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Examples of what you can get
Here's some examples of common student situations and the financial help they may be able to get from StudyLink and Work and Income.
If your situation is not covered here, you can use our Eligibility Test to see what you may qualify for.
Ben is 18 years old, has recently completed Year 13, and achieved NCEA level 3.
Ben is single, not working or studying, and lives with his parents and 21 year old sister in Napier.
He'll be starting a full time course at Te Pukenga - Eastern Institute of Technology, doing a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.
Ben may be able to get:
- Student Allowance
Whether Ben can get this, and how much, depends on his parents' combined annual income.
If Ben can get a Student Allowance, he won't be able to get Accommodation Benefit because he lives at home with his parents.
Read the full criteria here:
-
Student Loan
Ben can apply for a Student Loan to pay for his compulsory course fees, course-related costs or living costs. Read the full criteria here:
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Community Services Card
Ben is not working. As long as his income is less than $31,705 – the income limit for a single person living with others, he can get the Community Services Card. Read the full criteria here:
Lulu is 31 years old and wants to become a Beauty Therapist. She decides to enrol at Te Pukenga, Universal College of Learning doing a Certificate in Beauty.
Lulu lives in Whanganui with her two children aged 4 and 7, paying $350 rent per week. Lulu will quit her current job once she starts her studies.
Lulu may be able to get:
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Student Allowance
Lulu may be able to get this because her programme is full-time, below level 7 on the NZQA framework, and is run by an approved education provider for Student Allowances. Read the full criteria here:
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Accommodation Benefit
Lulu may be able to get this because she's paying more than $152 rent - the minimum for sole parents to get Accommodation Benefit. Read the full criteria here:
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Student Loan
Lulu will have to pay this back. Read the full criteria here:
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Childcare Subsidy
Lulu’s 4 year old child may be able to get this if they're enrolled and attending a registered childcare provider. Read the full criteria here:
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Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
Lulu may be able to get OSCAR Subsidy for her 7 year old child. Read the full criteria here:
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
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Community Services Card
Lulu may be able to get this if her yearly income is less $75,645 a year - the maximum for a family of 3. Read the full criteria here:
Katie is 24 years old with a 4 year old son, who's turning 5 soon. They live in a rental and pay $450 a week. Katie currently gets Sole Parent Support from Work and Income.
Katie has decided to enter full time study at Auckland University of Technology, completing a Bachelor of Business.
As a sole parent, there are different types of help available. A Work and Income case manager can help Katie choose the best option.
Here are 2 possible options:
Option 1: Katie may be able to keep getting Sole Parent Support
Because Katie's son is over the age of 3, Katie has an obligation to look for part-time work while getting Sole Parent Support. However, they may not have to meet this work obligation because:
- the course Katie has enrolled in is Level 7 (needs to be level 4 or above) on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, and
- their child is under the age of 14.
They may also be able to get:
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Training Incentive Allowance
Katie may be able to get this because they get Sole Parent Support - one of the Work and Income benefits needed to get this payment. Read the full criteria here:
-
Accommodation Supplement
If Katie was already getting this, and is still eligible, they can continue to get this payment this while they're studying. Read the full criteria here:
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Student Loan
If Katie stays on the Sole Parent Support while they're studying, they may be able to get a Student Loan for their compulsory fees and course-related costs. They can't get it for their weekly living costs, because they're already getting help with these expenses.
If Katie gets Training Incentive Allowance, this may mean they will get less course-related costs from a Student Loan. Read the full criteria here:
Option 2: Katie can stop their Sole Parent Support and get student support with StudyLink:
If Katie chooses to get student support with StudyLink instead, they may be able to get:
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Student Allowance
The course that Katie has enrolled in is Level 7 (needs to be level 4 or above) on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. They're also in full time study. Read the full criteria here:
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Accommodation Benefit
Katie is paying more than $152 rent - the minimum for sole parents to get Accommodation Benefit. Read the full criteria here:
-
Student Loan
If Katie can get a Student Allowance, they can most likely get a Student Loan. Read the full criteria here:
Other payments Katie may be able to get
Katie may also be able to get the following payments with either option they choose:
-
Childcare Subsidy
If Katie’s 4 year old child is enrolled and attending a registered childcare provider, they may be able to get childcare subsidy. Read the full criteria here:
-
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
When Katie’s son turns 5, they may be able to get this. They would need to make a new application with the new care provider. Read the full criteria here:
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
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Community Services Card
Katie may be able to get this if their yearly income is less $61,455 a year, the maximum for a family of 2. Read the full criteria here:
Mark 45, and their partner, 39, have 3 children aged 10, 7 and 3 and live in Wellington.
Mark is heading into study at Victoria University and will be doing a Bachelor of Architectural Studies.
