At 1 April 2020
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 2020.
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 $449.16 – 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. | $475.79 | $553.87 |
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. | $275.02 | $310.51 |
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. | $237.90 (each) | $265.81 (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. | $237.90 | $265.81 |
Couple with a combined weekly income of not more than $449.16 – 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. | $502.28 | $585.98 |
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. | $397.73 | $459.25 |
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. | $264.38 | $297.62 |
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. | $251.15 (each) | $281.58 (each) |
Couple with a combined weekly income between $449.16 and $935.46 – 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 their spouse or partner. | $132.82 | $148.40 |
The student is childless and is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner. | $172.18 | $192.38 |
Couple with a combined weekly income between $449.16 and $935.46 – 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 their spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course. | $159.30 | $177.99 |
The student has 1 or more supported children, and is living in the same home as their 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. | $159.30 | $177.99 |
The student has 1 or more supported children, and is living in the same home as their spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and receives a grant. | $146.07 (each) | $163.21 (each) |
The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course. | $198.68 | $221.99 |
The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as their 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. | $198.68 | $221.99 |
The student has 1 or more supported children, and is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner. The student's spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and receives a grant. | $185.43 (each) | $207.18 (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 | Up to $200.79 | Up to $224.35 |
The student is single under 24, childless, and not living in a parental home | Up to $237.90 | Up to $265.81 |
Independent Circumstances Allowance | $237.90 | $265.81 |
The student is single, 24 or older, childless and living in a parental home | $230.47 | $257.51 |
The student is single, 24 or older, childless and not living in a parental home | $275.02 | $310.51 |
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 | $397.73 | $459.25 |
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:
