Work & Income NZ is a government agency set up to support individuals and families during times of need - such as in sickness, after redundancy, or after the death of spouse for example. Those with short or long term health issues, or their carers, can apply for help at any time. Main BenefitThe types of benefit available have recently changed and are now named as follows: Jobseeker Support For people temporarily out of work, but who are seeking and available for employment. They have work obligations based on their ability to work. This benefit is for people who:
Sole Parent Support This payment is for sole parents caring for children under the age of 14 who can look or prepare for part-time work. Sole Parent Support has different obligations based on the age of the youngest child:
Supported Living Payment The Supported Living Payment is for people who are permanently and severely restricted in their capacity to work because of a health condition or disability. Supported Living Payment also includes carers of people needing hospital-level (or equivalent) care. People on this benefit may have work preparation obligations and can be asked to do specific activities to prepare for work where they’re able. You may be able to get the Supported Living Payment if you are:
If you have a health condition, injury or disability: To get the Supported Living Payment because of a health condition, injury or disability, you must be:
As part of your application for Supported Living Payment we’ll need you to give us information that confirms your condition and the impact it has on your ability to work. If you want to work: People on Supported Living Payment aren't required to look for work, but we know that many disabled people and people with health conditions are keen to work with the right support.
Transition to Work Grant is a payment which helps people with the costs of moving into a job. Work Bonus is an incentive payment available to some people on a benefit who choose to work even though they don’t have work obligations as a condition of their benefit. We'll talk to you about this support when you contact us to tell us you've found work. If you have a partner, their situation will be considered in your application. Your partner will also need to meet a number of obligations. If you’re a full-time carer: To get the Supported Living Payment because you're a full-time carer, you need to be caring full-time for someone at home who isn't your husband, wife or partner. The person you’re caring for must otherwise need to receive hospital or residential-level care. Examples of this level of care are:
As part of the application process we’ll need to see medical information from the doctor or specialist of the person you’re caring for. If you have a partner: If you’re a full-time carer for someone and you have a partner, your partner can’t be included in your Supported Living Payment. Talk to us if they need financial assistance. New Zealand Superannuation New Zealand Superannuation is a fortnightly payment for people aged 65 and over. We’ll automatically send you a SuperGold card when your New Zealand Superannuation is granted. You may get New Zealand Superannuation if you:
You must also have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20. Five of those years must be since you turned 50. Time spent overseas in certain countries and for certain reasons may be counted for New Zealand Superannuation (we can tell you more about this when you contact us). How much you can get depends on your current circumstances. These include:
Any payments you get from accident insurance or Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) may affect your pension. Help with living expensesWINZ may be able to help with living costs if you're not able to work, or are working fewer hours because:
Accommodation Supplement Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment which helps people with their rent, board or the cost of owning a home. You may get an Accommodation Supplement if you:
It also depends on:
How much you will get on the Accommodation Supplement will depend on:
Accommodation Supplement calculator (Working for Families website) - Work out how much you might be entitled to. Advance Payment of Benefit If you are getting a benefit and have an immediate need for something essential you may be able to get an advance payment of your benefit. We generally pay the supplier for the goods or services you need (eg appliances, furniture, bedding, rent or school uniforms). You’ll need to pay us back but may be able to do this in instalments. You may get an Advance Payment of Benefit if you:
It also depends on:
Away from Home Allowance Away from Home Allowance is a weekly payment which helps carers with the living costs for 16 or 17 year olds who are living away from home while on a tertiary or training course. We pay the allowance to the carer of the young person. You may get an Away from Home Allowance if:
How much you get depends on yours and the young person’s circumstances. Temporary Additional Support Temporary Additional Support is a weekly payment which helps someone who can’t meet their essential living costs from what they earn or from other sources. You may get Temporary Additional Support if you:
To work out if you can get this help we also look at:
If you or your partner have made an application for Temporary Additional Support, you must take all necessary steps to get other assistance towards costs and take reasonable steps to increase your income and reduce costs where possible. This support may be paid for up to 13 weeks. Other benefits available for disabled personsChild Disability Allowance Child Disability Allowance is a fortnightly payment made to the main carer of a child or young person with a serious disability. It is paid in recognition of the extra care and attention needed for that child. You may get a Child Disability Allowance if:
Both you and the child should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here. This payment is not affected by:
Childcare Subsidy Childcare Subsidy is a payment that helps families with the cost of pre-school childcare. You may get a Childcare Subsidy if you are:
It also depends on how much you and your spouse or partner earn. The child must be:
A Childcare Subsidy is normally paid for up to nine hours of childcare a week. In some situations you may be able to get up to 50 hours a week. Civilian amputee assistance Civilian Amputee Assistance helps amputees, or those born without a limb(s), with some of their costs when they need to go to an Artificial Limb Centre. An allowance which helps you with regular, ongoing costs because of a disability, such as visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing or travel. You may get Civilian Amputee Assistance if you need to go to an Artificial Limb Centre to have an artificial limb fitted, adjusted or repaired. You can claim:
Community Costs Community Costs is a weekly payment which helps people in a short-term residential treatment programme meet their essential ongoing costs in the community. If you're in a short-term residential treatment programme, we may be able to help you meet your costs in the community. Community Costs aim to help make it easier for people to go back into the community at the end of their treatment and can help pay for essential costs such as:
You may get Community Costs if you:
It also depends on:
You must also:
Community Services Card The Community Services Card can help you and your family with the costs of health care. You'll pay less on some health services and prescriptions.
