SA-HELP

Information for 2015

www.studyassist.gov.au

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOKLET

BEFORE SIGNING THE COMMONWEALTH
ASSISTANCE FORM BELOW.
WHEN YOU SIGN THIS FORM, YOU DECLARE
THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS BOOKLET
AND THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF YOUR
OBLIGATIONS UNDER SA-HELP.

SA-HELP Form

USING THIS BOOKLET

As you read through, you will notice that certain terms are
highlighted in green. These terms are defined in the glossary.
If you have a specific question after reading this booklet,
the contacts list at the end of this booklet will help you.
More information about SA-HELP is available at
www.studyassist.gov.au.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Department of Education

has endeavoured to ensure that the information in this
publication is consistent with the Higher Education
Support Act 2003 (the Act) and guidelines made under
the Act, available at www.comlaw.gov.au. However, there
may be differences between this publication and the Act
or guidelinesif there is any inconsistency the Act will take
precedence.

WHO IS THIS BOOKLET FOR?

This booklet is for eligible higher education students who
are enrolled in a course of study with an approved
higher education institution and wish to use SA-HELP
to pay their student services and amenities fee.
This booklet is a summary of the key points a person
accessing the SA-HELP loan scheme needs to know.
As you read through this booklet, you will notice that
each page has key words highlightedrefer to the
glossary for an explanation of what these words mean.
If, after reading this booklet, you require additional
information about the student services and amenities
fee or SA-HELP, please visit the Study Assist website at
www.studyassist.gov.au.
If you need information about loans for students enrolled
in Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) or fee
paying places, please see the Commonwealth supported
places and HECS-HELP information for 2015 booklet or
the FEE-HELP information for 2015 booklet. You can also
refer to the CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015.
The handbook and all the HELP student information
booklets are available at: www.studyassist.gov.au.
IMPORTANT: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE HIGHER
EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM 1JANUARY2016.
The Australian Government is planning to introduce a
range of reforms to improve our higher education system.
These changes aim to create greater choice for all
students, whatever you choose to study and wherever
you go. It is important that current and future students
understand how these changes will affect them. These
changes are subject to the passage of legislation.
For information on these changes please visit
www.studyassist.gov.au.

SA-HELP information for 2015

CONTENTS
WHO IS THIS BOOKLET FOR?

GLOSSARY 6
1. STUDENT SERVICES AND AMENITIES FEE
8
1.1 What is the student services and amenities fee? 8
1.2 What can institutions spend the fee on?
8
1.3 How much is the fee?
8
1.4 When will I have to pay the fee?
9
1.5 What if I enrol at multiple institutions?
9
2. THE SA-HELP SCHEME
2.1 What is SA-HELP?
2.2 Am I eligible for SA-HELP?
2.3 How much can I borrow?
2.4 Will I be charged interest?
2.5 Is there a loan application fee?
2.6 If I withdraw after the date on which
the fee is payable, will I still have a
SA-HELP debt?
2.7 What if I am undertaking
cross-institutional study?

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10
10
11
11
12

3. APPLYING FOR A SA-HELP LOAN

3.1 How do I apply for SA-HELP?
3.2 Do I need to re-apply for SA-HELP each year?
3.3 When is the last day to access a
SA-HELP loan?

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13
14

12
12

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4. KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR SA-HELP LOAN

15
4.1 Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) 15
4.2 Your Commonwealth Higher Education
Student Support Number (CHESSN)
and myUniAssist
15
4.3 Your HELP account information statement
16
4.4 How can I get my SA-HELP debt removed? 16

www.studyassist.gov.au

5. REPAYING YOUR HELP DEBT

5.1 When do I start paying back the loan?
5.2 How much will my repayments be?
5.3 Can I make a voluntary repayment?
5.4 Are repayments tax deductible?

