Student allowance numbers rise 61 percent in 5 years

Student allowances aren't classified as benefits. A case could be argued why they should be. But they are part of the Education budget, not Social Development and Employment.  As it stands, keeping them separate makes benefit stats look better. If someone moved from the DPB to a Student Allowance they officially stop being a beneficiary and become a student. But they remain the same (or very similar) item of government expenditure.



table SA.2: Types of Student Allowance received

Type of Student Allowance received	Students receiving a Student Allowance1
	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Single – parentally income tested away from home	11,404	12,704	14,031	18,280	21,041
Single – parentally income tested at home	18,851	21,158	23,202	26,872	31,921
Single – not parentally income tested away from home	1,959	1,987	2,110	3,456	3,404
Single – not parentally income tested at home	14,887	14,467	14,845	20,249	24,067
Single – student in independent circumstances	2,187	2,121	2,071	2,205	2,078
Single – student with dependent child(ren)	1,542	1,572	1,583	1,868	2,243
Couple – both students2	1,684	1,622	1,279	1,512	1,647
Couple – student with dependent spouse or partner2	5,638	5,524	5,288	6,497	7,400
Couple – student with earning spouse or partner2	1,307	1,350	1,296	1,699	2,147
Total	59,459	62,505	65,705	82,638	95,948

Notes

1. The number of students recorded as receiving a Student Allowance during years ended 31 December.
2. Includes couples both with and without children.

The 2010 cost of student allowances was $570 million. Also up 61 percent from 2006 when it was $354 million.