Moving from a benefit to study

If you're on a benefit and are thinking about study, you may be able to get help from Work and Income, StudyLink, or both.

Important information

You need to talk to Work and Income as soon as possible if you're considering studying as it could affect what you get from them.

Some help might pay more than others so you'll need to work out which support is available to you.

Help from Work and Income

If you're studying full-time, you may be able to stay on:

  • Sole Parent Support
  • Supported Living Payment
  • Youth Payment
  • Young Parent Payment.

You may also still be able to get:

  • Accommodation Supplement
  • Disability Allowance
  • Temporary Additional Support
  • Childcare Assistance.
Studying while on a benefit

Help from StudyLink

If you don't stay on your benefit, we may be able to help you pay day-to-day living expenses with a:

  • Student Allowance and Accommodation Benefit, or
  • Student Loan for living costs.

You may also be able to get a Student Loan to help pay for your:

  • compulsory course fees
  • course-related costs (eg, books, travel, etc).

Other help

You may also be able to get:

  • Disability Allowance
  • Childcare Assistance.

In some circumstances you may be able to get:

  • Accommodation Supplement
  • Temporary Additional Support.

If you're already getting these payments from Work and Income and can keep getting them while you study, we'll make sure they continue.

Other types of help

Working for Families

If you get Working for Families payments from Work and Income, they'll stop when you come off your benefit. You'll need to contact Inland Revenue so that you can continue to get them while you're studying.

Help from both

If you stay on your benefit, we may also be able to help you with a Student Loan to pay for your:

  • compulsory course fees
  • course-related costs (eg, books, travel, etc).

Help from Work and Income

If you're studying part-time, you may be able to stay on:

  • Jobseeker Support
  • Sole Parent Support
  • Supported Living Payment
  • Youth Payment
  • Young Parent Payment.

You may also be able to get extra help:

  • Accommodation Supplement
  • Disability Allowance
  • Temporary Additional Support
  • Childcare Assistance.
Studying while on a benefit

Help from StudyLink

If you don't stay on your benefit, you may be able to get a Student Loan to pay for your compulsory course fees.

Other help

You may also be able to get:

  • Accommodation Supplement
  • Disability Allowance
  • Childcare Assistance.

In some circumstances you may be able to get:

  • Temporary Additional Support.

If you're already getting these payments from Work and Income and can keep getting them while you study, we'll make sure they continue.

Other types of help

Working for Families

If you get Working for Families payments from Work and Income, they'll stop when you come off your benefit. You'll need to contact Inland Revenue so that you can continue to get them while you're studying.

Studying part-time for a good reason

If you're studying part-time for a good reason, you can be classed as a full-time student and may be able to get either:

  • Student Allowance and Accommodation Benefit, or
  • Student Loan for:
    • living costs
    • course-related costs (eg, books, travel, etc).

Help from both

If you stay on your benefit, we may also be able to help you with a Student Loan to pay your compulsory course fees.

If you're studying part-time for a good reason, you can be classed as a full-time student and may also be able to get a Student Loan for course-related costs (eg, books, travel, etc).

linksRelated

Work and Income - Studying while on a benefit
Student Loan
Student Allowance
Student Allowance rates
Accommodation Benefit
Work out if you can afford to study