Single Mother Financial Support Links
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Study & Training Benefits & Allowances
 | Centrelink – Austudy Austudy provides financial help if you are aged 25 years or more and studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship full-time. You may be eligible for Austudy if you are aged 25 or over and are: studying an approved full-time course at an approved institution, or Full-time secondary education courses, graduate courses, undergraduate courses, and some Masters, diplomas, and TAFE courses are approved for Austudy See also the Austudy Brochure |
| Centrelink – Abstudy If you are an Indigenous secondary or tertiary student or a full-time Australian Apprentice, ABSTUDY is an allowance that may help you stay at school or in further study. Depending on your situation, you might also be eligible for extra payments to help with the costs of studying You may be eligible for ABSTUDY if you are of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and you are accepted as such in the community you live or have lived in. You must be an Australian citizen and also be: aged 14 years or more on 1 January and studying at primary school, or See also the Abstudy Brochure |
| Centrelink – Youth Allowance Youth Allowance can assist you if you are a young person who is studying, undertaking training or an Australian Apprenticeship, looking for work, or sick. You may be eligible for Youth Allowance if you are: 16–20 years old and looking for full-time work or undertaking a combination of approved activities, or have a temporary exemption from the participation and activity test requirements. If you do not have a Year 12 certificate or an equivalent qualification (Certificate level II or above) you will generally be expected to undertake study or training to meet the activity test. You may also be eligible for Youth Allowance in some circumstances if you are 15 years old, and you are: considered independent, and See also the Youth Allowance Brochure |
 | Federal Government – FEE-HELP – Loan scheme FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible fee-paying students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. You can borrow up to the amount of the tuition fee being charged by your provider for your unit of study. However, over your lifetime you can borrow only up to the FEE-HELP limit. This amount is indexed each year. You can pay tuition fees for a subject or unit which is:
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| Centrelink – Parenting Payment (also known as Single Parent Benefit, Single Mothers Pension) Parenting Payment is to help with the costs of caring for children. It is paid to the person who is the main carer of a child. If you are granted Parenting Payment (single) you will have compulsory part-time participation requirements from the time your youngest child turns 6 years of age. When your youngest child turns 8, you will be moved onto the Newstart Payment Centrelink article – Parenting Payment – Alice’s Story http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Newstart Allowance You will be moved to this allowance from the Parenting Payment when your youngest child turns 8. To keep getting Newstart Allowance, you need to participate in activities designed to increase your chances of finding work. This is called meeting ‘activity test’ requirements. They could mean applying for jobs, doing a course, or working part-time. You may be able to receive a short-term exemption from the Activity Test in special circumstances http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Students Start-up Scholarship If you are a full-time student undertaking a qualifying course and are receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY Living Allowance, you will receive the Student Start-up Scholarship. You’ll receive this scholarship at the beginning of each semester to help with the up-front costs of studying, such as textbooks and specialised equipment. You’ll receive the full amount of the Start-up Scholarship, even if you’re not on the maximum payment rate from Centrelink. In 2010, the Student Start-up Scholarship will be $650 for each 6 months of eligible study. This amount will then increase to $1,064 for each 6 months of eligible study in 2011 and will be indexed each year. To be eligible for this payment you must be: studying full-time in an approved scholarship course you also receive, or qualify for, a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship or a Student Start-up Scholarship paid by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs 1 January to 30 June, and You can read more about the Students Start-up Scholarship at http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Relocation Scholarship The new Relocation Scholarship will be paid to eligible dependent Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) customers to help with the costs of living away from home to study. To qualify for this payment, you must: be studying full-time in an approved scholarship course, and you also receive, or qualify for, a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship or a Relocation Scholarship paid by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs A student is deemed to be in the 1st year of eligibility: in the 1st year of the approved scholarship course, or Approved scholarship course Scholarship independence criteria unable to live at home You can read more about the Relocation Scholarship at http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Education Entry Education Entry Payment helps you to pay the costs of returning to study. You do not need to make a claim for Education Entry Payment. Once you provide us with your proof of enrolment in an approved course of study, we will automatically assess your eligibility for Education Entry Payment. You may be eligible for Education Entry Payment if you are receiving Newstart Allowance or Parenting Payment (single), Carer Payment if you are eligible to receive the Pensioner Education Supplement… http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Pensioner Education Supplement The Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) helps you with the costs of full-time or part-time study. You may be eligible for Pensioner Education Supplement or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement if you are receiving Parenting Payment (single) from Centrelink http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Training Supplement The Training Supplement of $41.60 per fortnight is payable to eligible Newstart Allowance jobseekers and Parenting Payment Single customers with compulsory participation requirements who commence approved courses between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2011 Read more details at http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Telephone Allowance Telephone Allowance helps with the costs of a telephone and home internet service. When you claim a Centrelink payment your eligibility for Telephone Allowance is assessed at the same time. If you already receive a qualifying Centrelink payment and you later become a telephone or home internet subscriber, you can test your eligibility for Telephone Allowance by calling Centrelink on your usual payment number or visiting your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre. You may be eligible for basic rate Telephone Allowance if you are receiving Parenting Payment (single), or Newstart Allowance and are a single principal carer of a dependent child… http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Rent Assistance Rent Assistance gives you extra help if you rent privately. Rent Assistance gives extra help to you if you receive more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A, and pay a minimum amount of rent to private landlords. You do not need to lodge a separate claim for Rent Assistance. Centrelink will assess your eligibility when you make a claim for another payment. You will need to give Centrelink proof that you pay rent, and complete a Rent Certificate http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Child Care Benefit Child Care Benefit helps you with the cost of child care for long day care, family day care, occasional care, outside school hours care, vacation care and registered care http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Child Care Rebate Child Care Rebate assists parents or guardians with your out-of-pocket expenses for approved child care if you are working, training or studying http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
| Centrelink – Jobs, Education and Training Child Care Fee Assistance (JETCCFA) Jobs, Education and Training (JET)Child Care provides extra help with the cost of approved child care for eligible parents undertaking activities such as job search, work, study or rehabilitation as part of an Employment Pathway Plan, to help them enter or re-enter the workforce. JET Child Care can help meet the cost of child care by paying most of the “gap fee” not covered by Child Care Benefit for the hours of care you need to do approved activities http://www.centrelink.gov.au |
 | MyFuture.com.au Career Information Service – Financial Support Index Looking for a scholarship, grant or allowance? Find the facts about schemes and programs designed to help you financially while you study, look for work or start a business Go to the MyFuture.com.au website to learn more… |
| MyFuture.com.au Career Information Service – Awards and Scholarships Search Comprehensive search site for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards and Scholarships. Search by Alphabetically, Region, Organisation, Subject Go to the MyFuture.com.au website to learn more… |
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