will continue to be paid until such time as they cancel the request in writing.

7.1.1.2 Non Application for Certain Benefits

An applicant may also choose not to apply for certain benefits, eg Living Allowance or School Fees Allowance. Where this is the case, information required to assess that benefit is not required, eg an applicant who chooses not to apply for Living Allowance is not required to provide income details in support of the claim.

7.1.1.3 Attendance

Students may be entitled to certain ABSTUDY allowances subject to satisfactory attendance in their approved course. Attendance provisions for allowances are outlined in Policy Manual 4.6.1.

7.1.2 Overpayments

7.1.2.1 Definition

An overpayment occurs when payments which have been made in respect of a student exceed the amount to which s/he is entitled.

7.1.2.2 Debtor

The person responsible for repaying any overpaid amount is usually the person who received the ABSTUDY payment

7.1.2.3 Exceptions

Exceptions are:

• where a parent/guardian redirects payments to a private board provider for an approved boarding student, the parent/guardian is responsible for repaying any overpaid amount;and
• where payments are obtained fraudulently, the person who applied for ABSTUDY assistance is responsible for repaying any overpaid amount whether paid to themselves, to another person or to an institution.

7.1.2.4 Parent/Guardian as the Responsible Payee

For ABSTUDY Schooling students, a parent/guardian will be responsible for overpayments of:

• School Term Allowance paid to the parent/guardian;
• School Fees Allowance paid to the parent/guardian;
• Living Allowance paid to the parent/guardian;
• in the case of an approved boarding student, Living Allowance paid on behalf of the parent/guardian to a private board provider;
• Fares Allowance paid for under 16 boarding students; and
• Additional Assistance paid for an under 16 student

7.1.2.5 Student as the Responsible Payee

A student will be responsible for the overpayments if the following allowances are paid to the student:

• Living Allowance;
• Pensioner Education Supplement;
• Incidentals Allowance;
• Additional Incidentals Allowance;
• Masters and Doctorate Allowances;
• Away-from-base assistance paid as travel allowance;
• Fares Allowance;
• Pharmaceutical Allowance;
• Remote Area Allowance;
• Rent Assistance; and
• Additional Assistance

7.1.2.6 Boarding Institution as the Responsible Payee

DIFFERENT TO YA/AUSTUDY PAYMENT

A boarding institution will be responsible for overpayments of:

• Pharmaceutical Allowance, Rent Assistance, Remote Area Allowance, Living Allowance paid fortnightly, term-in-advance or on account to the boarding school, hostel or residential college;
• Under 16 Boarding Supplement; and
• Additional Assistance paid to the boarding institution.

The amount of the overpayment will be dependent on an individual boarding institution’s policy on refunds as stated in its terms and conditions.

7.1.2.7 School as the Responsible Payee

A school will be responsible for overpayments of:

• School Fees Allowance; and
• Additional Assistance paid to the school.

The amount of the overpayment will be dependent on an individual boarding school’s policy on refunds as stated in its terms and conditions.

7.1.2.8 Tertiary Education Institution as the Responsible Payee

DIFFERENT TO YA/AUSTUDY PAYMENT

A tertiary education institution will be responsible for overpayments of:

• Away-from-base assistance paid as residential costs and fares to the tertiary education institution;
• Additional Assistance paid to the tertiary education institution;
• Lawful Custody Allowance where paid to the tertiary education institution ;
• payments made to the institution under the Residential Costs Option in respect of board and lodging if the student is not eligible for the Residential Costs Option; and
• HECS or course fees where paid to the tertiary education institution.

7.1.2.9 Additional Information

Further information on debt recovery can be obtained from the:

• Debt Recovery and Compensation Section,
  National Support Unit, Centrelink;
• Debt Management Information System (DMIS); and
• Debt Recovery Manual.

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