How to claim

You need to claim in writing for the allowance. You can claim either before or after you pay for your thesis costs.

Steps to claim ABSTUDY Thesis Allowance

1.  

   1. Get your documents ready to claim

   There are things you’ll need to provide to claim the allowance.

   If you’re claiming in advance

   If you’re claiming in advance, you’ll need to send us the details of the costs in writing. We’ll pay up to the limit depending on whether if you're studying a masters or doctorate course.

   If you’ve already paid the costs

   If you’ve paid for the costs yourself, send us the original receipts and we’ll pay you back. We’ll pay up to the limit depending on whether you’re studying a masters or a doctorate course.

2.  

   2. Make your claim

   You need to claim while you’re either:

   1. still getting ABSTUDY Living Allowance at the masters and doctorate rate or ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement
   2. within 2 years of when you last got one of those payments for your masters or doctorate course.

   You can submit your claim in 1 of the following ways:

   • online by uploading your documents online
   • online by post to:
     Services Australia
     Student Services
     Reply Paid 7804
     Canberra BC ACT 2610
   • in person at a service centre.

   If we need more details we’ll contact you.

   If we approve your claim, we’ll either:

   • pay you in advance if you’ve submitted your quotes
   • reimburse you.

   We’ll send you a letter to confirm you’ve been paid.

   If we don’t approve your claim, we’ll send you a letter to let you know.

   You can ask us to review our decision if you think we’ve made a mistake.

   You can give your education provider or another person permission to ask us about your ABSTUDY on your behalf. This can make arranging payments easier.

   If you need help, call the ABSTUDY line.