Student Allowance Calculator NZ
Estimate your weekly StudyLink Student Allowance after tax, with the parental income test and the effect of your own earnings. Rates from 1 April 2026.
Student Allowance per week, after tax
About $17,336 a year
Per week, before tax
Maximum $378.64
Tax on it per week
Tax code M
Parents' income reduces the weekly grant by $0.00 (assessed parental income $0 a year after any reductions).
Your own income reduces it by $0.00.
An estimate only. StudyLink decides entitlement, and checks residency, course and study requirements this calculator does not.
Weekly rates from 1 April 2026
The regulations set each rate before tax. StudyLink quotes the same rates after tax at the M tax code. These are the maximums, before the income tests.
| Student | After tax | Before tax |
|---|---|---|
| Single, under 24, living with a parent | $286.35 | $321.64 |
| Single, under 24, not living with a parent | $333.38 | $378.64 |
| Independent circumstances (under 24) | $333.38 | $378.64 |
| Single, 24 or over, living with a parent | $323.98 | $367.25 |
| Single, 24 or over, not living with a parent | $380.43 | $435.67 |
| Single with one or more children | $535.97 | $624.21 |
How your parents' income is tested
Parents' income is tested only for a single student who is under 24 and has no children. Their combined income before tax is averaged over the year. While the weekly average stays at or below $1,386.71 ($72,108.92 a year) nothing is taken off.
Above that, the weekly grant reduces by 30.30303% of the first slice of excess income and 27.93296% of anything beyond it. The first slice is $259.51 a week for a student living away from a parent and $71.41 for a student living with one. The grant reaches nil at $141,451.55 a year of parental income for a student living away and $131,670.35 for a student living with a parent, the same limits StudyLink publishes.
Parental income is treated as reduced by $7,000 for each other dependent full-time student the parents support, and by a further $3,400 if the parents live in separate households. A student with no relationship with a parent may be assessed differently; StudyLink decides that case.
How your own income is tested
You can earn $284.70 a week before tax before it affects the allowance. Anything above that reduces the weekly grant by the same amount, after the parental reduction has been applied. StudyLink's estimator treats an after-tax amount under $2 a week as not payable.
Who can get a Student Allowance
StudyLink says that in most cases you must be between 18 and 65 and studying full-time, with some exceptions for 16 to 17 year olds and part-time study. You must also meet residency and approved-course requirements. If you receive a Student Allowance you may also be able to get the Accommodation Benefit, which this calculator does not include. The Community Services Card checker covers the card that Student Allowance recipients can get.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Student Allowance per week?
From 1 April 2026 the maximum for a single student under 24 is $286.35 a week after tax if living with a parent and $333.38 if not. A single student aged 24 or over living away from a parent gets up to $380.43, and a single student with children up to $535.97. These are the most you can get; your own income and, if you are under 24, your parents' income can reduce them.
How does my parents' income affect the Student Allowance?
If you are single, under 24 and have no children, your parents' combined income is tested. Above $72,108.92 a year before tax the rate goes down, and it stops at $131,670.35 a year if you live with them or $141,451.55 if you do not.
How much can I earn before it reduces my Student Allowance?
You can earn up to $284.70 a week before tax before the allowance is affected. Above that it reduces cent for cent, dollar for dollar, by the excess.
Do parents with more than one student get a lower assessment?
Yes. Parental income is treated as reduced by $7,000 for each other dependent student they support who is studying full-time. If your parents live in separate households it is reduced by a further $3,400.
Is the Student Allowance taxed?
Yes. StudyLink quotes the rate after tax at the M tax code. This calculator takes income tax off the weekly amount using the 2026-27 brackets, which reproduces StudyLink's published after-tax rates.
Does this calculator cover couples?
No. It covers single students. A student with a partner is assessed on combined income under separate tables, so use StudyLink's rates page and calculators for that case.
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