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17
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CONTACTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

20
Your institution
20
Study Assist website
20
The CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015 20
Department of Education
21
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
21
Department of Human Services (DHS)
22
Department of Immigration and Border Protection 22

SA-HELP information for 2015

GLOSSARY
Accumulated HELP debt The consolidated total of
any SA-HELP, HECS-HELP, OS-HELP, FEE-HELP and
VET FEE-HELP debts you have incurred (including any
Australian Government study loans incurred before
2005).
Approved institution (institution) In this booklet, this
term means a university or other accredited higher
education institution approved to offer SA-HELP loans to
eligible students.
ATO Australian Taxation Office.
CAN (Commonwealth Assistance Notice) A notice
from your institution detailing information about the
Commonwealth assistance you have used for the study
period.
Course of study In this booklet, this term means a
course leading to a higher education award, an enabling
course or a bridging course for overseas-trained
professionals.
CSP Commonwealth supported place.
CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015 A comprehensive
handbook that contains information about CSPs and
the various HELP loans available to assist eligible tertiary
students with paying for their study.
HELP (Higher Education Loan Programme)
A suite of loans offered by the Australian Government
that assists eligible students to pay their student services
and amenities fee (SA-HELP), student contributions
(HECS-HELP), overseas study expenses (OS-HELP)
or tuition fees (FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP). All HELP
loans are repaid through the Australian tax system.
Higher Education Support Act 2003
The Commonwealth legislation that specifies the
requirements to access a HELP loan and to access a CSP.

www.studyassist.gov.au

Request for SA-HELP assistance The form you must

submit to your institution to apply for a SA-HELP loan.
SA-HELP An Australian Government loan scheme that
assists eligible higher education students to pay their
student services and amenities fee.
Student services and amenities fee A fee that
institutions can charge enrolled students for specific
student services and amenities of a non-academic nature.
Study Assist (www.studyassist.gov.au) A website
providing information about options for financing tertiary
study, including HELP loans, institutions and courses,
and student income support options.
TFN (tax file number) Your unique identification number
issued by the ATO for everything tax-related, including
making repayments on your HELP debt. TFNs have nine
digits (e.g. 123 456 789).

SA-HELP information for 2015

1. STUDENT SERVICES AND

AMENITIES FEE
More information about the student services and
amenities fee is available from the CSP and HELP
Handbook for 2015 at www.studyassist.gov.au.

1.1 What is the student services and

amenities fee?
The student services and amenities fee is a fee that
approved higher education institutions (institutions)
can charge their students for specific student services
and amenities of a non-academic nature.

1.2 What can institutions spend the fee on?

Institutions can only spend the fee on permitted services
and amenities such as sporting and recreational activities,
employment and career advice, child care, financial
advice and food services.
They cannot spend the fee to support:
a political party, or
the election of a person to a Commonwealth, state or
territory, or local government body.
In addition, institutions must not require you to become a
member of a student organisation.
The Guidelines made under the Higher Education
Support Act 2003 have an important requirement for
institutions to consult students and student groups about
the student services and amenities fee and its uses.

1.3 How much is the fee?

The maximum student services and amenities fee that
can be charged to a full-time student in 2015 is $286.
However, institutions can choose to charge different
groups, like undergraduate and postgraduate students,
different fee amounts.

www.studyassist.gov.au

If you are a student undertaking less than 75 per cent of

the normal full-time study load, you cannot be charged
more than 75 per cent of the amount your institution is
charging to its full-time students.
If your institution has multiple fees and you are subject
to more than one fee, you cannot be charged more than
$286 for the calendar year at that particular institution.
You should contact your institution directly to find out
which fee(s) will apply to you.
Institutions determine the level of the fee, up to the
maximum, that they will charge.

1.4 When will I have to pay the fee?

You should pay the fee or submit your Request for
SA-HELP assistance form by the date advised by
your institution. If you do not organise payment of the
fee by your institutions deadline, your enrolment may
be affected.

1.5 What if I enrol at multiple institutions?

If you are enrolled at multiple institutions, or you have
transferred your study to another institution, you may be
required to pay another fee. The Guidelines made under
the Higher Education Support Act 2003 do not prevent
institutions from charging each student enrolled with
them the student services and amenities fee, regardless
of whether that particular student has already incurred a
fee at a different institution for the same study period.

SA-HELP information for 2015

2. THE SA-HELP SCHEME

More information about SA-HELP, including the eligibility
requirements, is available from the CSPandHELP
Handbookfor2015 at www.studyassist.gov.au.

2.1 What is SA-HELP?

SA-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible higher
education students to pay their student services and
amenities fee. Eligible students can choose to use
SA-HELP to defer all or part of their fee for the relevant
year/study period.

