Changes to accommodation support for sole parents

From July 2015, the rates of Accommodation Benefit for sole parents who are receiving a Student Allowance will be aligned with the rates of Accommodation Supplement available on a benefit (currently the maximum amount of support for accommodation on a benefit is up to $165 a week more than in the student support system).

This will mean that sole parents who are studying full-time, and receiving a Student Allowance, will receive the same amount of accommodation support as they would on a benefit.

Additionally, from late 2015, sole parent students will no longer have their child support arrangements disrupted if they access a benefit in the summer break, and will be able to keep any child support they receive over this period instead of it being offset against their benefit.

From late 2016, the stand-down when moving from Student Allowance to a benefit during a break in study will be removed for sole parents. This will mean sole parent students will no longer need to apply for a Student Allowance Transfer Grant.