Prove Your Point

For the purposes of the Youth Allowance (YA) and Austudy programs, "studying or training" means that you are attending an approved course of study while attending school full-time. When referring to tertiary students, the term "full time study" refers to carrying at least three quarters of the typical full-time load. It varies according to whether or not the course has a Student Contributions fee.

The amount of work that constitutes a full-time load for a Student Contributions class is determined by comparing it to the typical amount of work that students are expected to complete for the class. When determining whether or not a student is enrolled in classes for the full-time equivalent, the following factors are taken into consideration:

• 0.75 for a full year (for subjects that last the full year) or
• 0.375 for a semester

A student is considered to be enrolled in a full load of non-Student Contributions courses when the following conditions are met:

• If the educational establishment labels their program as full-time and the student is responsible for at least three quarters of the full-time workload,
• They are studying an amount that is equivalent to at least three quarters of the average amount required to finish the course in the shortest amount of time, or they are studying an equivalent amount that is equivalent to both.
• They do not meet either of the first two conditions, but they do complete at least 15 hours of in-person study each week (this can include formal consultations with course supervisors and lectures).

If it is difficult for you to study a full-time load, you should investigate whether or not you are still qualified for Youth Allowance or Austudy. You may still be eligible to receive a student payment from Centrelink if any of the following conditions are met:
Because of the following factors, the workload of a student in tertiary or secondary education may be reduced to two thirds of what it would normally be for academic reasons:

• the normal requirements of the institution, such as timetable conflicts, subjects whose prerequisites have not been satisfied due to failure or other reasons, subjects that have been cancelled or have a high number of students enrolled in them, or a reduced study load that is required to finish the course or
• a detailed instruction provided in writing by the academic registrar or an officer with equivalent responsibilities or
• a written recommendation for academic or vocational reasons, issued by the academic registrar or another officer with equivalent authority, regardless of whether or not a reason is provided along with the recommendation.

If you are a disabled person over the age of 25 who has a significant physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disability and are therefore unable to study full-time or finish a course in the minimum amount of time that is allowed for other students, then you may be eligible for special consideration. You must complete at least 25 percent of the normal full-time study load for the program in order to qualify for the Austudy program. This includes enrolling in a course that is only available on a part-time basis but has a workload that is equivalent to or greater than that of a comparable full-time course.

If you are a Torres Strait Islander or an Aboriginal person and you are attending school full-time, you are eligible to receive ABSTUDY rather than Youth Allowance or Austudy.

Over the age of 21 and working part-time

There is a possibility that you could qualify for Newstart Allowance if you are over the age of 21 and are attending school on a part-time basis. You will still be expected to be actively seeking employment in addition to participating in other activities.

Part-time under 21

If you are younger than 21 years old and are enrolled in school on a part-time basis, you may still be eligible for Youth Allowance. It is possible that, given your circumstances, you will be required to take part in a variety of activities in order to fulfill the requirements of a full-time job.

Studies at the Third Level

Any study that takes place at a level that is higher than secondary study (or the study that is equivalent to high school) is considered tertiary study. The length of time spent on these studies can range from relatively straightforward classes that last a few weeks to highly specialized classes that last for several years. If you are enrolled in more than one postsecondary program, use the drop-down menu to select the level that is most applicable to each of your programs. For example, you could select "Certificate," "Diploma," or "Degree."

Degree of Instruction

Please select the appropriate level of study for yourself using the drop-down menu, such as diploma, certificate, or degree.

Title of the Class

Simply type in the name of the class.

You are allowed to enter spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes; however, you cannot enter them in a row. You are not allowed to start typing with a blank, hyphen, or apostrophe. Take, for instance:

• Bachelor of Visual Arts degree program.
• Undergraduate Diploma in Languages (Beginning)
• Advancing Studies in Applied Business and Information Technology - Diploma

The identification (ID) number for the course

If you already know the course identification (ID) number, for example TH123, you can enter it here.

The State of Australia

Pick one of the Australian States.

Look for a name of a school or educational organization.

