Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship
The Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship is a weekly payment to help meet your living costs during your study breaks if you can't find work. You need to apply using the form on this page.
On this page:
General criteria for Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship
To get the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you'll need to be eligible for or have been receiving a Student Allowance.
You must also:
- be registered for work with Student Job Search (or Work and Income if there's not a Student Job Search in your region) and
- be actively looking for full-time work and
- plan to study full-time after your study break.
Please note - if you are:
- 16/17 years old and getting a Student Allowance or
- have not previously been in full-time study,
your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application may be processed as an Emergency Benefit. If your application is processed as an Emergency Benefit the rate you will get will be the same as the rate you would have received under Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship.
If you're in hardship and you don't qualify for the Student Allowance you may still be able to get the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship. You'll need to complete the Additional Hardship section inside the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application form.
If you have a partner or a child and you're in hardship because your Student Allowance has stopped (and you're waiting for your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship to start) you may be able to get the Student Allowance Transfer Grant. You need to complete the Extra Help section in the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application form.
Read the special definitions that are used when talking about the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship.
How to apply
You need to complete an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application.
When you apply for Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship the application form also contains applications for:
- Additional Hardship (Part 3)
-
Extra Help (Part 4), including:
Student Allowance Transfer Grant
Accommodation Supplement
Disability Allowance
Temporary Additional Support.
You need to post your completed application and verified (signed and dated) documents to:
StudyLink Student Support Centre
Freepost 113907
Private Bag 11070
Palmerston North 4442.
If you didn't receive a Student Allowance this year, you need to apply for your next year's Student Allowance and your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship.
How much you can get
The amount you get depends on your personal situation such as your age, living arrangements, income and assets.
The guide below shows the maximum amount you can get a week after tax at the 'M' rate. It doesn't include any Family Tax Credits or extra income support you may get.
Rates from 1 April 2009
| 16-17 (special circumstances only) | $158.65 |
| Single (18-19 living at home) | $126.92 |
| Single (18-19 living away from home) | $158.65 |
| Single (20-24 years) | $158.65 |
| Single (25 years or over) | $190.39 |
| Single with 1 or more children | $272.70 |
| Married or civil union couple | $158.65 each |
If you are earning
When you get the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you can earn up to $80 a week before tax before your benefit payments are affected. If you have a partner you can earn up to $80 a week before tax between you.
Your payments will drop by 70 cents for every dollar you earn over the $80 limit.
You need to let us know as soon as you find any kind of work including short-term or seasonal work. If you don't you could be overpaid - you'll have to pay this money back - and you could be prosecuted. Any extra help you get may also be affected by how much you earn.
If you have a partner
If your partner is included in your benefit they will also need to look for work and register with Student Job Search (if they're a student).
They won't need to do this if you have dependent children under 6. And they can apply for an exemption from having to look for work if they are pregnant, ill, caring for a special needs child, caring for someone who would otherwise be in hospital, or home-schooling a child.
Please ask us if you think your partner may be exempt.
How and when payments are made
Payments are made direct to your own bank account every week (this can be a joint account). If you live with a partner they also get payments every week.
The earliest you can get your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship is in the third week of your break. That's because you have a stand-down period (this is the same for all benefits), and you're paid in arrears.
How long your stand-down is depends on your average income in the last 26 or 52 weeks (whichever is lower).
If you aren't eligible to receive a Student Allowance
You could be eligible to receive the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship even if you aren't eligible to receive a Student Allowance.
You will need to complete the Additional Hardship section inside the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application form.
