The amount of Additional Boarding Allowance you can get depends on parental income and the boarding fees you pay for the child.
In some cases, payment will be made based on how many days the child meets eligibility, or is in your care. We refer to this as getting payment on a pro-rata basis.
We adjust payment rates on 1 January each year in line with increases in the cost of living. This doesn’t apply to the Assistance for Isolated Children Pensioner Education Supplement.
| Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme allowance | Maximum rate for 2024 | Maximum rate for 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding Allowance (Basic and Additional) | $12,816 per year, made up of 2 parts:
| $13,303 per year, made up of 2 parts:
|
| Second Home Allowance | $289.33 per fortnight, per child | $301.13 per fortnight, per child |
| Distance Education Allowance | $4,980 per year | $5,169 per year |
| Assistance for Isolated Children Pensioner Education Supplement | $62.40 per fortnight | $62.40 per fortnight |
Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme payments are not taxable. Except for Additional Boarding Allowance, payments don’t have income and assets tests.
We pay the parent or carer. However, you can choose to have your payments paid to the child’s school or the boarding provider.