ABSTUDY, Allowances and Benefits: Chapter 82 - Incidentals Allowance

The purpose of Incidentals Allowance is to assist students and Australian Apprentices to meet expenses associated with commencement of study in the approved course.

To qualify for Incidentals Allowance, the following criteria must be met:

• the student or Australian Apprentice must qualify for one of the following ABSTUDY Awards:

• Schooling B Award; or
• Tertiary Award; or
• Masters and Doctorate Award; or
• Part-time Award; and
  
  

• if a student, they must be either:

• enrolled in a tertiary level course; or
  
  
• enrolled in a preparatory course that is delivered by a higher education institution and designed to assist people to gain entry to higher education level courses (also known as a bridging, access or enabling course); or
  
  
• enrolled in a secondary school AND aged 18 years or older at 1 January in the year of study; or
  
  
• enrolled in a secondary non-school level course, AND aged 18 years or older at 1 January in the year of study.
  
  

• the student or Australian Apprentice must commence in the course or apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship.

82.2.1 Not qualified for Incidentals Allowance

A student or Australian Apprentice does not qualify for Incidentals Allowance in the following circumstances:

• the student is enrolled in a Australian Apprenticeship Access Programme course; or
  
  
• the student or Australian Apprentice does not commence study in an approved course or apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship.

82.2.2 Concurrent Awards

Where a student or Australian Apprentice is studying simultaneous courses, apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship and holds more than one Award over the same period, Incidentals Allowance is payable in respect of each Award. See 14.3 Concurrent Awards.

Incidentals Allowance rates vary depending upon the period of the student’s enrolment in the course during the year of assistance. Different rates apply for the following periods of enrolment:

• less than 12 weeks;
• 12 to 16 weeks;
• 17 to 23 weeks; and
• 24 weeks to 1 year.

Australian Apprentices will be entitled to Incidentals Allowance for each year they participate in the apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship they are undertaking.

For details of Incidentals Allowance rates, see “A Guide to Australian Government Payments    ”.

82.3.1 Indexation of Incidentals Allowance rates

Incidentals Allowance rates are subject to Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes on an annual basis. Maximum rates are indexed at 1 January each year.

82.4.1 Payment frequency

Incidentals Allowance is paid in one instalment at the time the entitlement is approved. Where the student is a continuing student, the allowance can be paid up to four weeks before the student commences the next academic period of the course.

Incidentals Allowance cannot be paid while a Australian Apprentice is in receipt of the Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) paid under the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme.

82.4.2 Payee for Incidentals Allowance

Incidentals Allowance is paid to the student or Australian Apprentice.

82.5.1 Means testing

Incidentals Allowance entitlement is not means tested.

82.5.2 Discontinuation of study

Early discontinuation of study or apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship does not affect the rate of Incidentals Allowance. Entitlement is established by commencement in the course.

82.5.3 Change in course

The student or Australian Apprentice is not entitled to more than the maximum rates specified in 82.3 where a change of course occurs. This means that, where a student or Australian Apprentice has been paid Incidentals Allowance for a certain period of enrolment or training, subsequently discontinues that course, apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship, and then commences a new course, apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship, Incidentals Allowance is only payable for any period of enrolment in the new course, apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship that does not overlap the period for which the initial Incidentals Allowance payment was made.

82.5.4 Overpayments

Where payments in excess of entitlement have occurred, refer to Chapter 3 Overpayment and Recovery of Allowances to determine what is a recoverable debt and from whom this amount should be recovered