Centrelink Changes

EWO Contacts

Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy

The basis for assistance to students is:

• you must (in most cases) be a full-time degree/diploma student; you either get payments depending on parents' income and assets OR
• you get payments by meeting one of Centrelink's definitions of independent - and that doesn't just mean that no-one's supporting you;
• there are limits on how much you can earn while studying; and
• there are time limits on how long you can study and still get AUSTUDY or Youth Allowance.

EASY? NO IT'S NOT!!! The scheme is very complex. The possible applicant scenarios are limitless.

The legislation behind it is lengthy, and in parts both complex AND open to individual interpretation. The public servants in Centrelink rely on extensive guidelines to make sense of the legislation. Neither the application form, the information brochures nor the Centrelink enquiries and checking processes will always be adequate to the complexity of a given case.

EVERY YEAR STUDENTS ARE EITHER OVERPAID OR DEPRIVED OF PAYMENTS, either through the student or their parents not fully understanding the rules or specific information needed; or through Centrelink not eliciting vital information in telephone conversations or at application lodgement.

So what can you, the student, do to safeguard yourself?

1. TELL CENTRELINK OF ANY CHANGE TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES PROMPTLY and IN WRITING.

This may seem a nuisance, because often the change may have no effect on your allowance; but better safe than sorry. It is a fact that phone advice is not always understood or recorded. Written advice is easy to prove, verbal advice is not. And the onus of proof is with you, the student. THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING CENTRELINK of your changes, except during routine enrolment checks, which may occur too late to stop you being overpaid.

2. UNDERSTAND THAT AUSTUDY/YOUTH ALLOWANCE TERMS ARE SPECIALISED

So "independent" or "partner" may mean one thing to you but another to Centrelink. And just because your University says you are a full-time student, this may mean something quite different to Centrelink vis-a-vis your allowance.

3. THERE ARE MANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES.

But you may not be told of these in an enquiry to Centrelink. Especially at busy times, Centrelink counter staff tend to focus on making sure that you have written something against every question, rather than on how you have answered. And experience is that Telephone Call-Centre staff tend to know standard scenarios and give standard answers; but not to be forthcoming with variations or be expert in exploring a range of possibilities.

To be fair, it's a big ask. Also, staff are trained under duty of care and the Privacy Act to be very cautious about giving advice. This can sometimes inhibit discussion of important issues.

4. THERE IS EXPERT HELP ON CAMPUS. BUT WHERE?

It's with the Education and Welfare Officers at Student Care in the AUU. The EWOs between them have many years' experience in Student Assistance as employees of Centrelink/AUSTUDY. In fact, that is more than you are likely to meet in any Centrelink office. The EWOs can give you: detailed and expert advice and information advocacy and investigation with Centrelink assistance with appeals against AUSTUDY/Centrelink decisions, free experienced and professional representation at Social Security Appeals Tribunal and Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing.