Help with emergencies
If you have an emergency and don't have enough money to meet your necessary costs, we may be able to help with a grant.
An emergency grant can help in a range of situations. Special conditions apply for all emergency grants. Contact us for more information.
- The Special Needs Grant can help if you have an emergency like urgent dental care (you may have to pay this back).
- The Recoverable Assistance Payment can help with necessary costs like replacing your prescription glasses in an emergency (you'll have to pay this back).
- The Student Allowance Transfer Grant can help if you have a partner or a child and are in hardship because your Student Allowance has stopped and you're waiting for your benefit to start.
Your financial circumstances
It's important to think about whether there are things you can do to improve your financial situation, to help with future expenses. For example, would budgeting advice help?
The reasonable steps you could take to improve your financial situation, will vary depending on individual circumstances. They may include arranging automatic payments for bills, consolidating debt to reduce repayment costs and cancelling non-essential services.
If you've received three or more emergency payments in a 52 week period, StudyLink may require you to undertake a compulsory budgeting activity, if it is considered you have not taken reasonable steps to improve your situation since the last applications.
Budgeting activities that you may be required to complete will depend on your particular needs. They could range from self-directed activities (eg completing your own budget) to attending budgeting seminars and seeking advice from budgeting services.
You can visit the tools and calculators section of our website for links to budgeting tips and calculators.
Special Needs Grant
The Special Needs Grant is a one-off payment to help out with urgent things like food, bedding and emergency dental or medical treatment.
Generally, you may get a Special Needs Grant if you:
- have urgent and necessary needs
- have no other way to meet these costs
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
It may also depend on:
- how much you and your spouse or partner earn
- any money or assets you and your spouse or partner have.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
Recoverable Assistance Payment
Recoverable Assistance is a payment which helps people pay for something they need urgently when they have no other way of paying for it.
Recoverable Assistance has to be paid back but may be paid back in instalments.
You may get a Recoverable Assistance Payment grant if:
- your need is urgent and essential
- you have no other way to meet this cost
- you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
It also depends on:
- how much you and your spouse or partner earn
- any money or assets you and your spouse or partner have.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
