Dear Daniel Farrell,

Thank you for your email received 14 November 2014, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National office to respond. You may expect a response to be sent to you as soon as possible.

Regards
Official and Parliamentary Information team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Farrell [mailto:[OIA #2174 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 13 November 2014 6:33 p.m.
To: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Number of students receiving the Student Allowance in Hamilton, Average weekly amount received

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I am wanting to enquire as to the number of students attending tertiary institutions in Hamilton who receive the Student Allowance, as well as the average weekly amount received by tertiary students in Hamilton.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Daniel Farrell

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Hi Daniel,

In relation to your official information request received 14 November
2014, I am seeking clarification on the actual information you require as
the Ministry can draw on this information in several ways depending on
what best meets your requirements for this information.

 

·         “students attending tertiary institutions in Hamilton” this
would include all students studying at providers in Hamilton, whether or
not they live in Hamilton.  Students may live elsewhere but choose to
study at a provider in Hamilton, either by travelling to their course or
by studying extramurally. 

 

·         “tertiary students in Hamilton” this would include all tertiary
students receiving Student Allowance and living in Hamilton, regardless of
where they study.  Students living in Hamilton may be studying elsewhere,
either by travelling or by studying extramurally. 

 

·         A third option would be to restrict this to students on Student
Allowance who both live in Hamilton and study at a Hamilton-based
provider.

 

Can you please let me know which options suit you?  

 

Yours sincerely

 

Official and Parliamentary Information Team, Ministry of Social
Development

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------

Dear Daniel

 

Thank you for your email of 13 November, requesting:

 

“the number of students attending tertiary institutions in Hamilton who
receive the Student Allowance, as well as the average weekly amount
received by tertiary students in Hamilton”. 

 

I can provide you with the following information:

 

As at 31 October,

 

·         4,015 students in receipt of Student Allowance had a study
address in Hamilton.  The average Student Allowance payment for these
students, including accommodation benefit (where eligible) was $222.27
(gross) per week.  The median was $234.65 (gross).

 

·         3,823 students in receipt of Student Allowance had a study
address in Hamilton and had declared that they were studying at a provider
with a Hamilton campus.  The average Student Allowance payment for these
students, including accommodation benefit (where eligible) was $221.83
(gross) per week.  The median was $234.65 (gross).

 

There are some limitations with this data:

 

·         Point in time - this data only includes those students who were
approved and in payment on 31 October.  Students paid earlier in the year
who are no longer in payment, for example if their study has ended, are
not included.  Students who were declined for that particular week, for
example due to income, but who would otherwise be in payment, are not
included.

 

·         Campus - this is based on a declaration by the student; it is
not always correct, and not all students have a campus location recorded. 
Students with a Hamilton address, who do not have a Hamilton campus, are
not necessarily studying outside Hamilton, likewise, those who have a
Hamilton address are not necessarily studying in Hamilton.

 

Note:

Payment amounts are gross (before tax) however accommodation benefit is
not taxable.

 

Any deductions made from a student's Student Allowance payments are not
taken into account, such as debt repayments or child support.

 

I hope this information is helpful.

 

If you have any questions regarding this information, or need any further
information regarding student support payments, please email
[email address].

 

Kind regards

 

Casey Freeman

National Manager Service Support StudyLink

Phone (04) 9142444 [mobile number] email [email address]

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------