Last amended: 19 May 2011
The education entry payment [2] (EdEP) is a DVA payment to assist eligible pensioners with the cost of enrolling in a course of study in order to develop their skills, obtain a qualification and improve their employment prospects. EdEP can be paid to some DVA clients who receive payments under the VEA and also qualify for the Centrelink pensioner education supplement.
VEA → [3]
To be eligible to receive EdEP, a person must be receiving:
The other requirements for EdEP eligibility are that the person must:
Subsection 1061PJ(3) of the Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) outlines those VEA pensions which entitle a person to receive a payment of PES.
More → [8]
The following DVA clients are qualified to receive the Centrelink pensioner education supplement:
Centrelink assesses each individual's circumstances and may require that additional criteria be met. For example, where a person receives income support supplement, Centrelink may also require that the person has a substantial disability or be receiving ISS on the basis of invalidity in order to be eligible for PES.
Other PES qualifying criteria that must be met are that the person must:
Note: Qualifying study may be either full time or a concessional load, depending on the person's circumstances and the qualifying payment that they receive
More → [12]
Specific DVA clients who have eligibility under the VEA are also eligible for EdEP payments from DVA.
ABSTUDY PES is not a qualifying payment which attracts EdEP. ABSTUDY PES recipients may be able to qualify for EdEP (and the Training and Learning Bonus) if they swap to a standard 'social security' PES payment, but there may be some disadvantages in doing so. If an ABSTUDY recipient is considering swapping PES payments, it may be in their best interests to seek advice from Centrelink about the implications of doing so.
VEA → [13]
No official claim form is required. However claims for EdEP must be in writing and must be accompanied by the original PES notice or statement confirming PES eligibility.
In processing claims for EdEP, the claimant will need to provide proof of PES eligibility. Evidence of fees paid, either the receipt, or a copy of the receipt, should also be sighted if possible.
If evidence suggests that a claimant may also have claimed EdEP from Centrelink, then liaison with Centrelink is necessary.
Only one payment of EdEP is made in each calendar year. The payment is available to both new and existing students and is taxable.
VEA → [14]
If a person has been paid an EdEP, but is subsequently not enrolled in the approved course, the person must repay the amount of the payment back to the Commonwealth.
From 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2010, a temporary supplement of $950 was payable if a person qualifies for EdEP. The supplement is a Training and Learning Bonus prescribed under social security law and is administered by Centrelink. A separate claim is not required.
More → [15]
The Veterans' Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme is a voluntary scheme under the VEA that assists willing veterans, with or without a disability, to find suitable employment. Where assessed as necessary, suitable retraining may be provided which could include assistance with further study.
More → [16]
Other former members may be eligible for assistance with educational retraining as part of a vocational rehabilitation program under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
Education Entry Payment
Guide to Social Security Law: 3.8.3.10 Qualification for PES
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.10.html [27]
Payments attracting pensioner education supplement
Social Security Act 1991 – Section 1061PJ
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011C00098/Html/Volume_2 [29]
Qualification for PES
Guide to Social Security Law 3.8.10 Qualification for PES
http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.10.html [31]
Qualification for PES
Guide to Social Security Law 3.8.3.10 Qualification for PES
http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.10.html [31]
Qualifying study for PES
Guide to Social Security Law 3.8.3.20 Qualifying study for tertiary students
http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.20.html [34]
Education Entry Payment (EdEP) is a payment to assist eligible pensioners with the costs of enrolling in a course of study in order to develop their skills, obtain a qualification and improve their employment prospects. It is paid once a year in accordance with section 118AAC of VEA [43].
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.
Currently, the pension age for a veteran is 60 years of age (VEA 5QA).
The pension age for a non-veteran is determined by the table below:
Date of birth (both dates inclusive) | Age Pension age |
1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months |
1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years |
1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months |
On or after 1 January 1957 | 67 years |
Centrelink is a Government service delivery agency responsible for delivering a range of Commonwealth Government services (including social security pensions and allowances) to the Australian community through a network of more than 400 Centrelink offices.
PES is a fortnightly Centrelink payment, which provides assistance with ongoing study costs in respect of approved courses of study.
Approved courses of study are wide-ranging and extend to secondary education, TAFE courses, preparatory courses for entry to tertiary education and Bachelor and higher degrees through universities and colleges.
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16294%23comment-form
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/%23
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn60
[4] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn61
[5] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn62
[6] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn63
[7] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn64
[8] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn65
[9] clik://LEGIS/VEA/Part IV
[10] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn66
[11] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn67
[12] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn68
[13] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn69
[14] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn70
[15] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn71
[16] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#tgt-cspol_part5_ftn72
[17] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-11-administration-payments/116-taxation
[18] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-11-administration-payments/114-portability
[19] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 118AA
[20] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn60
[21] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-3-income-support-eligibility/31-service-pension-eligibility/313-invalidity-service-pension
[22] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn61
[23] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-3-income-support-eligibility/31-service-pension-eligibility/314-partner-service-pension
[24] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn62
[25] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-3-income-support-eligibility/32-income-support-supplement-iss-eligibility
[26] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn63
[27] http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.10.html
[28] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn64
[29] http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011C00098/Html/Volume_2
[30] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn65
[31] http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.10.html
[32] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn66
[33] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn67
[34] http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/ssguide-3.8/ssguide-3.8.3/ssguide-3.8.3.20.html
[35] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn68
[36] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 118AAB
[37] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn69
[38] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 118AAD
[39] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn70
[40] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn71
[41] https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-3-income-support-eligibility/36-permanent-incapacity/364-assessment-invalidity-service-pensioners-participating-veterans-vocational-rehabilitation-scheme-vvrs
[42] https://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16294#ref-cspol_part5_ftn72
[43] http://clik.dva.gov.au/legislation-library