DSP and study

[em]

Hello,

I got on dsp last year under the exertion table. Since then have also ended up with severe mental health problems which I had to be hospitalised for. I now have a lot more support, for physical and mental health and I would like to try and attempt full time study next year. Problem is I don’t know if I can mange physically, or mentally (technically I am supposed to be trying to rest my brain on drs advice)  but don’t want to go to uni if I can’t do full time as it’s not worth investing the amount of years into it. So with this in mind does anyone know if it will affect my DSP to attempt to study full time? I am too scared to risk asking Centrelink incase it triggers a review. The amount of stress I went through over the years to get dsp did me in and I’m not in a good place mentally to cope if they did one. 

[tasjo]

Em - I'm in a similar position and honestly, my personal advice would be to initially enrol part time and increase from there. Maybe speak to the university/tafe as well and see if they have disability support?

It's a whole lot easier to go up once you are enrolled and coping with study (even if you only wait a semester) than to enrol in full time and not cope x

In terms of centrelink reviews I don't think anyone has ever really figured out what triggers them DSP allows you to study up to 30hrs a week as far as I know.

[em]

Thanks Tasso good advice. Do you know if that 30 hrs includes off campus study time? units are generally expecting 12 hours study per week so even 3 units a set would push you over the limit.

[tasjo]

Em - from memory (post graduate level back in 2007, so dredging a bit lol) 'full time' is classed as 4 units by most universities. I do believe it can vary though (I will check with someone I know who is a current graduate student).

If it was me I would start with 2 units - it keeps you under 15 hrs (good for minimising stress, but gives you some variety) and you can always add another. Pace it, if it's a degree or higher, the addition of 1 semester in comparison to compromising your health (mental or physical) is not major x

[dswau]

I've done a fair bit of study while on DSP. Most of the answers to your questions are answered on the Pensioner Education Supplement web page:

www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/pensioner-education-supplement/who-can-get-it

Note that part time study is 25% of full time study load, so it could be as low as one unit if you want to test the waters a bit.

Note that it needs to be an approved course - so check up on that.

My experience with PES is that it is dealt with by a different section of Centrelink and simply sits on top of your DSP.

I was studying part time while also working part time and no issues were raised.