1.1.L.100 Long term income support student (YA, Austudy)

Definition: YA

For the purposes of YA, an applicant is a long-term income support student if the applicant:

• is at least 22 years old, AND
• does NOT have a dependent child (1.1.D.70), AND
• is a person claiming
  • as a full-time, or concessional study load (1.1.F.230) student and the course has a duration of at least 12 months, and the approved course of education (1.1.A.210) had commenced after the person turned 22, OR
  • as an Australian Apprentice (1.1.A.324) and became an Australian Apprentice after turning 22, AND
• has, when commencing the qualifying study, or becoming an Australian Apprentice, been receiving one or more of the following for at least 26 out of the preceding 39 weeks
  • jobseeker payment
  • YA (job seeker)
  • pension PP (single)
  • benefit PP (partnered)
  • disability support pension
  • carer payment
  • special benefit.

Each time:

• a student commences qualifying study, OR
• an Australian Apprentice commences an Australian Apprenticeship

they must satisfy the eligibility criteria in order to be considered a long-term income support student.

If:

• a student takes a break in their qualifying study (that is, defers study, withdraws from the course, OR reduces their study load below a qualifying threshold) and recommences full-time study at a later date, OR
• an Australian Apprentice ceases to be an Australian Apprentice, and recommences as an Australian Apprentice at a later date

their commencement date is the first day they recommence qualifying.

Migrant English course students

A YA student is ALSO a long-term income support student under the following conditions:

• is at least 22 years old, AND
• does NOT have English as a first language, AND
• is undertaking an approved course in English.

Act reference: SSAct section 1067F(1) Long term income support student (YA)

Grandfathered arrangements

From 1 July 2012, the minimum age at which a YA applicant can be considered a long-term income support student was raised from 21 years to 22 years. YA applicants aged 21 who were considered to be long-term income support students prior to this date will retain their eligibility until they are no longer studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship provided they continue to meet other eligibility criteria.

Definition: Austudy

For the purposes of Austudy, an applicant is a long-term income support student if the applicant:

• has a full-time, or concessional study load has a duration of at least 12 months, and the approved course of education commenced after the person turned 21, OR
• is an Australian Apprentice and became an Australian Apprentice after turning 21, AND
• has, when commencing the qualifying study, or becoming an Australian Apprentice, been receiving one or more of the following for at least 26 out of the preceding 39 weeks
  • jobseeker payment
  • pension PP (single)
  • benefit PP (partnered)
  • disability support pension
  • carer payment
  • special benefit.

Each time:

• a student commences qualifying study, OR
• an Australian Apprentice commences an Australian Apprenticeship

they must satisfy the eligibility criteria in order to be considered a long-term income support student.

If:

• a student takes a break in their qualifying study (that is, defers study, withdraws from the course, OR reduces their study load below a qualifying threshold) and recommences full-time study at a later date, OR
• an Australian Apprentice ceases to be an Australian Apprentice, and recommences as an Australian Apprentice at a later date

their commencement date is the first day they recommence qualifying.

Migrant English course students

An Austudy student is ALSO a long-term income support student under the following conditions:

• does NOT have a dependent child, AND
• does NOT have English as a first language, AND
• is undertaking an approved course in English.