Studying or Training

Student payments

Need to know what financial assistance Centrelink can provide for students? Centrelink supports students with a range of payments:

• Youth Allowance
• Austudy
• ABSTUDY
• Assistance for Isolated Children

For more on payments for students, refer to Payments while you are studying or training.

How to avoid a Centrelink debt

It is important to let Centrelink know if your circumstances change as it may affect your payment.

For more information, refer to What you need to tell us and What should I do if my circumstances change?.

To tell Centrelink if your circumstances change, you can:

• call the 13 number most relevant to you
• update your details via online services
• visit your nearest Centrelink office.

Online services for students

Centrelink has a range of online services available for students. Online services lets you do things like:

• Apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy
• Update study details
• View your study details
• Advise Parental Income
• Request an Income Statement

For more information, refer to online services.

Online Services Demonstrations

Want to know how easy it is to use Centrelink's Online Services?

Try out the new online services demonstrations. You'll quickly discover how you can save yourself time.

Direct bill-paying service

Centrepay is a free direct bill-paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink.

Through Centrepay you can choose to pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from your Centrelink payment.

Centrelink Confirmation eServices

We want you to step out of line...

Now you don't have to line up at Centrelink to get your Income Statement when applying for concessions or services - Centrelink Confirmation eServices can do it for you.

For more information, refer to Centrelink Confirmation eServices.

Centrelink contacts

You can contact Centrelink in lots of ways:

• Phone Us
• Write to Us
• Find Us
• Message Us.

For more information, refer to Contact us.

Useful links for students

To find other resources on the web for students, view:

• private i - your ultimate privacy survival guide on the Privacy Awareness Week website.
• other useful links.

Student services

Proposed changes to Youth Allowance

In the 2008-2009 Federal Budget, important changes were made to Family Assistance payments.

Legislation to introduce the Government's proposed changes to student payments, including the introduction of new scholarships, has not been approved by Parliament. This means current rules for Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY continue to apply.

For more information, refer to Proposed changes to Youth Allowance.

Centrelink Career Information Centres

Centrelink Career Information Centres (CICs) are open to all Australians and have a range of career resources to help you plan your future. For more information or help, drop into your nearest CIC.

If you don't live nearby, you can contact a CIC by phone, mail, fax or email.

Claim Youth Allowance and Austudy online

Publications

Listed below are publications you may find useful:

• Youth Allowance brochure
• Austudy brochure
• ABSTUDY
• Assistance for Isolated Children brochure

For more information, refer to Publications if you are studying or training.

Forms

Listed below are claim forms you may find useful:

• How do I claim ABSTUDY?
• How do I claim a Low Income Health Care Card?
• Assistance for Isolated Children claim form

For more information, view Claim forms if you are studying or training.

Hot topics for students

Other important topics for Students include:

• Compact with Young Australians
• Budget information for Students
• Household Stimulus Package
• Training and Learning Bonus for postgraduate scholarship holders
• Training Supplement
• Centrelink recognises same-sex relationships from 1 July 2009
• Accommodation and Renting
• Overcoming barriers to study or work
• Moving from study or training to work
• Health Care Cards

Education Tax Refund

The Australian Government's new Education Tax Refund will help eligible families and independent students with the cost of primary and secondary education.

Find out more from the Education Tax Refund website.