Section 1218 — Social Security Act 1991: Exception—full-time students outside Australia for purposes of Australian course

(1) This section applies if, immediately before the period of absence commenced: (a) the person was undertaking full-time study as part of a course of education at an educational institution; and (b) the person was receiving disability support pension, carer payment, parenting payment, youth allowance or austudy payment. (2) The person’s right to continue to be paid disability support pension, carer payment, parenting payment, youth allowance or austudy payment is not affected merely by the person’s absence throughout so much of the period of absence as is for the purpose of undertaking studies that form part of the course of education. (3) If the person returns to Australia for a period of 6 weeks or less, the return is taken not to affect the continuity of the period of absence. (4) The Secretary may, by legislative instrument, make principles that must be complied with when deciding how much of a period of absence is for the purpose of undertaking studies that form part of a course of education.