3.6.5.20 Qualification for SA - Students

Qualification (1.1.Q.10)

To qualify for SA, students who become incapacitated for study must:

• defer from their course of study, AND
• meet the other qualification criteria, AND
• be aged at least 22 years AND in receipt of ABSTUDY, OR
• be aged at least 25 years AND in receipt of Austudy.

Explanation: The act of deferral is taken to indicate a commitment to resuming full-time studies when the temporary incapacity ends.

Students enrolled in a course of education that is part of a rehabilitation program who become incapacitated for study may also qualify for SA.

Students who do not qualify for SA

Students do NOT qualify for SA if they:

• are currently enrolled in a course of education, OR
• have completed, abandoned or withdrawn from their course, OR
• are less than 22 years old, OR
• are between 22 and 25 years old AND in receipt of YA.

Explanation: YA (Incapacitated) is the appropriate payment for students less than 22 years old.

Students between 22 and 25 years who have completed, abandoned or withdrawn from their course of education due to illness need to apply for NSA (incapacitated).

Act reference: SSAct section 666 Qualification for SA, section 685 Full-time students, section 542 Situations in which a person is not required to satisfy the activity test

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.5.10 Qualification for SA, 3.2.3.10 Qualification for YA

_______________________________________________________

Last reviewed: 2 July 2012