Time for Govt to deliver full student allowance

Time for the government to deliver a full year Student Allowance

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association (ATSA) welcomes the news that the government is intending to widen access to student allowances. ATSA recommends that a 52 week allowance be a part of their ‘delivering for students,’ in their second term.

Currently, students in real financial need must switch from a student allowance to an unemployment benefit (student hardship) for the summer period. There is a stand down period in between. “Student Allowances are designed to be the absolute minimum a student can live on”, said Julie Pettett, ATSA President. “What are students supposed to live on in this stand down period – fresh air?”

“Switching allowances results in needless administration costs for StudyLink and unnecessary aggravation for students,” said Julie Pettett. President of ATSA. “A 52 week allowance from the time a student starts studying until they finish removes these problems.”

“ATSA supports moves to widen eligibility and clean up the allowance system,” said Pettett. “ATSA believes that government has the sense to see that a 52 week allowance is a real change that will save in administration costs and reduce student hardship and frustration at pointless bureaucracy.”

If Labour wants to deliver to students in their second term, then a 52 week allowance should be high on the list.

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