Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme

You may be eligible for Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme payments if:

• you meet residency requirements
• your family home is geographically isolated from an appropriate state school
• the student has a disability or a special health related or educational need that cannot be met at a local state school
• the student does not have reasonable daily access to state schooling for at least 20 school days in a year for reasons beyond the family’s control
• the student is not geographically isolated but they do not have reasonable daily access to state schooling, and
• the student:
  • boards away from home at a school or hostel or privately, or
  • can go to school daily because your family has a second home, or
  • lives at home and is undertaking distance education or approved home schooling

The student must normally be enrolled in approved full-time primary or secondary study. A school aged student who does not have access to a state secondary school can be enrolled in approved full-time tertiary vocational education and training, for example a TAFE course, instead.

Students must usually:

• have reached minimum school entry age
• be under 19 years of age at 1 January of the year of study
• be undertaking approved studies at an approved institution
• meet residency requirements

Tertiary students are eligible only until they either have met the minimum education level or age required by their state or territory education authority.

For more information about eligibility, get the Assistance for Isolated Children brochure by calling 132 318.

There are four types of payment rates for the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme. Adjustments to payment rates, except for Assistance for Isolated Children Pensioner Education Supplement, are made in line increases in the cost of living (Consumer Price Index). Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme payment rates are adjusted on 1 January each year.

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme payments are not taxed and, except for Additional Boarding Allowance, are free of income and assets tests.

Payments are usually paid to the parent or carer, however you can choose to have your payments paid directly to the student’s school or the boarding provider.

If the student is boarding, parents and carers may also qualify for the Additional Boarding Allowance. This allowance is income-tested. Whether you can claim this allowance depends on your income and your child’s boarding costs. The payment rate may depend on the number of other dependent children in your family who are also eligible for the Additional Boarding Allowance, Youth Allowance, or ABSTUDY.

Assistance for Isolated Children payments can be paid for a student where Family Tax Benefit, Carer Allowance or Double Orphan Pension is being paid.

Assistance for Isolated Children payments cannot be paid for a student who is on another payment, such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, or Veterans’ Children Education Scheme payments.

Some students turning 16 years old may be eligible for assistance under the Away from Home rate of Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY instead of continued assistance from this scheme and Family Tax Benefit. To decide which payment best suits your family, get the Assistance for Isolated Children brochure by calling 132 318.

Check with your state or territory government to see if they provide additional benefits for isolated students.

Under the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme, only the Additional Boarding Allowance is income tested.

Read more about parental income testing

To be eligible for the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme you must satisfy residence requirements. You and the student you are claiming for must be living in Australia and be:

• an Australian citizen, or
• the holder of a permanent resident visa, or
• a New Zealand citizen who is permanently settled in Australia (a waiting period may apply)

If you qualify for the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme, you may be entitled to other payments and benefits, such as:

We review your circumstances annually to ensure you are getting the correct payment amount. If your or your family’s circumstances change this may affect your eligibility or change your payment amount.

You need to tell us if you or your child’s circumstances change when you are receiving a payment. For example, if:

• you receive the Additional Boarding Allowance and your or your partner's income increases or the student's boarding charges increase
• the student stops boarding or living in the second home
• the student stops studying, reduces their study load, or changes their education institution
• your personal circumstances change
• you change your address or the student changes their term address
• you do not have to lodge a tax return
• the care arrangements for the student change
• you or the child leave Australia on a permanent basis

If you do not tell us about the changes within 14 days your payment may be affected. You may be overpaid benefits and you will probably have to pay the money back.

If you deliberately do not tell us about changes, you could be charged with fraud, and a recovery fee may be imposed.

There are rules about getting your payment when you leave Australia.

Read more about payments paid while outside Australia