Their partner works part-time, working 28 hours per week and earns $635.60 gross per week.
Mark and their partner have rent costs of $900 per week.
Mark may be able to get:
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Student Allowance
Because their partner's income is over $516.16 gross per week, but under $1074.94, they may qualify for a Student Allowance, at the earning spouse rate. Read the full criteria here:
-
Accommodation Benefit
Depending on Mark’s living situation, they may be able to get this payment. Read the full criteria here:
-
Student Loan
Mark is studying an approved course, so they may be able to get this. Read the full criteria here:
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Childcare Subsidy
If Mark and their partner’s 3 year old child is enrolled and attending a registered childcare provider, they may be able to get this. Read the full criteria here:
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Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
Mark's family may be able to get OSCAR Subsidy for their older children. Read the full criteria here:
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
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Community Services Card
Mark’s family may be able to get this because they earn less than $98,687 per year, the maximum for a family of 5. Read the full criteria here:
Mark's partner may also be able to get:
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Accommodation Supplement
They may be able to get this to help with their rent. Their income, Mark's Student Allowance and Accommodation Benefit, will be taken into consideration.
Mark's partner needs to apply themselves. Read the full criteria here:
Wiremu is 23 years old, single, and lives in a flat in Christchurch with two friends, paying $218 per week in rent.
Wiremu is starting a postgraduate study – doing a Master of Science at the University of Canterbury.
Wiremu may be eligible for:
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Student Loan
Wiremu will need to pay this back. Read the full criteria here:
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Accommodation Supplement
Wiremu can't get a Student Allowance because they're studying a post graduate programme. To help with their rent costs, they may be able to get the Accommodation Supplement. Read the full criteria here:
Aroha is 22 years old, single, and lives in a flat in Dunedin with 3 others. Aroha is currently working part-time, earning $275.00 gross per week.
Aroha has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She currently attends fortnightly counselling sessions, costing $80 per session.
She's decided to start part-time study at the University of Otago, doing a a Bachelor of Arts via distance learning.
Aroha may be able to get:
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Disability Allowance
If Aroha’s Doctor supports her counselling sessions, Aroha may be able to get this. Disability Allowance can help with the costs of these sessions. Read the full criteria here:
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Community Services Card
Aroha may be able to get this because she earns less than $31,705, the income cut-off of a single person living with others. Read the full criteria here:
Aroha may qualify for:
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Limited full-time status
Aroha may be able to get this if her Doctor recommends that she studies part-time. Read the full criteria here:
If Aroha is approved Limited full-time status, they may be able to get:
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Student Loan
Aroha will have to pay this back. Read the full criteria here:
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Student Allowance
If Aroha is granted Limited Full-time status, she may be able to get this. Read the full criteria here:
Aroha's income will affect their Student Allowance.
How income affects Student Allowance
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Accommodation Benefit
Depending on Aroha’s living situation, she may be able to get this. Read the full criteria here:
If Aroha can't get Limited full-time status, they may be able to get:
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Accommodation Supplement
Because Aroha is in part-time study, she won’t qualify for a Student Allowance. She may be able to get Accommodation Supplement to help with her rental costs. We will consider her income, accommodation costs, and the region where they live. Read the full criteria here:
Ioane is 57 years old, and in his 3rd and final year of a Bachelor of Social Work.
Ioane has studied before, completing a New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills. He's already received a Student Allowance for 25 weeks, and a Student Loan to help fund his studies.
Ioane may be eligible for:
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Student Allowance
Ioane has 95 weeks left of his 120 week Student Allowance entitlement - the maximum entitlement for students over the age of 40. Read the full criteria here:
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Accommodation Benefit
If Ioane can get the Student Allowance, he may be able to get the Accommodation Benefit as well. These two payments are paid together. Read the full criteria here:
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Student Loan – Compulsory fees
As Ioane is over the age of 55, he'll only be able to have his compulsory course fees paid for by the Student Loan. He needs to pay this back. Read the full criteria here:
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Accommodation Supplement
Ioane may be able to get this once he runs out of Student Allowance and Accommodation Benefit entitlement. Read the full criteria here:
Selena is 21 years old, single, and flatting in Palmerston North.
Selena plans to go to Te Pukenga, Universal College of Learning, to study a Certificate in Visual Arts full time.
Selena has had a breakdown with her parents and has not had any contact with them in the last 7 years.
Selena may qualify for:
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Independent Circumstances Allowance
Selena may qualify for this depending on the nature of the breakdown with her parents. If she qualifies, the parental income test won't apply to Selena.
Read the full criteria (including examples of when you wouldn't qualify) here:
If Selena qualifies for Independent Circumstances Allowance, they may be able to get:
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Student Allowance
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Accommodation Benefit
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Student Loan
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Community Services Card
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