ABSTUDY
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Schoolkids Bonus
From January 2013, the Schoolkids Bonus will help families with education costs. If you're eligible, we'll pay you automatically. Visit our Schoolkids Bonus page for more information.
To get ABSTUDY, you must be:
- an Australian citizen
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian
- enrolled in an approved course
- not receiving any other government assistance to study or complete your apprenticeship, and
- normally living in Australia
If you are studying at a secondary school, TAFE (a technical and further education college), a university, or other approved tertiary institution, or if you are in a full-time Australian apprenticeship, ABSTUDY can help with your:
- education costs
- accommodation costs
- living costs
- fares (to travel to your place of study each term or semester if you need to study away from home)
- prescription medicine costs
Eligibility & payment rates
Payment rates for ABSTUDY
The amount of ABSTUDY you get depends on your circumstances, such as your study load, what course you are studying and your age.
Students applying for ABSTUDY
If you are a student applying for ABSTUDY you must be:
- enrolled in an approved course of study, or
- undertaking an approved testing and assessment activity that will determine your suitability:
- to undertake an approved course, or
- for the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Approved education providers include:
- government schools, including those offering distance education or correspondence courses
- non-government education institutions offering primary, ungraded, secondary, or special courses accredited by the relevant state or territory education authority
- senior secondary colleges
- TAFE institutions
- higher education providers
- correctional services authorities providing secondary or tertiary-level Indigenous special courses for students in lawful custody
Approved courses may be studied by:
- attendance at classes
- distance education or correspondence
- external studies
- open learning
- flexible delivery, or
- a combination of the above
Australian apprentices applying for ABSTUDY
An Australian Apprentice will need a current Commonwealth Registration Number that relates to a full-time apprenticeship, traineeship, or trainee apprenticeship under the Australian Apprenticeships Scheme.
Means test for ABSTUDY
If you get an ABSTUDY Living Allowance or Rent Assistance, means tests may be used to work out how much you get paid.
Personal income test for ABSTUDY, Austudy and Youth Allowance
Your income affects the amount of payment you receive for ABSTUDY, Austudy or Youth Allowance. An income test works out what you will be paid.
Read more about the personal income test for ABSTUDY, Austudy or Youth Allowance.
Other benefits while receiving ABSTUDY
If you qualify for ABSTUDY, you may be entitled to other payments and benefits, such as:
Claiming
Once you have read about eligibility the next steps are:
- register an intent to claim
- read the conditions for claiming
- decide how you will submit your claim, online or in person
- complete your claim forms
- complete your supporting forms
- submit your claim
- we will assess your claim and let you know the outcome
Managing your payment
Payment adjustment and reviews for ABSTUDY
Your ABSTUDY Living Allowance is reviewed each year. The amount you receive may be adjusted because your circumstances or a family member's circumstances change.
Advance payment options
You may be eligible to receive part of your Centrelink payment in advance. Accessing an advance payment depends on the type of payment you receive, how long you have been receiving it and the amount that you receive.
Payments paid while outside Australia
There are rules about getting your payment when you leave Australia.