Emergency Benefit

If you're on a study break of more than 3 weeks, you may need help with your living expenses while you look for work. In this case you can apply for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, as long as you meet the criteria.

If you don't meet certain criteria, we may grant an Emergency Benefit instead. This may happen if:

• your study break is not between 2 academic years, or
• you're 16 or 17, or
• you're not a NZ citizen or permanent resident and you don't have a residence class visa.

You still have to meet all the other criteria for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

If you’re 18 or 19

If you're 18 or 19, without children in your care, you'll need to complete a Parental Assistance Test and submit it with your application.

A Parental Assistance Test is a way to check if you're eligible for support. We check if:

• there are family circumstances that mean you can't reasonably rely on support from your parents, and/or
• your parents combined income is below the income limit.

If you have a partner under 20, they will also need to do a Parental Assistance Test.

Support for 18- and 19-year-olds

How to apply

You need to apply for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

If you don't meet certain criteria (listed above), we may grant an Emergency Benefit instead. You'll still need to meet all the other criteria for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

How much you can get

Emergency Benefit is paid weekly at the same rate as Jobseeker Support Student Hardship. How much you get depends on your situation and how much you and your partner (if you have one) earn.

There's also usually a one week stand-down, the same as Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

If you get an Emergency Benefit over the winter months, you'll also automatically get a Winter Energy Payment.

While you're getting Emergency Benefit

There are things you need to do when you’re getting an Emergency Benefit. These are called obligations. If you don’t do them, your benefit could reduce or stop.

They are the same obligations as Jobseeker Support Student Hardship. They include things like looking for full-time work (unless you have a health condition) and telling us about changes to your:

• income
• relationship, and
• living situation
• parents income or family circumstances, if you've completed a Parental Assistance Test.