3.8.3.40 PES concessional study-load students

Concessional study-load students

This topic discusses concessional study-load students:

• how to determine their study-load
• how their rate of PES (if a 25% concessional study-load student) may be affected if their study-load falls below either 25% or 50%, and
• how their rate of PES (if a 66% concessional study-load student) may be affected if their study-load falls below 66%.

A recipient can be a secondary or tertiary concessional study-load student if they are studying under either a:

• 66% concessional study-load (1.1.C.290), or
• 25% concessional study-load.

66% concessional study-load

A 66% concessional study-load applies to a recipient who is unable to study 75% of the normal full-time study-load, but is enrolled in at least two-thirds (66%), at either tertiary or secondary level, for ANY of the following reasons:

• The institution's normal requirements for the course.

  Example: Timetable clashes, subject prerequisites not satisfied because of failure or other reasons, subject cancelled or over-enrolled, or reduced study-load needed to complete the course.

• A SPECIFIC DIRECTION in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer.
• A RECOMMENDATION in writing from the academic registrar or equivalent officer, for specified academic or vocational reasons. The period covered by this recommendation must not exceed 1/2 of an academic year.

66% concessional study-load is generally not applicable to students at secondary schools

66% concessional study-loads for secondary students would usually apply only to non-school students. This is because a secondary school determines what a school student's full-time workload is, so the need to apply the 66% concession is unlikely to arise.

How is 66% concessional study-load measured?

The following table describes how the 66% study-load concession is measured for tertiary and secondary students.

25% concessional study-load

A student who is a sole parent, a carer pensioner or has a substantial disability, may qualify for PES while studying a concessional study-load of at least 25% of the normal full-time study-load. This includes study in a course offered on a part-time (1.1.P.100) basis IF the study-load is equivalent to at least 25% of a comparable course offered full-time. To be considered a 25% concessional study-load student, the student must have a study-load of at least 25% but less than 75% of a full-time study-load.

A recipient may qualify for PES with a 25% concessional study-load. IF they:

• have a substantial physical or psychiatric or intellectual disability that restricts them from maintaining a full-time study load

OR

• receive one of the following payments
  • under the SSAct
    • disability support pension
    • carer payment
    • pension PPS
    • youth allowance
    • jobseeker payment
  • under the VEA
    • invalidity service pension (ISP)
    • income support supplement on the grounds of permanent incapacity

Note: DSP and ISP recipients may be eligible for payment at the full-rate when undertaking study under a 25% concessional study-load - refer to 'Study-load & rate of PES' below.

OR

• have a dependent child (1.1.D.70) aged under 16 AND receive one of the following payments
  • under the SSAct
    • SpB as a sole parent
  • under the VEA
    • a pension under Part II and Part IV, including
      • Disability Compensation Payment
      • war widow/er's pension
      • orphan's pension

OR

• have a dependent child aged under 16 AND
  • under MRCA
    • have received, or are entitled to receive, compensation for permanent impairment under section 68, section 71 or section 75
    • are receiving a Special Rate Disability Pension under Part 6 of Chapter 4
    • have received, or are entitled to receive, wholly dependent partner compensation (either weekly or as a lump sum) under Part 2 of Chapter 5.

How is 25% concessional study-load measured?

The following table describes how the 25% study-load concession is measured for tertiary and secondary students.

Allowable time concession

Allowable time rules for concessional study-load students are covered in 3.8.3.60.

Allowable time - measuring previous study

Rules for measuring previous study for concessional study-load students are covered in 3.8.3.70.

Allowable time - secondary students

Allowable study time rules - for secondary students are covered in 3.8.3.30.

Date at which progress is measured against allowable study time

Rules for determining the rate at which progress is measured against allowable study time are covered in 3.8.3.60.

Discontinued study/reduced study-load

Qualification for PES ceases from the date of discontinuation, IF a student approved for the 25% or 66% concession:

• discontinues or varies subjects during a course, AND
• reduces their study-load to below 25% of the normal full-time study-load (if a 25% concessional study-load student), or
• reduces their study-load to below 66% of the normal full-time study-load (if the student qualified as a 66% concessional study-load student but does not qualify as a 25% concessional study-load student).

Study-load & rate of PES

A PES 25% concessional study-load student whose study-load is below 50% of the normal full-time workload for their course (but has at least a 25% study-load), will be paid at half the full PES rate.

Students in this category are described as sub-50% concessional study-load students (1.1.S.375).

The following pensioners are exempt from the lower rate, even if their study-load is below 50%, but at least 25%.

A person receiving:

• under the SSAct
  • disability support pension
  • YA, JSP or benefit PPP where the person has a partial capacity to work
• under the VEA
  • invalidity service pension
  • income support supplement on the grounds of permanent incapacity
  • a veteran payment.

Note: Recipients of YA, JSP or benefit PPP only qualify for PES in the limited circumstances set out in subsection 1061PJ (2A), (2B) or (2D).