2.2 Am I eligible for SA-HELP?

To be eligible for SA-HELP, you must be enrolled
in a higher education course of study with an
institution and be either:
an Australian citizen
OR
a permanent humanitarian visa holder who is resident in
Australia for the duration of your unit.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL

CATEGORY VISA (SCV) HOLDERS
The Australian Government has proposed changes to the
eligibility criteria for HELP from 1 January 2015, subject
to the passage of legislation. The changes will allow
eligible New Zealand SCV holders to access HELP loans.
For more information about this proposed change, visit
www.studyassist.gov.au.

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www.studyassist.gov.au

Need to check your visa subclass?

The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system
is a free, online service that allows visa holders and
registered Australian organisations, such as institutions,
to check the details and entitlements of a visa. To access
the VEVO service, please visit www.immi.gov.au/vevo.
If you are not eligible for SA-HELP, you will need to
confirm upfront payment dates and arrangements with
your institution directly. If you cannot afford to pay the
entire fee upfront, you should contact your institution as
some may offer their own payment options or plans.

2.3 How much can I borrow?

There is no financial limit on the amount of SA-HELP an
eligible student may accessit is the student services
and amenities fee which is capped by a maximum
amount that institutions can charge to students.
Eligible students may access a SA-HELP loan for all or
part of the student services and amenities fee being
charged to them.

2.4 Will I be charged interest?

Your debt will be indexed. HELP debts are indexed
annually in accordance with the Higher Education
Support Act 2003. In 2015, the Act provides for
indexation, which is currently based on changes in the
Consumer Price Index. Indexation rates are published on
the ATO website, visit www.ato.gov.au.
NOTE: As part of the 2014-15 Budget, the Government
proposed changes to the way HELP debts are indexed.
From 1 June 2016 all HELP debts will be indexed by
the Treasury 10 year bond rate (to a maximum of
6.0 per cent per annum). This change is subject to
the passage of legislation. For more information about
this proposed change, visit www.studyassist.gov.au.

SA-HELP information for 2015

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2.5 Is there a loan application fee?

No. There is no loan or application fee for accessing
SA-HELP.

2.6 If I withdraw after the date on which

the fee is payable, will I still have a
SA-HELP debt?
Yes. Your institution is not able to remove your SA-HELP
debt once it has been incurred.
Contact your institution directly for more information
about whether it has a refund policy in place.

2.7 What if I am undertaking

cross-institutional study?
If you are undertaking cross-institutional study, you may
be charged the student services and amenities fee by
both institutions. As SA-HELP is linked to your course
of study, you can only access SA-HELP at the institution
where you are enrolled in your actual course of study
(i.e. your home institution).

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3. APPLYING FOR A SA-HELP

LOAN
More information about applying for SA-HELP is
available from the CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015
at www.studyassist.gov.au.

3.1 How do I apply for SA-HELP?

To apply for SA-HELP, you will need to submit a
valid Request for SA-HELP assistance form (the form)
to your institution by the date payable, as advised by
your institution. Many institutions will allow you to
submit a specific electronic version of the form online.
Check with the student administration/enrolments office
at your institution if you are unsure about whether to
submit a paper or electronic form.
If you want to use a SA-HELP loan to pay your student
services and amenities fee, you must submit your
valid TFN, even if you do not have a job. This is because
repayments on your HELP debt are made through the
Australian taxation system. If you do not provide your
own TFN or you provide an incorrect one, your form will
not be valid and you will not be able to use a SA-HELP
loan for that year/study period (depending upon how
your institution charges the fee).
If you do not have a TFN, you will need to apply to the
ATO for one. When you do so, the ATO will, on request,
supply you with a Certificate of application for a TFN.
Even before you receive your TFN from the ATO, you can
attach your certificate to your form. You must advise your
institution of your TFN within 21 days of receiving it.
You must keep your TFN secure. Do not provide your
TFN if you are only enquiring about a course. Your TFN
should only be provided on the actual form (either paper
or electronic), in order to pay your specific student
services and amenities fee.

SA-HELP information for 2015

13

3.2 Do I need to re-apply for SA-HELP

each year?
Access to SA-HELP is based on a course of study.
You will only need to apply once, per course of study,
at each institution that you are enrolled at (i.e. if you are
enrolled in multiple courses of study). If you change your
course of study or transfer to a different institution, you
will need to submit a new form.

