Student Allowances Amendment Regulations 2022

2022/26

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Student Allowances Amendment Regulations 2022

Cindy Kiro, Governor-General

Order in Council

At Wellington this 21st day of February 2022

Present:
Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council

These regulations are made under section 645 of the Education and Training Act 2020 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.

Regulations

1 Title

These regulations are the Student Allowances Amendment Regulations 2022.

2 Commencement

These regulations come into force on 1 April 2022.

3 Principal regulations

These regulations amend the Student Allowances Regulations 1998.

4 Application

In accordance with section 645(8) of the Education and Training Act 2020, these regulations apply to grants payable on and after 1 April 2022.

5 Schedule 2 replaced

Replace Schedule 2 with the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule of these regulations.

Schedule Schedule 2 replaced

r 5

Schedule 2 Amounts of certain grants

r 18

Part 1 Basic grant

Subpart 1—Married and partnered students

1 Combined income not more than $481.40 for week

(1)

The table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a married or partnered student whose combined income for the week is not more than $481.40.

ItemCircumstancesValue ($)
1The student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course, and—
(a)the student is childless655.84
(b)the student has 1 or more supported children690.26
2The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, and is not eligible for, a grant, and—
(a)the student is childless364.72
(b)the student has 1 or more supported children524.13
3The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course but does not receive, although is eligible for, a grant and—
(a)the student is childless316.51
(b)the student has 1 or more supported children350.90
4The student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and receives a grant, and—
(a)the student is childless316.51
(b)the student has 1 or more supported children333.71

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $240.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

2 Combined income between $481.40 and $1,002.56 for week

(1)

The table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a married or partnered student whose combined income for the week is more than $481.40.

ItemCircumstancesValue ($)
1The student is childless and—
(a)is living in the same home as their spouse or partner186.97
(b)is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner234.11
2The student has 1 or more supported children and is living in the same home as their spouse or partner, and—
(a)the student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course218.69
(b)the student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and—
(i)receives a grant202.85
(ii)is eligible for but does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant218.69
3The student has 1 or more supported children and is not living in the same home as their spouse or partner, and—
(a)the student’s spouse or partner is not enrolled in more than half of a full-time course265.84
(b)the student’s spouse or partner is enrolled in more than half of a full-time course and—
(i)receives a grant249.98
(ii)is eligible for but does not receive, or is not eligible for, a grant265.84

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $240.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

(3)

Despite subclause (1), the basic grant is not payable for the week if the student’s combined income for the week is $1,002.56 or more.

Subpart 2—Single students

3 Basic grant for week for single students

(1)

The table sets out the value of a basic grant payable for a week to a single student.

ItemCircumstancesValue ($)
1The student has 1 or more supported children524.13
2The student is 24 or older, childless, and not living in a parental home364.72
3The student is 24 or older, childless, and living in a parental home306.85
4The student is under 24, childless, and not living in a parental home316.51
5The student is under 24, childless, and living in a parental home268.37

(2)

However, subclause (1) is subject to subclauses (3) to (6).

(3)

If the student is under 24, childless, not living in a parental home, and the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent exceeds $1,172.48, the value of the basic grant payable for a week to the student specified in item 4 of the table in subclause (1) is reduced by the amount calculated in accordance with the following formula—

(30.30303% × (the amount of item A up to a maximum of $156.02)) + (27.93296% × (any amount of item A exceeding $156.02))

where—

A

is the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent less $1,172.48.

(4)

If the student is under 24, childless, living in a parental home, and the average gross weekly income of the student’s parents or parent exceeds $1,172.48, the value of the basic grant payable for a week to the student specified in item 5 of the table in subclause (1) is reduced by 27.93296% of that excess.

(5)

If the student’s personal income exceeds $240.70 for the week, the value of the basic grant payable for a week to the student is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

(6)

If both subclauses (3) and (5) apply, or both subclauses (4) and (5) apply, the reduction described in subclause (3) or (4) (as the case requires) occurs before the reduction described in subclause (5).

Part 2 Independent circumstances grant

4 Independent circumstances grant for week

(1)

The value of an independent circumstances grant payable for a week to a student is $316.51.

(2)

However, if the student’s personal income exceeds $240.70 for the week, the value of the independent circumstances grant for the week is reduced by an amount equalling the excess.

Michael Webster,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 1 April 2022, amend the Student Allowances Regulations 1998 to—

  • increase the rates of the basic grants and independent circumstances grants to take account of both mandatory adjustments and discretionary increases:

  • raise income thresholds:

  • adjust the gross abatement rates for payments to students who are single, under 24 years of age, without children, and not living in a parental home.

The mandatory adjustments reflect a 5.95% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2020 quarter to the December 2021 quarter (calculated for all quarters using the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (All Groups)).

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 24 February 2022.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Social Development.