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Final 2024 SA-HELP Booklet
Final 2024 SA-HELP Booklet
SA-HELP INFORMATION
If you are eligible and want to use a SA-HELP loan, you must submit your form by the date
payable—you can get more information about this date from your provider.
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.legislation.gov.au. However, there may be differences
between this publication and the Act or guidelines. If there is any inconsistency the Act will
take precedence.
ISSN 1449-9282
© Commonwealth of Australia 2023
The Department of Education supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. All
material produced by the Department constitutes Commonwealth copyright material.
Except where otherwise indicated, and save for the content in this booklet supplied by third parties, the
Department’s logo, the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and any material protected by a trade mark, the
Department has applied the creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
The Department of Education must be attributed as the author of the Department’s copyright material. As far as
practicable, material for which the copyright is owned by a third party will be clearly labelled. The Department has
made all reasonable efforts to ensure that this material has been reproduced in this booklet with the full consent
of the copyright owners.
Copyright requests and enquiries concerning further authorisation should be addressed to:
The Copyright Officer, Department of Education, Location code C10MT1 GPO Box 9880 Canberra ACT 2601 or
emailed to [email protected].
WHO IS THIS BOOKLET FOR?
This booklet is for eligible higher education students who want to use a SA-HELP loan to pay
their student services and amenities fees.
This booklet contains a summary of the key points a person getting a SA-HELP loan needs
to know.
SA-HELP information 1
CONTENTS
GLOSSARY 3
FURTHER CONTACTS 12
Australian Taxation Office 12
Services Australia 12
Department of Home Affairs 13
Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar 13
SA-HELP information 2
GLOSSARY
Approved higher education provider (provider)—In this booklet, this term means a university
or other accredited higher education provider that has been approved by the
Australian Government to offer subsidised Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) and/or
HELP loans to eligible students.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)—The principal revenue collection agency of the Australian
Government. It is responsible for managing HELP debt repayments.
Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)—This is a 10-digit
number provided by the Australian Government, to all students who are in receipt of a CSP or
a HELP loan. If you have accessed Commonwealth assistance between 2005 and 2020 you will
have been assigned a CHESSN. From 2021, the CHESSN was replaced with the Unique
Student Identifier (USI) for new students.
Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)—A notice from your provider issued after the due
date of the student services and amenities fee that provides information about the
Commonwealth assistance you have used for the study period. You will receive your CAN within
28 days of your census date or 28 days of the date on which your SA-HELP debt was incurred,
whichever is later. If you think there are errors on your CAN, you have 14 days from the day after
your CAN was issued to contact your provider and ask for a new, correct one.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)—A place at a provider that is subsidised by the
Australian Government.
Course of study—In this booklet, this term means a course leading to a higher education award,
like a bachelor degree.
Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)—An electronic version of the Request for
a SA-HELP loan form you must submit to your provider to request a SA-HELP loan.
Eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder— a person who is:
• not a current permanent humanitarian visa holder; and
• was previously a permanent humanitarian visa holder; and
• the current holder of a subclass 155 or subclass 157 Resident Return visa (please visit
www.studyassist.gov.au for more information)
Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)—Commonwealth loans to help you pay your student
contributions (HECS-HELP), tuition fees (FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans/
VET FEE-HELP [closed], overseas study expenses (OS-HELP),the student services and
amenities fee (SA-HELP) or accelerator program course fees (STARTUP-HELP). HELP loans
are repaid through the Australian tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment
threshold.
HELP debt—The total of any HECS-HELP, OS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP (closed),
VET Student Loans, SA-HELP or STARTUP-HELP debts you have incurred (including any
Australian Government study loans from before 2005). It will also include any applicable loan
fees and any indexation that has been applied to your debt.
Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act)—The Commonwealth legislation that outlines
the requirements for getting a SA-HELP loan and other Australian Government assistance.
Indexation—This is legislated under the Act and is applied on 1 June each year to the portion of
a HELP debt that is 11 months or older. The rate of indexation changes each year as it is based
on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
SA-HELP information 3
myHELPbalance (www.myHELPbalance.gov.au)—This site allows you to view your available
HELP balance entitlement. You will also be able to see your study history, as well as view any
repayments to the ATO that credit your HELP balance.
New Zealand Special Category Visa (NZ SCV)—If you arrived in Australia using a
New Zealand passport, in the absence of another valid Australian visa, you will have
automatically received a Special Category Visa (SCV) provided you met certain security,
character and health requirements. It is a temporary visa that expires as soon as you leave
Australia, but it remains in place for as long as you remain in Australia.
From 29 June 2023, New Zealand citizens who formerly held a Special Category Visa and have
transitioned to a permanent resident visa on the pathway to Australian citizenship will retain
access to the Higher Education Loan Program, if they meet the residency requirements.
Pacific engagement visa holder (PEV)— a person who holds a Subclass 192
(Pacific Engagement) visa under the Migration Regulations 1994. This is a permanent resident
visa for eligible individuals from participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
Request for a SA-HELP loan form—The official name of the form you must submit to your
provider to apply for a SA-HELP loan. This form is usually completed online, as an eCAF.
SA-HELP—The loan scheme you can use to pay your student services and amenities fee.
Student services and amenities fee (the fee)—This is a type of fee that your provider can
charge you for specific student services and amenities of a non-academic nature.
StudyAssist (www.studyassist.gov.au)—This website provides information about how you can
pay for your tertiary study. It includes information about the types of HELP loans available, a list
of providers that offer HELP loans, and student income support options.
Tax file number (TFN)—Your unique identification number from the Australian Taxation Office
(ATO) for everything tax-related. You need a TFN if you want to get a HELP loan and to make
HELP debt repayments.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)—Your USI is a 10-digit alpha-numeric identifier assigned to you
by the Student Identifiers Registrar under the Student Identifiers Act 2014. Your USI is used to
connect your student loan information to your personal details. You will need a USI and report it
to your provider by the census date to be eligible for SA-HELP. If you do not already have a USI,
you can apply for the USI at the Unique Student Identifier website at www.usi.gov.au.
SA-HELP information 4
STUDENT SERVICES AND AMENITIES FEE
What is SA-HELP?
SA-HELP is a loan you can use to pay your student services and amenities fee.
Your HELP loan must be repaid to the Government once you earn enough income to make
repayments (this is known as the repayment threshold). You should think about how this will
affect you in the long term before you apply, as having a HELP debt may affect access to bank
and home loans. Please read further information under the section Repaying your HELP debt.
SA-HELP information 5
• a NZ SCV holder who meets the long-term residency requirements.
• a permanent visa holder who held a NZ special category visa immediately prior to your
permanent visa and you previously met the long-term residency requirements.
• a pacific engagement visa holder who is resident in Australia (see note)
Note: a pacific engagement visa holder becomes eligible from 1 February 2024.
You must also:
• meet the TFN requirements
• meet the USI requirements
• have read this booklet
• have submitted a valid SA-HELP eCAF to your provider on or before the day on which the fee
is payable.
SA-HELP information 6
How can I check my previous SA-HELP loans?
To access your loan history, including checking how much SA-HELP you have accessed
previously, you will need to log on to the myHELPbalance site at www.myHELPbalance.gov.au.
To see your loan history:
• Get your personal details together first – date of birth; first and last name; your CHESSN (if
you have studied before) or USI (if you’re a new student); and student ID number at your
provider
• Go to www.myHELPbalance.gov.au and log in using your personal details
• You can view your available HELP balance and the HELP limit that applies to you
• Additionally, you can select "export full statement", which generates a detailed statement of
the HELP loans you have accessed, including SA-HELP.
What is my USI?
Your Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a 10-digit alpha-numeric identifier assigned to you and
is unique for each student.
You must have a USI to be eligible for a CSP or HELP loan and you must tell your higher
education provider your USI before the census date for the unit of study.
Without a USI, you will not be able to receive your statement of attainment, qualification, or
award.
Once you have a USI, it will be your primary education identifier (and replace your CHESSN, if
you had one). You will need your USI when you enrol as it connects your student loan
information to your personal details. You can log in to the Student Portal to update your details at
any time.
SA-HELP information 7
APPLYING FOR A SA-HELP LOAN
How do I apply?
To apply for SA-HELP, you must submit a valid SA-HELP eCAF to your provider on or before
their payment due date (this may or may not be the same as the census date of your course).
Your provider will give you instructions on how to do this.
You must give your provider your TFN, name, date of birth and address. Your details must match
the information held with the ATO. If the details in your application do not match ATO records,
you will not be able to access a SA-HELP loan until you correct the error.
The fastest way to apply for a TFN is online using myGovID (www.mygovid.gov.au). If you think
you will not receive your TFN by the census date, you should call the ATO and ask for a
Certificate of Application for a TFN, so that you can give this to your provider. You will not be
able to access a HELP loan by providing the Australia Post receipt from your TFN application
lodgement. Once you receive your TFN, you must give your TFN to your provider within 21 days
or lose your access to HELP.
Your provider will assess whether you meet the eligibility requirements for a SA-HELP
loan. Please contact your provider directly if you require more information about
this process.
You must provide your TFN because your HELP debt is repaid through the Australian
tax system.
SA-HELP information 8
REPAYING YOUR HELP DEBT
For the most up-to-date information on HELP debt repayments, check the ATO’s website at
www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/study-and-training-support-loans/when-must-you-repay-
your-loan.
myGov only shows information from 2014 onwards. If you want information prior to 2014,
call the ATO to request an account information statement.
SA-HELP information 9
Indexation examples
• Erin has $9,000.00 of HELP debt left to repay from studies that she undertook in 2015-17.
On 1 June 2023, the HELP debt was indexed at 7.1% ($9,000 x 7.1% = $639.00).
Erin now owes ($9,000 + $639.00) = $9,639.00
• Juan Carlos started his undergraduate degree in 2022. He has a HELP debt of $15,600.00.
His fees of $4,800.00 from the first semester (census date of 28 March 2022) will be indexed
on 1 June 2023 as they are more than 11 months old ($4,800 x 7.1% = $340.80). The
remaining fees from semester 2, 2022, and semester 1, 2023 will not be indexed on 1 June
2023 as the debts are not yet 11 months old.
Juan Carlos now owes ($15,600.00 + $340.80) = $15,940.80.
• Melinda undertook a three-year undergraduate degree from 2020-22. She hasn’t made any
repayments yet. Her HELP debt was indexed each year as follows:
− 1 June 2020 – no indexation was applied, as no part of the debt was 11 months old yet.
− 1 June 2021 – the part of the debt that was 11 months old (Semester 1, 2020) is indexed
at 0.6%.
− 1 June 2022 – the part of the debt that was 11 months old is indexed at 3.9%.
− 1 June 2023 – the part of the debt that was 11 months old is indexed at 7.1%.
What if I go overseas?
If you go overseas and have a HELP debt, you still need to make repayments as if you were
living in Australia. If you live or plan to move overseas for 183 days or more (about six months)
in any 12-month period, you must complete an Overseas Travel Notification. You must also
update your contact details through ATO online services within seven days of leaving Australia.
SA-HELP information 10
Table 1: Repayment rates for the 2023−24 income year
In addition to your compulsory repayment, you can also make a voluntary repayment at any time.
For more information on voluntary repayments, visit www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-
families/study-and-training-support-loans/voluntary-repayments.
SA-HELP information 11
FURTHER CONTACTS
myHELPbalance www.myHELPbalance.gov.au
You can log into this site to see your study and loan information and keep track of your available
HELP balance.
Services Australia
Services Australia has payments to help support you while you do further tertiary study or
training. These include fortnightly payments like:
• Youth Allowance, if you’re 24 or younger
• Austudy, if you’re 25 or older
• ABSTUDY, a group of payments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student or
apprentices.
There are also extra payments like the Student Start-up Loan, which is a voluntary loan, and the
Tertiary Access Payment, that helps students with the costs of relocating to study.
SA-HELP information 12
You can make a claim for a payment up to 13 weeks before your course or training starts, using
your Centrelink online account linked to myGov.
Services Australia also provides other payments and services, including Medicare.
For more information on the help available for students visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/education.
Keep up to date by following facebook.com/ServicesAustralia or @services.australia on
Instagram.
SA-HELP information 13