3.3 When is the last day to access a

SA-HELP loan?
Each institution sets its own deadline for payment of the
fee, so you will need to check with your institution to
make sure you do not miss the deadline. If you miss the
deadline, you will not be entitled to a SA-HELP loan.

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4. KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR

SA-HELP LOAN
More information about keeping track of your SA-HELP
loan is available from the CSP and HELP Handbook for
2015 at www.studyassist.gov.au.

4.1 Your Commonwealth Assistance

Notice (CAN)
Your institution will send you a CAN within 28 days of the
date the student services and amenities fee must be
paid. Your CAN will tell you the amount of the fee being
charged to you and the SA-HELP debt you have incurred
for that study period.
Check your CAN carefully to make sure that the services
and amenities fee/s being charged to you are the same
as those published on your institutions website.
If you believe that the information on your CAN is incorrect,
you have 14 days to submit a written request for correction
to your institution (some institutions allow for a longer
correction period).

4.2 Your Commonwealth Higher Education

Student Support Number (CHESSN)
and myUniAssist
You will be allocated a CHESSN when you first apply for
admission to your institution or Tertiary Admissions Centre.
The CHESSN is a unique identification number that
remains with you during and after your studies. It helps
you, your institution, and the Australian Government keep
up to date with information about the Commonwealth
assistance for tertiary study that you have used. Your
CHESSN will also be printed on your CAN. You can use
your CHESSN and other personal identifying details to
access myUniAssist at www.studyassist.gov.au.
myUniAssist provides information on how much
Commonwealth assistance you have received (but it
will not display information related to study undertaken
before 2005).
SA-HELP information for 2015

15

As SA-HELP does not have a limit on the amount you

can use (it is only limited by the maximum student
services and amenities fee that can be charged for
the year), myUniAssist will not record this information.
However, as there are limits on the amount of OS-HELP,
FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP a person can use, it will
record this information.
myUniAssist is updated with details about your HELP
usage as reported by your institution four times a year.
Given the time delay in reporting data, you may need to
add any units you have recently enrolled in/ are currently
enrolled in to the information shown on myUniAssist to
determine your actual entitlements.
myUniAssist will not provide information about the
current amount of your HELP debt as repayments are
made to the ATO and myUniAssist is not updated with
this information.

4.3 Your HELP account information

statement
The ATO no longer automatically send HELP account
information statements. You can obtain account
information, such as the balance of your account or
your payment reference number (PRN) by:
logging onto your secure ATO online account,
through myGov
phoning the ATO at any time during the year.
Be sure to have your TFN handy when you call.
The ATO will ask you for it, for security purposes
before they disclose any personal information to you.

4.4 How can I get my SA-HELP debt

removed?
It is not possible to remove your SA-HELP debt once it
is incurred. You should contact your institution for more
information about whether it has a refund policy in place
for the student services and amenities fee.

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www.studyassist.gov.au

5. REPAYING YOUR HELP DEBT

More information about HELP repayments, including
how the ATO calculates your compulsory repayment is
available from the CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015
at www.studyassist.gov.au.
NOTE: As part of the 201415 Budget, the Government
proposed changes to the repayment of HELP
loans including the introduction of a new minimum
repayment threshold and repayment rate and changes
to the indexation of HELP debts. These changes will
commence in 2016 and are subject to the passage of
legislation. For more information about these proposed
changes and how they will affect you, please visit
www.studyassist.gov.au.

5.1 When do I start paying back the loan?

Your SA-HELP debt becomes part of your accumulated
HELP debt. The minimum repayment threshold for
compulsory repayment is adjusted each year. In the
201415 income year, you will be required to make
a compulsory repayment if your income is $53,345
or above. Repayments made through the Australian
taxation system are called compulsory repayments
and continue until you have repaid your whole debt.

5.2 How much will my repayments be?

The amount you repay each year is calculated as a
percentage of your repayment income. The repayment
percentage increases as your income increases, but
is capped at 8 per cent of your income. The ATO will
calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and
include it on your income tax notice of assessment.