Enter the name of the school that you have attended in the past or that you will attend in the future for your studies in order to search for it. You are allowed to enter spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes; however, you cannot enter them in a row. It is not possible to start typing with a blank, hyphen, or apostrophe. As an illustration, "OShea University cannot be accepted; however, O'Shea University can be."

Identifying Name of the School or University

Please provide the name of the school you have attended in the past or will attend in the future for your studies. You are allowed to enter spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes; however, you cannot enter them in a row. It is not possible to start typing with a blank, hyphen, or apostrophe. As an illustration, "OShea University cannot be accepted; however, O'Shea University can be."
For example:

• The University of Melbourne (Melbourne)
• The University of Canberra's School of Technology

Campus

• From the drop-down menu, choose the name of the campus that you currently attend or will attend for your studies at the educational institution that you currently attend.
• Choose 'Online only' as your course delivery method if you do not need to physically attend a campus location in order to participate.
• Choose 'Overseas Campus' from the drop-down menu if the campus is located outside of Australia.
• If it is not on the list, select "Free-text," and then type in the name of the campus as well as the suburb or town. You are allowed to enter spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes; however, you cannot enter them in a row.

  It is not possible to start typing with a blank, hyphen, or apostrophe. As an illustration, the phrase "OShea Campus cannot be accepted but O'Shea Campus can be"

Number assigned to a student's identification card (ID)

When you enroll in the educational program, the educational establishment will provide you with either a student identification number (ID) or a personal identification number (PIN). If you have been given one of the numbers, please enter it here. For example, JS12345.

Year/Stage

Enter the year or stage of the course you are currently enrolled in, such as year nine of secondary school or first year of tertiary school.

The Official Timetable for the Course

These are the official dates that the educational institution has planned to have the class run (for example, the beginning and ending dates of the semester). These are not necessarily the days and times that you will be present for the class yourself.
Please refer to the beginning date and the ending date for further information regarding the dates.

Study Load

Please select your level of academic commitment from the drop-down menu, for example, full-time, part-time, etc.

Your time spent in school.

These are the times that you are expected to be present for the class. For instance, if you have been granted exemptions or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), you might not be required to begin the course at the beginning as originally planned.
Please refer to the beginning date and the ending date for further information regarding the dates.

Commencement date

Please enter the date that you started taking the course or will start taking it, for example 10/02/2005.

The completion time and date

Please enter the date that you finished or will finish the course, for example 10/12/2007.

Year 12 or equivalent

Approved Year 12 or equivalent studies are:

• A secondary education program that has been approved by an accrediting body and is offered by a secondary school, TAFE institution, higher education institution, or special school.
• Instruction leading up to further study at a university or college
• A qualification of Certificate II or higher on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), issued by a Registered Training Organization or higher education institution.

The Highest Possible Educational Level

Select the highest level of education that you have successfully completed, please. For instance, you have completed the equivalent of the 12th grade (or higher).
If you completed your highest level of education outside of Australia, please indicate what the Australian standard is for that level.

Participated in postsecondary education but was unable to finish the program.

This phrase describes the situation in which a person has previously enrolled in tertiary education but did not complete the program.

The minimum time requirements of the tertiary program you are currently enrolled in are used to determine how much time is allotted to you. In order to determine whether or not you are still engaged in qualifying study, the amount of time you have already spent studying at the same level will be subtracted from this limit. There are no caps placed on the total number of hours that can be spent studying at the same level if you are eligible for Youth Allowance.

When enrolling in a second or subsequent course at the same level, you might be asked to sign a contract if you are eligible for Youth Allowance and if it is your first time doing so.

Every single attempt made to study for this class

It is essential that you provide details regarding the amount of time that you have previously invested in this training. If this course is at the same level as the one you are currently taking, the amount of time you spent studying for this course may be counted toward the total amount of time you are permitted to spend studying.

Those classes that you have successfully finished.

Please provide information about any courses (at TAFE, universities, or other institutions) that you have successfully finished.

It is not possible to receive payments for students that are administered by Centrelink indefinitely. There is a time limit on how long you can continue to receive payment at each level of study before reaching the next level. This limit is calculated based on the class that you are currently enrolled in. The results of any previous work at the same level that you have done could also be taken into consideration.
Only the standard bare minimum amount of time required to finish a course is taken into account, regardless of whether or not you actually put in more time studying than that.

Previous Attempts at the Course We Are Currently Following

Give details on any previous attempts you've made for the program you're currently enrolled in and the goals you had for them.

When determining whether or not you are engaging in qualifying study for the purposes of Austudy, one of the criteria is whether or not you are making adequate progress in your course. If the total amount of time spent in the course, in addition to the total amount of time spent in other courses at the same level, does not exceed the maximum amount of time that is allowed for that course, then the tertiary student is making satisfactory progress. The maximum amount of time that can be claimed under the Youth Allowance is determined solely by the amount of time spent on studies related to the student's current program. You are not restricted in any way in the number of classes of the same level that you are able to take if you are eligible for Youth Allowance, and you are also able to keep your status as a full-time student. It is possible that you will be required to sign an activity agreement for students if you have previously enrolled in a different course that was offered at the same level.

Students are required to finish a course within the allotted time frame, which is calculated based on the minimum amount of time it typically takes to finish the course, plus an additional amount of time that can be given to the student. There is a possibility that you could be given an additional grace period of up to a year in order to finish your program. Some students may be given an additional amount of time beyond what is normally allotted to them if exceptional circumstances exist. Ailments, traumatic experiences within the family, natural disasters, relocation, and the responsibilities of caring for others are examples of such events.

Current or Future Course Details

Your class needs to be finished within the allotted amount of time, which is calculated based on the bare minimum amount of time it typically takes to finish the class plus an additional amount of time to study (for instance, a degree takes three years and one semester to complete). Up to one year additional allowable time may be granted to complete your course if you have a year long subject You may be eligible for an extension of the maximum amount of time that you have available to you in exceptional circumstances. Ailments, traumatic experiences within the family, natural disasters, relocation, and the responsibilities of caring for others are examples of such events.

1 January

If you are graduating from high school or receiving an equivalent qualification in November or December of this year, you have the option of having your Youth Allowance payment begin on January 1, 2019, if you file a claim between October 1 and December 31, inclusive. If you do so, you will be able to select this option. Because of this, it is possible that your Family Tax Benefit will continue to be paid to your parent or guardian until the 31st of December. You will also only be required to provide information regarding the income of your parent(s) or guardian(s) for one year.

Immediate Expenses

In the box below, please enter the immediate costs associated with your class as a whole dollar amount, for example $47. 70 can be written as $48, if desired.

You may find it challenging to work or to study.

It is possible for a student in tertiary education or secondary education to have their workload cut down to two-thirds of what it would normally be due to the following reasons:

• the normal requirements of the institution, such as timetable conflicts, subjects whose prerequisites have not been satisfied due to failure or other reasons, subjects that have been cancelled or have a high number of students enrolled in them, or a reduced study load that is required to finish the course or
• a detailed instruction provided in writing by the academic registrar or an officer with equivalent responsibilities or
• a written recommendation for academic or vocational reasons, issued by the academic registrar or another officer with equivalent authority, regardless of whether or not a reason is provided along with the recommendation.

If you are a disabled person over the age of 25 who has a significant physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disability and are therefore unable to study full-time or finish a course in the minimum amount of time required for other students, then you may be eligible for special consideration. You must complete at least 25 percent of the normal full-time study load for the program in order to qualify for the Austudy program. This includes enrolling in a course that is only available on a part-time basis but has a workload that is equivalent to or greater than that of a comparable full-time course.

Courses leading to the doctorate were finished.

Please provide the specifics of any doctoral-level studies that you have already finished with a passing grade.

If you are qualified to receive ABSTUDY payments, you may also be qualified to receive assistance when you are enrolled in a doctoral program. Please contact Centrelink at the number 13 23 17.

Time Allowed for Use

It is not possible to receive payments for students that are administered by Centrelink indefinitely. There is a time limit on how long you can continue to receive payment at each level of study before reaching the next level. This limit is calculated based on the class that you are currently enrolled in. The results of any previous work at the same level that you have done could also be taken into consideration.
The minimum amount of time that would be required to finish a course while attending it full-time is added to the total amount of time that is considered acceptable for tertiary education. When a class has topics that change every semester, the maximum amount of time that can be spent on it is equal to the minimum amount of time plus one semester. If the course contains topics that are covered in depth over the course of an entire year, the maximum time that can be spent on it is equal to the minimum time plus one additional year of study.

Accepted Curriculum

Allowance for Young People

An education or study program is considered to be "approved" for the purposes of the Youth Allowance if it has been given the go-ahead by the Minister of Education, Science, and Training.

The following types of studies are accepted when pursued at a full-time level:

• Courses taught in traditional academic institutions, as well as courses featuring adaptable learning environments, such as competency-based training, open learning, and other self-paced courses
• Accredited secondary courses that can be taken at a secondary school, TAFE institution, higher education institution, special school, English as a Second Language (ESL), or Stream 2000, as well as preparatory courses for tertiary education.
• Courses at the tertiary level, such as Streams 3000 and 4000
• Open Learning programs and classes
• Certificate courses
• Courses leading to advanced certificates
• Courses leading to a Bachelor's Degree
• Graduate Certificate courses
• Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees at the Graduate Level
• Coursework leading to the title of master
• Specific course-work-based Master's degree programs, as outlined in the Ministerial Determination of Education Institutions and Courses

There is no set minimum time requirement for a class to be considered for approval; however, the length of a class can play a role in determining the point in time at which you are counted as a full-time student.

Traditional doctoral programs are NOT eligible for funding under the Youth Allowance program.

If you are under the age of 21, you may be eligible for Youth Allowance even if the studies you are doing are not approved. You will, however, be required to demonstrate that participation in the study will enhance your employment opportunities and sign an Activity Agreement. If this is the case, you might not be eligible for the higher fortnight income free area or access to the Student Income bank. Also, you might miss out on other potential benefits.

Austudy

A program of education or study that has been sanctioned by the Minister of Education, Science and Training is considered to be an approved program for the purposes of the Austudy program.

The following types of studies are accepted when pursued at a full-time level:

• Accredited secondary courses that can be taken at a secondary school, TAFE institution, higher education institution, special school, English as a Second Language (ESL), or Stream 2000, as well as preparatory courses for tertiary education.
• Courses at the tertiary level, such as Streams 3000 and 4000
• Open Learning programs and classes
• Certificate courses
• Courses leading to advanced certificates
• Courses leading to a Bachelor's Degree
• Graduate Certificate courses
• Certificates, Diplomas, and Degrees at the Graduate Level
• Coursework leading to the title of master
• Specific course-work-based Master's degree programs, as outlined in the Ministerial Determination of Education Institutions and Courses

There is no set minimum time requirement for a class to be considered for approval; however, the length of a class can play a role in determining the point in time at which you are counted as a full-time student.

Studies that are normally counted toward a doctorate are NOT among the Austudy-approved programs.

An additional amendment is required to remove the current restriction on the provision of income support to students who have already attained a Masters degree in order to maintain consistency with the student income support policy that is defined by the Act and the new amendments that extend income support to Masters courses. This is because the new amendments extend income support to students who are pursuing a Masters degree. This amendment does not have any impact on the existing rules regarding allowable time and progress, which will continue to be followed. Students who have already earned their doctorates are excluded from its scope as well. Customers of Austudy who have already completed study at the doctoral level are not eligible for payment as students (this preclusion applies only to Austudy, as stated in section 569(2) of the Student Support and Loans Act). There are no other references that are compatible with Youth Allowance.

Hours per week you spend studying

Please provide the number of hours per week that you spend studying (not including the hours that you spend studying on your own); for instance, you attend face-to-face study 15 hours per week.

