Contents
Student allowance rates and thresholds : Contents

At 1 April 2018

Introduction

Student Allowance rates take into account things such as the age of the student and whether they live with their parents.

Rates for "single" students under 24 years of age are subject to the parental-income test.

Below are the Student Allowance weekly rates at 1 April 2018.

Students with a partner in a recognised relationship

For Student Allowance purposes, a recognised relationship is one where the student and their partner are both 24 years of age or over, or one or both of them are under 24 years of age and they have a supported child or children. If a relationship is not recognised, the student is treated as being "single" for the purposes of assessing entitlement.

The following couple rates of Student Allowance apply to students in a recognised relationship.

Couple combined weekly income of not more than $434.44 – without supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course. The student is childless.

$460.23

$535.01

The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, and is not eligible for, a grant. The student is childless.

$266.02

$299.60

The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and receives a grant. The student is childless.

$230.12 (each)

$257.12 (each)

The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, although is eligible for, a grant. The student is childless.

$230.12

$257.12

Couple with a combined weekly income of not more than $434.44 – with supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course. The student has 1 or more supported children.

$485.86

$566.08

The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, and is not eligible for, a grant. The student has 1 or more supported children.

$384.73

$443.50

The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, although is eligible for, a grant. The student has 1 or more supported children.

$255.74

$287.14

The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and receives a grant. The student has 1 or more supported children.

$242.93 (each)

$271.62 (each)

Couple with a combined weekly income between $434.44 and $904.86 – without supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student is childless and is living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner.

$128.48

$143.55

The student is childless and is not living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner.

$166.56

$186.10

Couple with a combined weekly income between $434.44 and $904.86 – with supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course.

$154.10

$172.18

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, is eligible but does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant.

$154.10

$172.18

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and receives a grant.

$141.29 (each)

$157.87 (each)

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course.

$192.18

$214.73

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant.

$192.18

$214.73

The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as his or her spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and receives a grant.

$179.37 (each)

$200.41 (each)

Single student without supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student is single under 24, childless and living in a parental home
— this rate is subject to the parental-income test

Up to $194.23

Up to $217.02

The student is single under 24, childless, and not living in the parental home
— this rate is subject to the parental-income test

Up to $230.12

Up to $257.12

Independent Circumstances Allowance

$230.12

$257.12

The student is single, 24 or older, childless and living in the parental home

$222.93

$249.08

The student is single, 24 or older, childless and not living in the parental home

$266.02

$299.60

Single student with supported children

Rate description

Net amount after "M" tax rate

Gross amount

The student is single and has 1 or more supported children

$384.73

$443.50

Accommodation Benefit – standard rates

Category

Non-taxable rate

Accommodation Benefit

Up to $60 per week (the actual rate varies by location)

A and B Bursary

Category

Non-taxable rate

"A" bursary

$200 per year

"B" bursary

$100 per year

A and B Bursaries were secondary school qualifications awarded to eligible students. To gain a Bursary, students had to achieve an aggregate score of at least 250 from up to five Bursary subjects.

From 2004, A and B Bursaries were replaced by the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and the New Zealand Scholarship. The last A and B Bursary payments were made in 2006.

 

Current rates

For the current rates see: