The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

3.3.3.50 Notification & recipient obligations for Austudy

Notifiable events for Austudy

In addition to the common notifiable events, Austudy recipients MUST notify Centrelink with the 14-day notification period, if ANY event occurs which may affect their payment rate or eligibility. Events which may affect recipients' rates and eligibility vary according to circumstances and are listed on the back of each letter sent to them.

Examples of events that may affect Austudy recipients' payment eligibility or rate include where the recipient:

  • changes activity, OR
  • starts or discontinues a full-time course (1.1.F.230) of study, OR
  • is not enrolling in the course as a continuing student by the end of the enrolment period, OR
  • changes study workload to LESS than full-time, OR
  • is not beginning the course on the first day it is offered, OR
  • changes their enrolment in the course, OR
  • is no longer a full-time Australian Apprentice (1.1.A.324), OR
  • is starting full-time work, OR
  • changes their residential circumstances, that is, changes their address, rent amount, or if they move to government housing, OR
  • starts or stops sharing their accommodation with others, OR
  • has received/is receiving a disqualifying scholarship (1.1.D.233), ABSTUDY SSL, a start-up scholarship under MRCA, or start-up scholarship under VEA.

Note: This is NOT a definitive list of notifiable events.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 66A General requirement to inform of a change of circumstances etc.

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

Common provisions

Some notification and recipient obligations are common to MOST payments. Some of the common provisions include:

  • the recipient or their partner
    • starts work, OR
    • is paid income from employment, OR
    • receives any money from investments, OR
    • changes investments, OR
    • has a change in their assets, OR
    • receives compensation, or claims compensation, OR
    • receives money from a superannuation or roll-over fund, OR
    • receives any other money, OR
    • receives any leave payments, OR
    • has a child under 16 come into their care, OR
    • has a child under 16 leave their care, OR
    • is imprisoned, OR
    • are intending to go overseas, for any period, OR
    • have been overseas, OR
  • the recipient
    • starts living with a partner, OR
    • separates from their partner, OR
    • starts a rehabilitation program, either private or with the Commonwealth rehabilitation program, OR
    • applies for, or starts to receive ABSTUDY or another allowance.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.3 Notification & recipient obligations

Reporting methods

An Austudy recipient can be required to give information to Centrelink in one or both of 2 different ways. The first way is that all recipients are required to report if a specified event or circumstance change occurs or is likely to occur, notification reporters (1.1.N.126). The second way is that some recipients are also required to give a statement about a specified matter, and sometimes to give a separate statement for each of several specified periods, statement reporters (1.1.S.350). All Austudy recipients who have employment income, or whose partner has employment income (if relevant), are required to be statement reporters and generally need to report their income fortnightly (excluding those listed in 1.1.S.350).

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 68 Person receiving social security payment or holding concession card

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