Higher Education Savings Announcement:
Subject to the passage of legislation, from 1 January 2014, new higher education students in receipt of Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY will be ineligible for the Student Start-up Scholarship (SSS).
Instead, these students will be eligible for equivalent Income Contingent Loans, totalling up to $2,050 per year, to help them pay for up-front costs of study. There will be no interest on these loans, however debts will be indexed by changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Where a student has a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt and takes out an Income Contingent Loan to assist them with the up-front costs of study, repayment will be delayed until after recipients’ HELP debt is completely paid.
Those students who have received a SSS prior to January 2014 will continue to be eligible to receive the SSS while in receipt of student payments.
These changes are subject amendments being made to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and are proposed to take effect from 1 January 2014.
If you are confused about these changes or would like more information, please make an appointment with a Welfare and Student Liaison Officer on the campus of your choice.
