Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship process

Before you apply

To receive the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you will need to:

• register as a full time job seeker with Student Job Search or
• register with Work and Income as a job seeker if there is no Student Job Search in your region and
• be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain suitable employment and
• accept any offer of suitable employment and
• attend and participate in an interview opportunity for any suitable employment to which you are referred.

If you have a partner they will also need to:

• register as a job seeker with Student Job Search (if they are a student ) and
• actively look for full time work and
• take reasonable steps to find paid work and
• be willing and available to take up suitable work.

Your partner won't have to do this if your youngest child is under 6. If your youngest child is 6-18 your partner will need to look for part time work.

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Looking for work

Working is a great way to gain experience, earn money and reduce the amount you might need to borrow while you're studying.

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When you need to apply

You can now apply online for your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you can also apply for your Student Allowance or Student Loan for next year at the same time.

Apply for your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship well before your course ends.

Apply early, even if you're still looking for work before your study ends. Make sure you give all the details we need when we ask for them, or it may delay your application and any payments we make.

If you find work and don't need the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you must contact us to cancel your application.

If you do find work don't forget to check our website for information on the extra help we offer. You may still be able to get some financial assistance while you're working.

You can also find out about the financial assistance you can receive whilst working on the Working for Families website.

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How to apply for an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship

Step 1

You register as a full time job seeker with Student Job Search.

Step 2

You may also be eligible for help with extra costs while you're on an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship, particularly if you have a dependent child, or have ongoing medical costs.  When you apply online for Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship, the system will determine your eligibility to any other assistance at the same time.

You will need a bank account in your name to receive Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship payments. If you don't have one you will need to appoint an agent to receive your payments.

                                                   

Apply online for your Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you can also apply for your Student Allowance or Student Loan for next year at the same time.

Step 3

If you didn't receive a Student Allowance this year, you need to apply for your next year's Student Allowance before we can finish processing your application for Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship

The best way to apply for a Student Allowance is online. Make sure you give us all the details we need when we ask for them or it may delay your application.

If you are unable to apply online then 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.

 

Step 4

We process your application and check the information you give us.

We will send you a letter:

• asking for more information or evidence if we need it or
• telling you if you don't qualify for an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship or
• telling you if you will be granted an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship.

If we still need more information we will give you 20 working days (from the date of the letter) in which to provide the information or evidence.

At the end of this time if we have still not received the information we need to determine your eligibility for Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship, your application will be declined.

Step 5

If you are granted an Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you will have a minimum one week stand-down period. This is a compulsory obligation for all beneficiaries.

We pay the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship a week in arrears. This means your payments will usually start 3 weeks after your study ends. You will still receive a benefit payment in your first week of study when you return after your vacation.

Step 6

You need to keep us informed of any changes in your circumstances.

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What documents you need to provide

If you received Student Allowance or Student Loan payments from StudyLink in the past, the evidence you provided may be used for your UBSH application.

However every application must be accompanied by a verified (signed and dated) copy of at least one form of identification, such as Drivers Licence or Student ID card, for yourself and your partner.

The Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship application form tells you what types of evidence we will need to see with your application. If we do not have all the information we need when we process your application we will give you a call to discuss this.

If you're applying for the first time, you'll need to provide:

• 2 forms of identification, 1 of these needs to be a birth certificate or passport (to show your date of birth)
• passport or citizenship papers (to show your residency status)
• pre-printed deposit slip from your bank (to show your bank account details)
• pre-printed letter or notice from Inland Revenue (to show your IRD number)
• marriage certificate or deed poll papers (to show any name change you've had)
• full birth certificate/s for your dependent child (to show residency and parents)

Depending on your situation, and the sections you filled in on the application form you may need to provide additional documents.

In general, this could include:

• evidence of your income
• evidence of any housing costs
• evidence of any medical costs if applicable

If you have a partner and they are applying for the first time, they will need to provide:

• 2 forms of identification, 1 of these needs to be a birth certificate or passport (to show your date of birth)
• passport or citizenship papers (to show your residency status)
• pre-printed deposit slip from your bank (to show your bank account details)
• pre-printed letter or notice from Inland Revenue (to show your IRD number)
• Marriage certificate or deed poll papers (to show any name change you've had).

In most cases you and your partner won't have to provide any other documents if we've already seen them.

If you're providing a copy of an original document it needs to be verified (signed and dated) by someone like a Justice of the Peace, an authorised staff member from your education provider, a member of standing within the community (such as a Doctor, Policeman, Clergyman, Solicitor or Kaumatua) or a StudyLink (or a Work and Income) staff member. If you send an original document we will return it to you by courier.

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