Changes to payments from 1 April 2026
18 March 2026.
On 1 April 2026 student support rates will increase due to the Annual General Adjustment. Income and asset limits for some support will also go up, which means more people can get support from us.
What's changing
On 1 April student support rates will increase, including Student Allowances and Student Loan Living Costs.
Changes to Student Allowance payments will happen automatically, you don't need to do anything. If you've requested for your Student Loan to be adjusted automatically each year, you don't need to do anything either.
More people can get support
Income and asset limits for some financial supports will also go up. This means more people could get things like:
- Accommodation Benefit
- Childcare Assistance
- Disability Allowance
- Community Services Card, and
- help with urgent and unexpected costs.
When you'll get the increase
This year 1 April is a Wednesday.
- In the week of 30 March, your payment will be at the current rate. This is because we pay you for the week that's just been.
- In the week of 6 April, you'll get part of your payment at the current rate, and part at the new rate. This is because 1 April falls in the middle of the pay period.
Remember, if you usually get paid on a Tuesday, you'll be paid early on 3 April because of Easter. - In the week of 13 April, your whole payment will be at the new, increased rate.
You can view your new payment rates in MyStudyLink from 1 April 2026.
About the increase
Each year on 1 April, student supports change to reflect economic changes over the last year.
Most of our new rates are based on:
- cost of living (also called the 'Consumers Price Index') - went up by 3.11 percent, or
- average wage growth - went up by by 2.91 percent.
Student Allowances and Student Loan Living costs are adjusted to the Consumers Price Index. Some income thresholds are changed based on average wage growth.