You are here:

• Home > 
• Payments > 
• Means Test for ABSTUDY

Means Test for ABSTUDY:

These tests are effective from 1 July 2008. If you get ABSTUDY, the following may be used to work out how much you get paid:

• Personal Income Test
• Student Income Bank
• Parental Income Test
• Family Assets Test
• Family Actual Means Test
• Independent Students - Assets Test
• Independent Students - Partner Assets Test

Income test on ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Rent Assistance, and the 'at home' rate of School Fees Allowance. Student and parental means tests do not apply to students in State care.

For more information about the different forms of income and assets that are assessed by Centrelink go to Income information or Assets information.

Personal Income Test:

• Gross income is assessed.
• There is an income free area of $236 per fortnight for students.
• Income above the income free area reduces payment (unless credit in Income Bank).
• Go to the Personal Income Test.
• Applies to students 16 or over and independent Australian Apprentices under 16.

[ return to top ]

Full-Time Student Income Bank:

• Allows ABSTUDY recipients to accumulate up to $6000 of any unused portion of their fortnightly income-free area.
• Income bank credits can be used to offset any income earned that exceeds the fortnightly income-free area.

Please note: Australian Apprentices can only accumulate up to $1000 of any unused portion of their fortnightly income-free area.

[ return to top ]

Parental Income Test:

• Go to the ABSTUDY Parental Income Test.
• Applies to dependent students and Australian Apprentices who are 16 years and over or approved borders under 16 years.

[ return to top ]

Family Assets Test:

• Same as for Youth Allowance.
• Applies to dependent 16 years and over, or approved borders under 16 years.

[ return to top ]

Family Actual Means Test:

• Same as for Youth Allowance.
• Applies to dependent 16 years and over, or approved borders under 16 years.

[ return to top ]

Independent students - Assets Test:

• Homeowners see assets test for homeowners.
• Non-Homeowners see assets test for non-homeowners.
• Hardship provisions may apply to the personal assets test.

[ return to top ]

Independent students - Partner Income Test:

• For students under 21 - same as Youth Allowance.
• For students 21 and over - same as Newstart Allowance except for $0.50 in the dollar abatement of partner income over the income free area and adjustments for dependent children.

[ return to top ]