Student Allowances

Information updated as at 9-January-2024 (Source : https://www.studylink.govt.nz)

Children grow up fast. Perhaps you have a son and/ or daughter commencing university in NZ. What are they eligible for?

Student Allowance?

Qualifying criteria include:

• The student must be aged between 16 and 64 years old, 

• New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status. If you hold a residence class visa, you must have held residence for at least a continuous 3 year period.

• Studying an approved course. (From 1 January 2013 qualifications that are NZQF level 8 or above are not approved for Student Allowance (except Bachelor degrees with Honours)).

• Must be a secondary or tertiary student studying full-time (or part time if approved by StudyLink). 

• The student's  weekly income (before tax) must be less than $819.70.

• If the student has received a Student Allowance for the last tertiary course,  the student must have passed more than half of the work for that course. If not, you must have completed and passed more than half the work of another full-time course at your own expense.

Parent income test is based on scenarios. An example is:

- you are less than 24 years old; and

- you are not in a recognized relationship; and

- your parents are living together and are supporting other dependent students aged between 16-23 years; and

- you are living in your parent's home paying market rent or living away from your parents home.

In these circumstances your parents' combined income (before tax) must be less than NZD 134,808.07 per annum.

Accommodation Supplement ?

Qualifying criteria include:

•  Be at least 16 years old 

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status and be living in New Zealand.

• You cannot be living in a social housing property.

• You must have regular and ongoing accommodation expenses.

If you don't have a partner or child:

- your cash assets must be less than NZD 8,100.00 and

- your weekly income (before tax) must be less than NZD 963.00.

If you don't have a partner but have dependent children:

- your cash assets must be less than NZD 16,200.00.

- if you have 1 child your weekly income (before tax) must be less than NZD 1,256.00.

- if you have 2 or more children your weekly income (before tax) must be less than NZD 1,476.00.

You may be eligible at the end of your study. Please apply closer to the end of your study.

Childcare and OSCAR Subsidy?

Qualifying criteria include:

• Must be at least 16 years old and 

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status and be living in New Zealand.

Must have a dependent child that is less than 14 years of age and your weekly income (before tax) must be less than:

- NZD 2,144.00 if you have 1 child

- NZD 2,450.00 if you have 2 children

- NZD 2,756.00 if you have 3 or more children

Child Disability Allowance        

Qualifying criteria include:

• Must be at least 16 years old and 

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status and be living in New Zealand.

• Must have a child with a disability that requires constant care and attention above what other children their age require and this child must be less than 18 years of age.

Disability Allowance  

Qualifying criteria include:

• Must be a New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status and be living in New Zealand.

• Must have a disability or illness that is likely to last at least six months and have regular and ongoing expenses that relate to that disability or illness.

If you don't have a partner but have:

- 1 dependent child you must be earning less than NZD 880.73

- more than 1 dependent child you must be earning less than  NZD 927.94

- no dependent children you must be earning less than NZD 786.69.

If you have a partner your combined weekly income (before tax) must be less than NZD 1,171.42.

Jobseeker Support Student Hardship?   

Qualifying criteria include:

• Aged at least 16 years old, 

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth, grant or descent), hold a residence class visa or have refugee or protected person status.

• The student  must also be available for and actively seeking full-time work, and be planning to study full-time after the student's break.

• The student  must be experiencing hardship - this means that you are unable to financially support yourself or be financially supported by any other means (including help from family).

If the student are not eligible for a Student Allowance due to your parents income, we may consider that you are not experiencing hardship and therefore may not be eligible for this assistance.

Your weekly income must be less than:

- NZD 581.00 if you are 16 to 19 years old

- NZD 581.00 if you are 19 to 24 years old