If you are getting one of the following types of help you (or your child, in some cases) will automatically be issued with a Community Services Card.
You may get the Community Services Card if you are:
Disability Allowance Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability, such as visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing or travel.You may get a Disability Allowance if you:
Emergency Benefit The Emergency Benefit is assistance that may be paid to people who cannot support themselves and who do not qualify for any other payments. Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment If you are under 19 and have a child under five, and are in full-time education, training or work-based learning, you may be able to get the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment (GCAP) to assist with the cost of childcare You may be able to get GCAP if you are:
Or, if you are not on a benefit, and you are:
If you have a partner, in order to receive GCAP there needs to be a good reason why your partner can’t provide childcare. For example, a good reason could be that they are studying, working or actively seeking work. GCAP covers the actual childcare service costs, up to $6.00 an hour and up to 50 hours a week for each child and can be paid for the hours you're:
GCAP is usually paid straight to the early childhood centre or service. Home Help If you're a parent or carer we may be able to help you with the cost of home help to complete household tasks or training in parenting skills. You may get Home Help if you have had a multiple birth or have adopted three or more children. You may also get it if you have a domestic emergency or need domestic support. If you have a domestic emergency or need domestic support it also depends on any money or assets you and your spouse or partner have. You must also:
House Modification Funding Funding for changes to your home because you or your child is disabled. Live Organ Donor Assistance Live Organ Donor Assistance is a payment which helps people who are donating a kidney or liver tissue for transplant within New Zealand with loss of income and/or childcare costs. It does not provide full compensation for loss of income. You may be able to get Live Organ Donor Assistance if you have:
To get help with childcare costs you must have children under 14 and need extra childcare because of your operation. Overseas donors may be able to get Live Organ Donor Assistance if their surgery is carried out in New Zealand. Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy is a payment which helps families with the costs of before- and after-school programmes, and school holiday programmes. It helps with the costs of before- and after-school programmes for up to 20 hours a week, and school holiday programmes of up to 50 hours a week. You may get an OSCAR Subsidy if you:
You can estimate the amount of OSCAR Subsidy you may be entitled to by using the calculator on the Working for Families website. Working For Families calculator View our current rates Re-establishment grant (Special Needs Grant) The Special Needs Grant - Re-establishment grant is a payment to help people in specific circumstances re-establish themselves in the community. Re-establishment grants are considered on a case by case basis. You must meet the qualifications for a Special Needs Grant. You must also be re-establishing yourself in the community and be:
Recoverable Assistance Payment Recoverable Assistance is a payment which helps people pay for something they need urgently when they have no other way of paying for it. This grant is generally paid for items such as appliances, school uniforms or rent arrears. Recoverable Assistance has to be paid back but may be paid back in instalments. You may get a Recoverable Assistance Payment Grant if:
It also depends on:
Residential Care Loan Many people going into residential care want to keep their home. Rather than selling your home to pay for your care, we may be able to help you with a Residential Care Loan. This is an interest free loan paid to the hospital or rest home and is usually repaid when your home is sold.You may get a Residential Care Loan if you:
Residential Care Subsidy If you need long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home, you may be able to get a Residential Care Subsidy from the Ministry of Health. This subsidy helps with the cost of this care. The subsidy is paid directly to the hospital or rest home by the Ministry of Health. A subsidy for residential care needed because of a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disability (including drug and alcohol rehabilitation). You may get a Residential Care Subsidy if:
It also depends on:
If you get a benefit or pension, most of it goes to the hospital or rest home to help pay for your care. You keep a personal allowance. Social Rehabilitation Assistance Social Rehabilitation Assistance is a payment which helps people who are in a residential social rehabilitation programme and their benefit isn't enough to meet the fees. Payments are made directly to the programme provider.
