Supported child

A supported child, in relation to a student applying for a Student Allowance, is a person younger than 24:

• whose well-being and financial support are the responsibility of the student applicant and
• who lives with the student at least half of the time and

who is not getting:

• Student Allowance or
• Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Emergency Benefit, or Supported Living Payment or
• New Zealand Superannuation or a Veteran's Pension or
• payments under any government assisted scheme (other than the Student Loan Scheme) which, in the opinion of the chief executive, is similar to a benefit under the Social Security Act 2018 or
• income before tax from employment or self-employment which exceeds $80 per week and
• in respect of whom no Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is payable

Student couples with a supported child or children will be entitled to an allowance equivalent to the relevant rate of Jobseeker Support plus an Accommodation Benefit, subject to the personal and couple income limits.

The allowance rate varies depending on whether the student is a sole parent, is married to, in a civil union or de facto relationship with another student, or has a combined income of not more than $569.40 per week (as at 1 April 2026).

A single student with a supported child or children is treated as being independent from their parents and will be entitled to the 'with supported child' rate of Student Allowance plus any Accommodation Benefit - sole parents payable, even if the student is living in a parental home.

The same child can be included in 2 parents' Student Allowance as a supported child if:

• the child spends 50% of the time with each parent and
• both parents share responsibility for the well-being and financial support of the child

The supported child may also be included in a Student Allowance and a benefit at the same time. The case manager will need to confirm if the child can be included in the benefit.

The definition of "shared care" for Student Allowances is not the same as the definition of shared care for beneficiaries.

Note a student may qualify for Accommodation Benefit - sole parents via the Student Allowance scheme, but due to their 'shared care' arrangements they may not be able to have their child or children included in their main benefit or Accommodation Supplement application.