the course is a course of study within the meaning of the Higher Education Support Act 2003; and there are Commonwealth supported students (within the meaning of that Act) enrolled in the course; the full-time student load for the course; or b.) if the course is not such a course but the student undertakes a study amount as defined by the institution as a full-time course of study that a full-time student should typically undertake in respect of the course; or c.) otherwise an amount of full-time study equivalent to the average amount of full-time study that a person would have to undertake for the duration of the course in order to complete the course in the minimum amount of time needed to complete it. Without limiting the above, the normal amount of full-time study in respect of a course is an average, taken over the duration of the period for which the person in question is enrolled in the course, of 20 contact hours per week. Students undertaking courses that may be classified as full-time courses may be assessed for entitlements under all ABSTUDY Awards, subject to their study-load and eligibility for study-load concessions. 11.7.1.1 Full-time Australian Apprenticeships For the purposes of ABSTUDY, eligible undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship are those whose training contract is considered full-time by DSS. 11.7.2 Part-time courses A course must be regarded as a part-time course if: it does not meet one of the above criteria; or a full-time workload cannot be defined (courses without attendance requirements which cannot verify full-time study requirements). Students undertaking such courses can be approved only for entitlements under the and . cannot be applied to such courses. 11.7.3 Two part-time courses Two part-time courses cannot be grouped to make one full-time course. The student is entitled to the benefits arising from each Part-time Award. Exceptions to this are: articulated courses, where two or more courses are linked together to form an overall qualification; and
s/he lives away from the . OR: A secondary school aged student may be approved for Away from Home entitlements in the following circumstances: s/he does not have reasonable access to an appropriate secondary education institution; or s/he cannot reasonably be expected to undertake secondary schooling whilst living in the permanent home; and intends to undertake secondary studies, however in order to do so is required to repeat the final year of primary school in preparation for a successful transition to secondary studies; and the school s/he has enrolled in offers this year of schooling; and s/he has enrolled in the final year of primary schooling; AND s/he lives away from the permanent home. 25.1.1 Evidence supporting claims for Away from Home entitlements As determined by Centrelink, evidence may be required to support a student’s or Australian Apprentice's claim for Away from Home entitlements. 25.1.2 Australian Apprentices Where a person who wishes to undertake a full-time apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship is required to live away from the permanent home in order to undertake their Australian Apprenticeship, Away from Home entitlements may be approved. 25.2 What is Reasonable Access? A student is considered to not have reasonable access to an in the following circumstance: travelling time and/or access between the and the appropriate education institution/s make daily travel impossible or unreasonable, as set out in . Reasonable Access provisions may apply where an is undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship, or trainee apprenticeship with an employer or training provider and the travelling time and/or access between the permanent home and the employer or training provider make daily travel impossible or unreasonable, as set out in Chapter 26. 25.3 What is an Appropriate Education Institution? 25.3.1 Appropriate Education Institution for Secondary School Students For secondary school students, an appropriate education institution is any government school that offers tuition at the student’s level, that is, the year or grade for which the student is qualified to enrol. However, the determination of what is an appropriate education institution for a secondary school student may vary in the following circumstances:
; or ; or ; and the student must have reached the qualifying age for Age Pension. 104.3 Pension Supplement rates 104.3.1 Components of Pension Supplement There are different rates of Pension Supplement depending upon the student’s circumstances. Following are components and terms associated with pension supplement: Combined couple rate of pension supplement - the maximum amount of pension supplement payable to a couple. This amount is used to determine the different rates payable depending on the person's family situation. Combined couple rate of minimum pension supplement - the amount used to determine a person's minimum pension supplement amount. Minimum pension supplement amount - the amount of pension supplement that a person can elect to receive quarterly. This component of the supplement is the last to reduce when the income test is applied. It is also the amount which remains payable if any pension supplement is payable after the application of the income test. Pension supplement basic amount - equivalent to the former pension supplement, also known as the GST supplement. Tax exempt pension supplement - the individual's rate of pension supplement less the pension supplement basic amount. 104.3.2 Rates of Pension Supplement The annual rate of pension supplement, minimum pension supplement amount and pension supplement basic amount is set out in The daily rate of pension supplement is calculated by dividing the annual rate by 364. 104.3.2.1 Effect of income and assets tests on the rate of Pension Supplement Pension supplement is added to a person's maximum basic rate of ABSTUDY before the income test is applied. The minimum pension supplement amount is the last to reduce when the income test is applied to a person’s income support payments. It is also the amount which remains payable if any pension supplement is payable after the application of the income and assets tests. 104.4 Payment of Pension Supplement 104.4.1 Payment frequency Pension supplement is paid fortnightly in arrears with the person’s ABSTUDY payment. It accrues, and is payable for, each day that a person qualifies for pension supplement.