Communicable diseases

You are not required to inform Centrelink about communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C if you have been diagnosed with either of those conditions.

Your partner, parent, or guardian, as well as any other individuals whom you have authorized as your nominees, will not be informed of any details regarding your disability, illness, or injury if you have provided them to Centrelink.

Conditions and terms of use

Kindly make sure you give these terms and conditions a thorough read. A Student Start-up Loan will not be given to you if you do not accept the terms and conditions of the loan.

Student Start-up Loan

Students who are enrolled in higher education full-time and are receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy, or ABSTUDY Living Allowance are eligible to apply for the Student Start-up Loan, which is a loan that does not accrue interest and is completely voluntary. The loan is intended to assist with the up-front costs associated with the student's education, such as the cost of textbooks and other specialized equipment.

When your income reaches the threshold at which your Higher Education Assistance Program (HELP) debts become payable, you will be required to repay the loan through the Australian Taxation Office. Because of this requirement, Centrelink needs to have the borrower's Tax File Number on file before they can issue the loan.

The loan is payable in two equal installments every six months throughout the calendar year, with the following time periods qualifying for the loan:

• between 1 January and 30 June
• 1 July to the last day of December

Amount, along with specifics on the payment

The amount of each Student Start-Up Loan is always the same: $1,025

Due to the fact that there are only two available each year, the maximum amount for each calendar year is $2,050.

Your Youth Allowance, Austudy, or ABSTUDY Living Allowance will continue to be deposited into the same account as the loan payment, which will be made in one lump sum.

Disclaimer:

The principal amount of the loan is subject to modification according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which may result in fluctuating monthly payments and an overall different sum paid back.

Eligibility

To qualify for the Student Start-Up Loan, you have to meet all of the following requirements:

• studying full-time at a higher education institution TAFE study does not count unless the TAFE in question is registered as a higher education provider and the course in question is an accredited higher education course (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science). g a degree of at least an associate's or a bachelor's) and
• full-time students who are eligible for the Youth Allowance, the ABSTUDY Living Allowance, or the Austudy program and who are also receiving these benefits
• after determining that you are qualified for the loan, you must continue to be enrolled as a full-time student while receiving either Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, or Austudy for at least 35 days.

Where you do not qualify for participation

You will be denied for this loan if any of the following apply to you:

• you are currently enrolled in a program of Secondary Education, Vocational Education, or Training, or
• you also receive, or qualify for, a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship* or a Student Start-up Scholarship, or
• if after meeting the requirements for the loan you do not begin attending school full-time within the first 35 days, or if
• You complete your studies at a full-time level in fewer than thirty-five days after you become eligible for the loan.
• Do not submit an application for the Student Start-up Loan at this time if you have any reason to believe that you will be awarded a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship. You should only fill out an application if your university has not awarded you the Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship.

How do I go about paying back the Loan?

You will have to make payments toward the Student Start-Up loan that you took out through the federal taxation system. When your annual income reaches the point at which your Higher Education Assistance Program (HELP) debts become payable, you will be required to repay the loan. Information can be found on the website of the Australian Taxation Office.

You will be unable to make any early repayments to Centrelink at this time. You are required to get in touch with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) if you want to get started on paying off any loans.

How much do you expect me to pay back?

If you take out a Student Start-up Loan, the amount that you have to repay will be recovered through the Australian Tax Office for each semester or each year that you take out the loan. Adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) are made to the terms of the Student Start-up Loan on an annual basis for each year that the loan is not paid in full.

Putting a stop to or making adjustments to your Student Loan for Starting Out

At any time, you have the option to put a halt to further payments on your Student Start-Up Loan. To cancel any future loans, you can do so through the Student Express app or through the online services. At any time, you have the ability to change the nomination that you have made; for instance, if you applied for a loan to cover the entire course, you have the option to change your preference back to the current semester or the current year only.

However, if you have already been approved for a Student Start-up Loan, you will not be able to give it back to Centrelink unless you can prove that you were not eligible for the loan.

It is required to be repaid through the various taxation systems.

The most recent update was in December of 2013