Your debt with us

If you owe us money, outside your Student Loan, we expect you to pay it back. This may take time and we’ll work with you to come up with a repayment plan you can afford.

Important information

The most important thing is not to ignore your debt. If you’re having trouble paying it back you need to talk to us about your situation.

Examples of debt

Three of the most common ways to get into debt are:

  • we paid you too much for Student Allowance or other payments (eg, Accommodation Supplement)

    This can happen if you didn't tell us:

    • your correct income before we paid you
    • your income increased
    • about a change in circumstances, eg you withdrew from study, started work or you no longer have a partner.

  • recoverable assistance

    This is money we’ve paid with the understanding that you will have to pay it back. It’s usually for things you really need and can’t afford at the time, eg, a bond assistance, school uniforms or a rent payment.

  • benefit overpayment

    This is when you're getting a benefit that you're not allowed to get while you're studying (eg, you're studying full-time and get Jobseeker Support). It could also be that you got a debt while on a benefit.

  • If you disagree with how much you owe

    Call us if you think the amount you owe is not right. We’ll look into this and explain how we made this assessment and correct any mistakes.

    If you still disagree you can ask for a review of decision.

  • Paying back your debt

    Getting a Student Allowance

    If you're getting a Student Allowance, we will set up a repayment amount based on your rate. Call us if you want to change the repayment amount.

    Not getting a Student Allowance

    If you're not getting a Student Allowance, you can make your own arrangements to pay back your debt.

    Pay debt in New Zealand
    Pay debt from overseas

    If you have any questions about your debt, you can call the Collections Unit on 0800 558 008

    Remember your debt won’t go away

    We actively collect debts owed to us, and take the time to trace people who owe us money. One of the ways we do this is by comparing records with other Government departments.

    We also have certain legal rights if you don’t repay us, for instance we can have money deducted from your wages or bank account.

    If you’re not coping

    We know it can sometimes be difficult making repayments while you’re on a low income. So if you have trouble keeping up with your repayments please call us as soon as you can.

    We may be able to help by reducing your repayments or providing extra income support for instance – or refer you to someone else who can help

  • Preventing debts in the future

    Once you’ve paid off your debts, it’s really important you try and stay out of debt. Here are a couple of things you can do to help prevent getting into debt in the future.

    Tell us about any changes

    By telling us straight away about any changes to your personal situation, you can help ensure that we pay you correctly so you don’t end up owing us money.

    What you need to tell us

    Create a budget plan

    A budget plan can help you manage your money better. It means you can be more prepared if you suddenly have an unplanned expense – and it means you may not need to borrow money to meet these expenses.

    Sorted budget calculator

  • Useful contacts

    Inland Revenue Department
    General enquiries: 0800 227 774
    Working for Families Tax Credits: 0800 227 773
    Child Support: 0800 221 221

    ACC
    General claims: 0800 101 996
    Sensitive claims: 0800 735 566

    Others
    Citizens Advice Bureau: 0800 367 222

linksRelated links

Cancelling your Student Loan