How much you can get depends on the area where the social rehabilitation programme is. Special Disability Allowance Special Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have a spouse or partner who is in a hospital or rest home (for at least 13 weeks) or who is getting a Residential Care Subsidy. It is paid to the spouse or partner who is not in care to help with the extra costs of having their spouse or partner in care. You may get a Special Disability Allowance if:
Special Needs Grant A Special Needs Grant is a payment to help people in certain circumstances pay for something when they have no other way of paying for it. You don't usually have to pay them back either. Generally, you may get a Special Needs Grant if you:
It may also depend on:
We want to make sure everyone receiving a hardship payment is also getting help to manage their money and improve their situation. If you're receiving Youth Payment and Young Parent Payment, this information doesn't apply to you. Your Youth Service provider will help you with budgeting. Modification Grant Funding for workplace changes or equipment if you're disabled which make it easier for you to stay in or get work. Car Modification Funding Funding if you need to modify your car because you're disabled. Training and employment helpBusiness Training and Advice Grant Business Training and Advice Grant helps people getting government assistance who want to start up their own business. It helps towards the cost of training and advice you need to start a business. You could also use it if you need the services of a business adviser. You may get the Business Training and Advice Grant if:
How much you can get - up to $1,000 (including GST) per person per project. Contact us for application forms and advice on courses. You will also need to write a brief summary about your business and the course or service you want the grant for. You need to apply and get approval before starting the course or using the service.Employment Transition Grant Employment Transition Grant is a weekly payment which helps some people who have completed a Supported Living Payment Employment Trial. You may get an Employment Transition Grant if you:
Flexi-Wage for Self-Employment Flexi-Wage helps people getting government assistance who want to start up their own business. You may get the Flexi-Wage for Self-Employment if:
How much you can get depends on the needs of your business and your personal financial situation. New Employment Transition Grant The New Employment Transition Grant is a payment which helps people who are no longer on a benefit and who can't work because of sickness or a breakdown in childcare arrangements.You may get a New Employment Transition Grant if you have a dependent child or children and either:
Extra recoverable assistance is available for clients who are receiving Sole Parent Support and who are undertaking study at level 4 or above. Sole Parent Support Study Assistance Loan can be paid if you:
The maximum amount you can borrow is $500.00 in a 52 week period. This is interest and tax free. You can apply up to five times in a 52 week period, but you cannot receive more than $500.00 in total. You can apply for the Sole Parent Support Study Assistance for expenses such as:
You won't need to make any repayment until you finish your course or you stop receiving Sole Parent Support, whichever comes first. You'll need to negotiate the amount to be repaid with Work and Income. The minimum amount you must repay is $4.00 a week unless you have exceptional circumstances. Help with careers and finding a job Work can improve your life and give you independence. When it's right for you and your family, we can help you find part-time or full-time work, get training, or become self-employed. Looking for work We can help you find a job and support you while you look for work. Mainstream Employment Programme If you have a significant disability and you believe it is preventing you from getting a job, you might be eligible for Mainstream. Self-start A grant that helps disabled people or people with ill health become self-employed. Training Support A payment which helps disabled people or people with ill health attend training or other activities that make it easier for them to get work or stay in work. Employment Transition Assistance If you've completed a Supported Living Payment Employment Trial you may get an extra payment. Other services that may help with employment and trainingWorkbridge is a professional employment service for people with all types of disability, including people who have lived with the long-term effects of injury and illness. A Workbridge jobseeker will have been living with the effects of their disability, injury or illness for more than six months. There is no cost for jobseekers and employers to match people to the right job. Workbridge also administers Support Funds on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development. This funding is available to help with any additional costs directly relating to a person's disability when entering or retaining a job, entering training, or commencing self employment. Workbridge shares the vision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, that disabled people have the same right to take part in community life as everyone else. We work with disabled people to increase their participation in employment. To achieve this we work co-operatively with other community organisations, employers and government. We have information for clients in Maori, Samoan, Tongan and Plain English. Tollfree phone number: 0508 858 858 A discussion around the barriers that disabled people face in education and employment. Other financial assistanceFuneral Grant A Funeral Grant can help with some of the funeral costs of someone close to you who has died. You may get a Funeral Grant if you are either:
There are some situations where you can’t get this grant if you have already received certain payments (we can tell you what these payments are). We can help you with necessary costs such as:
There are some costs we can’t help you with. If you want to check if a cost can be included, contact us. How much you can get depends on what money or assets the deceased person had. If you are their partner, spouse, parent or guardian it also depends on:
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