ABSTUDY and DAFF Income Support Payments Reduced to Nil Rate (DFISA ceased 2022)

DFISA was removed 1 January 2022.  This is for historical reference only.

DFISA-like payment regulations

The Veterans' Entitlements (DFISA-like Payment) Regulations 2005 provided that if a person's rate of ABSTUDY living allowance or DAFF income support payment was nil but they received DFISA-like in respect of that payment:    

• they were entitled to any benefits associated with the ABSTUDY living allowance or DAFF income support payment, and
• the person was subject to all of the obligations applicable to recipients of that payment, such as the obligation to notify Centrelink of changes to income.

The provision did not apply to people who had elected not to receive DFISA-like payments.

Please note that since 2014, the Department of Agriculture's Farm Household Allowance (FHA) paid by DHS did not include Adjusted Disability Pension in the FHA income test and thus there was no DFISA-like payment.    

Impact on recipient obligations

A person whose rate of ABSTUDY or DAFF income support payment was nil but who received a rate of DFISA-like in respect of that payment was subject to the obligations applicable to their income support payment.

Entitlement to concessions and benefits

A person whose rate of ABSTUDY or DAFF income support payment was nil but who received a rate of DFISA-like in respect of that payment was also entitled to all additional benefits available to the recipient of that income support payment. These additional benefits included:

• concession cards available to recipients of the ABSTUDY living allowance,
• re-establishment grants for certain DAFF clients, and
• grants under the Training and Advice Scheme for recipients of DAFF.

The department that administers the primary payment administered these benefits.