Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Ministry of Social Development figures show roughly 65 percent of student allowance applications have been finalised for study beginning this year. That reaches 80 percent for applications received by the target date in mid-December. Otago University first year student Aroha Stapleforth applied for a student allowance in late January, and said she was given no information that it needed to be done earlier. She has been without any income for five weeks while living by herself for the first time - fortunately her rent for her student flat is paid off in lump sums in the middle and end of the year.