Breaks in tuition (study breaks) - when Student Allowances can continue being paid

An eligible student who is not on study leave and is not studying due to a break in tuition at their education provider, can continue getting Student Allowance when the break in tuition is for 3 weeks or less.

A student must be eligible for a Student Allowance directly before, and directly after the break in tuition to get payments for the period of the break in tuition.

A student who loses entitlement, but not eligibility, to a Student Allowance due to personal and/or spousal income directly before or directly after a break in tuition of 3 weeks or less, can get payments for the period of the break in tuition.

When the break in tuition is longer than 3 weeks, the payment of any Student Allowances must be suspended unless discretion is used to permit it to continue.

The use of discretion to continue payments is intended when there are unforeseen or unusual circumstances only, e.g. extreme weather conditions, interruptions to essential services, non-controlled health and safety issues, or civil defence emergencies.

You must consider the specific circumstances of each student before deciding if their payments can be continued.

Breaks in tuition due to COVID-19

Discretion may be used to continue payment of Student Allowances for a study break of longer than 3 weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breaks in tuition due to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle

Discretion may be used to continue payment of Student Allowances between 6 March and 1 May 2023 for up to another 8 weeks if a student has a break in tuition because their education provider temporarily cannot deliver their course(s) due to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle (the cyclone).

This includes breaks in tuition starting at any time from 6 March to 1 May 2023 due to subsequent weather events that worsen the impacts of the cyclone.

Breaks in tuition do not need to be consecutive.

A student must remain enrolled in full-time study to receive payments for the period of the break.

Students who cannot get continued payments

Student Allowance payments cannot continue if a student's education provider can deliver their course(s), but the student cannot study because of the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. E.g. they have no internet access because their internet connection was damaged in the cyclone.

In this situation you should consider if the student qualifies for other financial assistance.

You should also advise the student to contact their education provider to discuss any other supports that may be available.