Testing parents' income for the Student Allowance

 

In addition:

 

Situations where we don't test your parents' income:

Income test for both parents

For you to be able to get the Student Allowance, your parents' combined annual income must be less than:

$78,418.34	before tax if you live in a parental home to study
$85,017.66	before tax if you live away from a parental home to study

Note: these income thresholds are reviewed 1 April each year.

How much of your parents' income we test depends on:

• if your parents live together or in separate households
• if your parents support other full-time dependent students aged 16-23 years.

Note: tell us if your parents' income changes - we will need to re-calculate your Student Allowance.

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Use the Student Allowance rate calculator

Use the Student Allowance rate calculator to work out how much Student Allowance you may get. You'll need to know your parents' combined income before tax.

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Income test for one parent

A one parent test may be approved if your parents are living apart and:

• there is a breakdown in the relationship between you and one of your parents, and contact with that parent would have a detrimental psychological effect on either you or that parent, or
• you are or have been subjected to severe mental cruelty by one of your parents, or
• a parent (or their spouse) has physically or sexually abused you, or
• the other parent is in prison or in full-time care under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, and is unable to be responsible for you, or
• only one parent is alive (the other parent is deceased), or
• you have other special circumstances that demonstrates that the relationship has so broken down that you should be considered independent from the other parent - For example: the other parent's whereabouts are unknown. 

If you have other special circumstances please talk to us about it - in some cases you may still qualify for the Student Allowance.

To apply for only one parent to be tested, your parent needs to complete a One Parent application and you need to complete a Student Allowance application.

You need to provide both applications and any information and/or evidence before the end of your course or the Student Allowance application may be declined.

When you apply online you will get a One Parent application form if you need one.

If you can't apply online, download a copy of the form and contact StudyLink.

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If neither of your parents support you

If neither of your parents support you, you need to have one of the following exceptional circumstances to be eligible for the Independent Circumstances Allowance.

• You can't live with or be supported by your parents because of a family breakdown.
• You are (or have been) a ward of the state or court, and you haven't lived with someone acting as a parent.
• You are an orphan, and haven't lived with someone acting as a parent.
• One of your parents is in prison or a psychiatric hospital and the other parent also can't be responsible for you.
• You have other exceptional circumstances.

We may need to speak to someone who can confirm your situation. If you've already spoken to a professional (such as a doctor, counsellor, or lawyer or someone else of standing in the community) who is familiar with your situation, you can ask them to complete the supporting statement included with this application otherwise we may:

• need to speak to your parents(s) or someone else who can confirm your situation, or
• ask you to meet with someone to discuss your application.

To apply for the Independent Circumstances Allowance you need to complete an Independent Circumstances Allowance application and a Student Allowance application.

You need to provide both applications and any information and/or evidence before the end of your course or the Student Allowance application may be declined.

When you apply online you will get an Independent Circumstances Allowance application form if you need one.

If you can't apply online, download a copy of the form and contact StudyLink.

 

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If you have a partner

If you have a partner, and either of you are under 24 years old with no children, you are still classed as single and we test your parents' combined income to calculate how much you get for a Student Allowance.

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