StudyLink Allowance Eligibility Calculator

This calculator gives you a quick read on whether you are likely to qualify for a StudyLink Student Allowance in New Zealand and an indicative idea of the weekly amount, so you know what to expect before you apply. The Student Allowance is a weekly payment to help with living costs while you study full-time, and unlike the student loan living-cost component, it does not have to be paid back. The catch is that eligibility has several tests that trip people up, and the rules differ sharply by age. You generally need to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who meets the residency criteria, studying full-time on an approved course, and aged 18 or over, with limited provision for 16 and 17 year olds. The biggest factor for younger students is the parental income test: if you are under 24 and do not have a partner or supported children, your parents' combined income determines whether you get the full allowance, a reduced amount, or nothing, with the payment reducing as parental income rises. If you are 24 or over, or have a partner or children, the test shifts to your own and your partner's income instead. You answer a few questions about your age, study load, residency and income, and this tool indicates whether you are likely eligible and gives an indicative weekly figure. Importantly, StudyLink makes the actual assessment, allowance rates and income thresholds change every year, and many situations have special rules, so treat this as a guide to point you in the right direction. Always apply through StudyLink and check the current rates, as the real entitlement may differ from the indication here.

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Indicative only. StudyLink makes the actual assessment, and rates and thresholds change every year. Always apply and check current figures.