Version Details
| Version: | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| First Year: | 2015 |
| Last Year: |
About
The SA‑HELP (SA) file contains records about students who receive a SA‑HELP loan. This file is included in the SA‑HELP submission.
The SA‑HELP scheme provides financial assistance to eligible students who are required to pay a service and amenities fee at the higher education provider. The scheme covers all or part of this fee.
Only the portion of the SA‑HELP debt that the student has elected to defer must be reported in each calendar year.
Timing
Timing of submissions is detailed in the reporting schedule for the relevant reporting year.
There are two deadlines a year for SA‑HELP submissions. The first submission includes debts incurred between 1 January and 30 June. The second submission includes debts incurred between 1 July and 31 December.
The submission dates included in the reporting schedule are the final deadlines when data should be received by the department. Data can be submitted prior to the due date.
Submission method
The SA file is one of two files included in the SA‑HELP submission. The other file is the Commonwealth Assisted Students (DU) file. In each SA‑HELP submission, if there is a record on the SA file, there must be a matching record on the DU file for the same reporting year and period.
When reporting the SA‑HELP submission it is recommended that you read the scope guidelines for the DU file in conjunction with these scope guidelines.
Submissions are made using the Higher Education Provider Client Assistance Tool (HEPCAT). More information about this process is in the HEPCAT User Guide Part 2.
Structure
Information about the structure and the elements in the SA file is in the structure guidelines for the relevant reporting year.
Each record in the SA file must have a unique combination of values for:
- Student identification code (element 313)
- Course code (element 307)
- HELP debt incurral date (element 527).
These elements are the key identifiers for a student’s SA‑HELP record.
Revisions
The SA‑HELP submission can also be used to revise previously submitted data. When revising SA‑HELP data, the record must be submitted with the same key identifiers as originally reported. Revised data can be submitted at any time.
For detailed information on how to revise previously reported SA‑HELP data see the higher education revision guides.
More information
For more information about terms used in these guidelines see the glossary.