Our services and standards

We offer:

• payments for people on low-to-middle incomes, including payments for:
  • when you're not working
  • living expenses, e.g. accommodation or power
  • children, e.g. childcare or school uniforms
  • urgent or unexpected costs, e.g. food or a washing machine
  • health and disability-related costs, e.g. prescriptions or dental treatment 
  • caring for someone, e.g. someone with a disability
• NZ Superannuation for people who are 65 years or older, and
• pensions for ex-service people.

There is also a Community Services Card to help with medical costs and public transport fares.

We have an online Check What You Might Get guide where you can find out how we can help you and your family. You'll need to answer some questions and at the end we'll tell you what payments we think you may be able to get. Then you can apply online for these payments.

Explore our payment options

Use our Check What You Might Get guide

Managing your payments

If you get a payment from us, there are things you'll need to do, like tell us about your income or if your situation changes. We have an online service called MyMSD where you can do this.

You may also need to re-apply for some payments after a certain period of time.

What you need to do when getting a payment from us

We can support you into work by helping you:

• get ready for work, e.g. creating a CV or doing study/training to build up confidence and skills
• find work, e.g. connecting you with employers
• when you're starting a new job, e.g. travel costs or clothes for work
• start a business, e.g. develop a business plan or training in business skills
• while you're working, e.g. upskilling in your job
• when you're finishing work, e.g. re-training.

How we can help with work

We can help you:

• if you need emergency housing because you have nowhere to stay tonight
• find a house, e.g. look for a private rental, or apply for public housing
• with housing costs, e.g. accommodation (like rent or board) or power costs
• move house, e.g. moving costs or bond.

How we can help with housing

We have a range of services for employers.

We offer:

• free recruitment services, e.g. shortlisting candidates and listing your vacancy
• support and training for employees, e.g. wage subsidies or payments for apprentices
• redundancy support, e.g. finding another job or re-training.

Employer services

We partner with providers to deliver services and products to people across New Zealand. 

The types of providers we are partnered with include:

• housing providers
• residential care providers
• health and disability providers
• childcare and OSCAR providers
• suppliers that accept payment cards.

Information for providers

Fraud and Debt

We work hard to prevent benefit and housing fraud and to recover debts. This is so we can support the people who need it most.

Fraud and investigations

Repaying a debt

Family Violence Intervention Programme

The Family Violence Intervention Programme enhances our response to people who are experiencing family violence.

Family Violence Intervention Programme