What's new
1 January 2025
Standard rate of Accommodation Benefit
From 1 January 2025, a total of four Territorial Authority rates will increase and 63 Territorial Authority rates will remain the same as they are already at the maximum rate.
See:
Apprenticeship Boost
The Apprenticeship Boost Initiative Programme expiry date of 31 December 2024 has been removed from Map pages.
From 1 January 2025, new targeted eligibility settings have been introduced.
See:
Fees Free
The Tertiary Education Commission’s Fees Free policy has changed from 1 January 2025. From 2025 eligible learners can claim the fees for their final year of study once they complete their qualification.
For more information see: https://www.feesfree.govt.nz/
This change affects Training Incentive Allowance and Mana in Mahi.
Training Incentive Allowance
A client’s potential eligibility to final-year Fees Free will not be considered by MSD when determining whether to grant Training Incentive Allowance for compulsory course fees, as it does not cover their upfront fees.
Clients whose fees can be met using their remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement cannot receive Training Incentive Allowance for those fees.
See:
- Training Incentive Allowance and Student Loan
- Training Incentive Allowance and Fees Free
- Course costs
- Reimbursing costs
- Costs exceed maximum
Mana in Mahi
A participant’s potential eligibility to final-year Fees Free will not be considered when determining whether to pay Mana in Mahi to an employer for a participant’s course fees, as it does not cover their upfront fees.
Employers cannot get Mana in Mahi for course fees if the participant can use their remaining first-year Fees Free entitlement in 2025.
See:
Student Loan
Minor changes have been made to the following Student Loan manuals:
