Information for parents
What you need to do to help your child with their applications.
Important information
We can only give you information about your part of your child's application, eg your income evidence or form unless they have appointed you as their agent.
What is a parent
A parent can be a birth parent, a step-parent or any person acting as your child’s parent.
When you need to provide information
You usually need to help with your child’s application if they're:
- under 18 for Student Loan
- under 24 for Student Allowance.
If your child applies for Student Allowance, how much they get will depend on your income if:
- they're under 24
- they don't have children.
How your income affects the Student Allowance
If your joint earnings are more than $60,968.96 a year before tax, the rate your child can get for Student Allowance goes down.
They can't get a Student Allowance if your joint earnings while they study are more than:
- $110,928.72 if they live with you
- $119,202.07 if they don't live with you.
What we assess as your joint earnings will be reduced by:
- $7,000 a year before tax if you already financially support other students who are:
- aged 16-23
- studying full-time in New Zealand at secondary school or an approved education provider
- $3,400 a year before tax if you live in a separate household from your child’s other parent.
What's counted as income
We look at your total annual income. This is more than just taxable income, eg, money from businesses and trusts.
What you need to do
- Fill out a Parents' form:
- if you have more than one child studying at the same time, you can complete one form for all children.
- if your accountant or tax agent fills out the income table, they will need to give us their details and sign the declaration
- Get evidence of your income (the form will tell you what to provide)
- if your accountant or tax agent fills out the income table and gives us their details, you won't need to do this
- Log in to Connect and upload your form and evidence.
Your child only has a relationship with 1 parent
In some circumstances, if your child only has a relationship with 1 parent, we'll just use that parent's income to work out how much Student Allowance your child can get.
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