How much you could get
Find out how much you could get for the Student Allowance, depending on your circumstances.
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How much you can earn
Your income in any one week can be up to $208.00 before tax (from 1 April 2013) before your Student Allowance payments are affected.
For every cent you earn over $208.00 in any week, the amount you get for Student Allowance before tax will reduce by the same amount. For example, if you earn $210 a week before tax, your Student Allowance will reduce by $2.00.
If you have a partner, you'll need to tell us how much they earn as this will affect how much you will receive.
If your (or your partner's) income changes you must let us know immediately so we can change your payments.
If you are aged 18-23 and have no children
If you are aged 18-23 and have no children, your parents' income will be tested to determine your payments.
Your parents can earn up to $55,027.96 before the amount of Student Allowance you get is affected. This parental income threshold will be maintained at it's current level without CPI adjustment until 31 March 2016.
For you to qualify for the Student Allowance, your parents' combined annual income (from 1 April 2013) must be less than the figures below - they change each April.
Note: The amount of parental income determines the rate of Student Allowance paid to the student. This rate is then abated by any personal income the student earns over the personal income threshold.
| $83,622.14 | before tax if you live in a parental home to study |
| $90,770.68 | before tax if you live away from a parental home to study |
How much of your parents' income we test depends on:
- if your parents live together or in separate households
- if your parents support other dependent students aged 16-23 years old.
Circumstances where we don't test your parents' incomes
Under certain circumstances, if only one or neither of your parents support you, we may not test their incomes.
If you are aged 24+
If you are 24 years old and over without children, how much you can get for the Student Allowance depends on whether you are single or in a relationship with someone who is also over 24.
If you are aged 24+ and have no children
| If... | Weekly payment after tax, from 1 April 2013, at tax rate 'M' is: |
| you live in the parental home | $164.96 |
| you live away from the parental home | $206.21 |
If your personal income is over $208.00 a week before tax (from 1 April 2013), your Student Allowance will be reduced.
If you have a partner
A partner for Student Allowance purposes is someone you are in a recognised relationship with and you are both 24 or over.
If either of you is under 24 years old, at least one of you must have a child in your care to be in a recognised relationship. If you do not have a child in your care then you will be considered single for Student Allowance purposes.
How much you will receive will depend on how much you earn and how much your partner earns.
Note: The combined income of you and your partner will determine your Student Allowance rate. In addition. this rate may also be affected by your personal income. For every cent you (as the student) earn over $208.00 (from 1 April 2013) in any week, the amount you get for Student Allowance before tax will reduce by the same amount.
If you are aged 24+ and have a partner and no children
| If... | Weekly payment after tax, at tax rate 'M' is: |
| your combined income is more than $416.00 but less than $866.53 a week before tax and you live with your partner | $74.50 |
| your combined income is more than $416.00 but less than $866.53 a week and you live away from your partner | $110.98 |
| your combined income is $416.00 or less a week before tax | $343.68 |
| you are both students, but only one of you is eligible for the Student Allowance | $206.21 |
| you are both students, eligible for the Student Allowance | $171.84 each |
If the student's personal income is over $208.00 a week before tax, the Student Allowance will be reduced.
If you have children
How much you can get for the Student Allowance depends on whether you're single with children, or if you have a partner and children. If you are over 18 years old, your parents' income is not tested.
If you are single with children
| Weekly payment (from 1 April 2013) after tax, at 'M' rate: | $295.37 |
If your personal income is over $208.00 a week before tax, your Student Allowance will be reduced.
If you have a partner and children
How much you will receive will depend on how much you earn and how much your partner earns.
Note: The combined income of you and your partner will determine your Student Allowance rate. In addition, this rate may also be affected by your personal income. For every cent you (as the student) earn over $208.00 in any week, the amount you get for Student Allowance before tax will reduce by the same amount.
| If you have a partner and children and | Weekly payment from 1 April 2013, after tax, at tax rate 'M' is: |
| your combined income is more than $416.00 but less than $866.53 a week before tax and you live with your partner | $74.50 |
| your combined income is more than $416.00 but less than $866.53 a week and you live away from your partner | $110.98 |
| your combined income is $416.00 or less a week before tax | $343.68 |
| you are both students, but only one of you is eligible for the Student Allowance | $295.37 |
| you are both students, eligible for the Student Allowance | $171.84 each |
If the student's personal income is over $208.00 a week before tax, the Student Allowance will be reduced.
The Accommodation Benefit
As part of the Student Allowance, you may be able to get an Accommodation Benefit if you live away from the parental home while you study, or you live in the parental home and pay market rent and/or the outgoings. If you have a partner your combined income must be less than $416.00 (from 1 April 2013) a week before tax.
You can only get the Accommodation Benefit if you qualify for Student Allowance.