SA-HELP information for 2015

17

Table 1: Repayment rates for the 201415 income year

Repayment income

Below $53,345

Repayment % rate

Nil

$53,345 - $59,421

4.0%

$59,422 - $65,497

4.5%

$65,498 - $68,939

5.0%

$68,940 - $74,105

5.5%

$74,106 - $80,257

6.0%

$80,258 - $84,481

6.5%

$84,482 - $92,970

7.0%

$92,971 - $99,069

7.5%

$99,070 and above

8.0%

5.3 Can I make a voluntary repayment?

There are several ways you can make a voluntary
repayment, including via BPAY and credit card.
For more information on making a payment, go to
www.ato.gov.au/howtopay.
NOTE: The Australian Government has announced
proposed changes to the voluntary repayment
arrangements (to be in effect from 1 January 2015).
The changes are subject to the passage of legislation
and until the relevant legislation is passed, the current
arrangements apply.

Current arrangements
Voluntary repayments of $500 or more receive a
5 per cent bonus. This means your account will be
credited with an additional 5 per cent of the value of
your repayment, not 5 per cent of your outstanding debt.
For example, if you make a voluntary repayment of $500,
the bonus increases the value of your repayment so your
account will be credited with $525.

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www.studyassist.gov.au

Proposed arrangements
If the proposed changes are approved, voluntary
repayments would no longer be eligible to receive a
bonus. For example, if you made a voluntary repayment
of $500, your account would be credited with $500.

5.4 Are repayments tax deductible?

Compulsory repayments are not tax deductible.
Voluntary repayments made by you or someone other
than your employer are not tax deductible.
Your employer may be able to claim a tax deduction for
voluntary repayments it makes on your behalf, but it may
also be liable for fringe benefits tax on the repayments.
For more information, contact the ATO.

SA-HELP information for 2015

19

CONTACTS AND ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION
Your institution
The student administration/enrolments office at your
institution will be able to help you with:
the amount of your student services and
amenities fee
the date payable of your fee
the eligibility criteria for SA-HELP
applying for SA-HELP.

Study Assist website

(www.studyassist.gov.au)
This website provides information about options for
financing tertiary study, including:
HELP loans available in both the higher education and
vocational education and training sectors
courses and institutions that offer Australian
Government assistance
student income support and Australian Scholarships
and Awards.

The CSP and HELP Handbook for 2015

If you are seeking more information about the student
services and amenities fee, SA-HELP or about HELP loans
in general, this handbook provides detailed information.
It is available from the Publications page in the Helpful
Resources section at www.studyassist.gov.au.

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www.studyassist.gov.au

Department of Education
The department can help you with
information about:
SA-HELP
other loans available under the HELP scheme
other forms of Australian Government assistance.

Contact details:
visit www.studyassist.gov.au (you can submit an
online query from this website too)
call the student enquiry line on 1800 020 108
(+ 61 3 9938 2545 from outside Australia)
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech
impairment, contact us through the National
Relay Service. For more information visit
www.relayservice.gov.au.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

The ATO can help you with:
your accumulated HELP debt
compulsory repayments
voluntary repayments.

Contact details:
visit www.ato.gov.au to get the booklet Repaying
your student debt in 20142015
call 13 28 61 for information about your HELP
account and personal tax topics
call 13 36 77 TTY or 1300 555 727 TTY for hearing
or speech impaired students
write to: Australian Taxation Office PO BOX 1032,
ALBURY NSW 2640.
NOTE: Do not send voluntary repayments to this address.

SA-HELP information for 2015

21

Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS can help you with:
Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY and other
forms of student income support assistance.

Contact details:
visit www.humanservices.gov.au
call Youth and Student Services on 13 24 90 for
information on Youth Allowance and Austudy
Freecall 1800 132 317 for information on ABSTUDY
Freecall 1800 810 586 for TTY* enquiries
call 13 12 02 for information in languages other
than English.
*TTY is only for people who are deaf or who have a
hearing or speech impediment. A TTY phone is required
to use this service.

Department of Immigration and

Border Protection
The department can help you with:
visas and Australian citizenship.

Contact details:
visit www.immi.gov.au for visa information
visit www.citizenship.gov.au for citizenship
information
call 13 18 81 for visa enquiries
call 13 18 80 for citizenship enquiries.

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ISSN 1449-9282
Commonwealth of Australia 2014

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