Pensioner Education Supplement: What It Is & How You Can Use It

Quick answer: The Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) is a fortnightly Centrelink payment that helps people on certain income-support payments with the cost of approved study. It’s $62.40 a fortnight if you study at least half a full-time load (or at least 25% if you get the Disability Support Pension), or $31.20 a fortnight for a lighter load. PES is paid to you, so you can put it straight toward your course fees.

What is the Pensioner Education Supplement?

PES is a fortnightly payment from Services Australia for people on a qualifying income-support payment who are studying an approved course. It isn’t a discount on your fees. It’s money paid into your bank account every two weeks that you can use however helps most, including covering your study costs. You can read the full details on the Services Australia PES page.

How much is PES?

Rates current as at June 2026. Always confirm the current amount on Services Australia.

Who is eligible for PES?

To get PES you generally need to:

• Receive a qualifying payment. PES qualifying payments include Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment (single), JobSeeker Payment as a single principal carer (conditions apply), and Special Benefit as a single parent, plus some Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments. The Age Pension is not a qualifying payment for PES.
• Study an approved course at an approved provider. Services Australia decides which courses qualify, so approval isn’t automatic for every certificate or diploma. Confirm your specific course with them.
• Meet the study-load and other rules set by Centrelink.

Check the current criteria on the Services Australia eligibility page, which is the authority on which payments and courses qualify.

Can Age Pension recipients get PES? No. PES is for working-age income-support recipients such as Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension or Parenting Payment (single). Age Pension recipients aren’t eligible for PES.

How to apply for PES

1. Check your eligibility on the Services Australia criteria page.
2. Enrol in an approved course, then ask us for a proof-of-enrolment letter once your place is confirmed.
3. Submit your PES claim through myGov (or at a Services Australia service centre). See the official how-to-claim guide.
4. Once approved, your payments arrive every fortnight in your nominated account.

Can you use PES for a Hader Institute course?

PES only applies to approved courses at approved providers, and Services Australia decides what’s approved, so the first step is to confirm your specific course and eligibility with them. Hader Institute is a nationally recognised RTO (RTO 45162 — you can verify our registration at training.gov.au), and we’ll give you the enrolment documentation Centrelink asks for.

Here’s how it can work in practice. If you’re eligible for PES at the full rate ($62.40 a fortnight) and your course is an approved one, that payment can go a long way: a Certificate IV with us is about $96 a fortnight on an interest-free plan, so PES could cover most of it. Your own figures depend on your course, your PES rate, and your Centrelink assessment.

Not sure what you’d be eligible for? Talk to our team about funding your study — we’ll help with the enrolment paperwork and point you to the right Services Australia steps.

Why PES can be worth it

For people on a fixed income, PES can make study realistic. It helps with the everyday cost of learning while you retrain or upskill. Jobs and Skills Australia projects Health Care and Social Assistance to have the strongest employment growth of any industry — up 22.9% over the decade to May 2035 — so studying toward community, health and support roles can be a practical move (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025 Employment Projections — industry outlook). Individual outcomes vary with experience, location and the job market.

A few practical tips

• PES helps with part of your costs, so plan for the rest.
• Keep Centrelink updated on your study load and circumstances, since changes can affect your payment.
• Keep your documentation, study hours and enrolment letters organised.
• Ask us early. We can help with enrolment documentation and choosing a course that fits.

Pensioner Education Supplement FAQs

What is the Pensioner Education Supplement?

A fortnightly Centrelink payment that helps people on certain income-support payments with the cost of approved study.

How much is PES?

$62.40 a fortnight if you study at least half a full-time load (or at least 25% if you get the Disability Support Pension), or $31.20 a fortnight for a lighter load.

Who is eligible for PES?

People on a qualifying payment such as Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment (single), JobSeeker Payment as a single principal carer, or Special Benefit as a single parent, who study an approved course and meet the study rules.

Can Age Pension recipients get PES?

No. The Age Pension is not a PES-qualifying payment.

What courses are approved for PES?

Approved courses at approved providers. Services Australia determines approval, so confirm your specific course with them before you rely on PES.

How do I claim PES?

Through myGov or a Services Australia service centre, with proof of enrolment from your provider.

Browse our courses or talk to our team about using PES toward your studies.