Get Financial Assistance >> Main benefit information
New Zealand Superannuation
Financial Assistance for people aged 65 years or more
- Can I get it?
- Applications and payments
- Other income
- Other help
- What else do I need to know?
- Checklist
Can I get it?
To get New Zealand Superannuation (Super) you must be:
- 65 years of age or over, and
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident that normally
lives here when you
apply.
You must also have lived in New Zealand for a total of 10 years since you turned 20 (and five of those years must be since you turned 50), unless, when you were overseas you were:
- having special medical or surgical treatment or
- doing vocational training or
- working as a missionary or
- working with Volunteer Service Abroad or
- serving in one of the Commonwealth’s armed forces or
- working overseas and paid tax in New Zealand on the earnings from your work or
- working on a New Zealand owned or registered ship trading to and from here.
If you spent time overseas, you must usually have been living here before and after you were overseas, unless you spent time in Australia, Britain, Jersey, Guernsey, Canada, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, Greece or the Netherlands. That may also count as time lived here in terms of getting your Super.
Applications and payments
The date you apply for your Super is important because it will directly affect when your payments start. It’s important to apply at least two weeks before you reach the qualifying age. We can’t backdate your payments. Payments are made directly to your bank account every two weeks (this can be a joint account). To apply call us first on 0800 552 002 to arrange a meeting.
This guide tells you the maximum fortnightly payments for Super. It shows the amount you get before and after tax at the normal rate. If you have other income, you will be taxed at a different rate. Please call Inland Revenue for more information on 0800 227 774 (please have your IRD number handy).
Depending on your circumstances, you might wish to apply to Inland Revenue for a lower tax rate. Any extra assistance you may be eligible for is not included in the chart below.
If you receive a pension from an overseas Government, it is likely to be deducted from your Super. For more details call 0800 552 002 and ask for our International Services office.
If you have a partner who doesn’t already qualify for their own Super, you can choose to include them in your payments. If you do this, you could both get paid but any other income either of you earn could affect how much you get. We can help you work out the best option.
| Fortnightly payments | Before tax | Taxed at `M' (if you have no other income) |
|---|---|---|
| Single living alone | $695.54 | $571.74 |
| Single (sharing) | $640.22 | $527.76 |
| Married, de-facto or civil union couple (partner not included) | $528.74 | $439.80 |
| Married, de-facto or civil union couple (both partners qualify) | $528.74 each | $439.80 each |
| Married, de-facto or civil union couple* (only 1 partner qualifies) | $502.84 each | $419.36 each |
| *This amount may be affected by other income you receive. People whose payments started before October 1991 may get more than this. | ||
Rates at 1 April 2008
Other income
Receiving other income does not affect your Super unless your partner is ‘included’ in your payments when they do not qualify for Super themselves. If your partner is ‘included’, you can have other income of up to $80 (before tax) a week between you before your Super is affected. If you earn more than this, we will take 70c off your payment for each dollar of income over this limit. Other income may affect any extra assistance from us. Please ask us about this.
ACC
If you choose to receive weekly compensation payments paid through ACC you cannot receive Super aswell. If your partner does not qualify for Super in their own right but is included in your Super and your partner is receiving weekly compensation payments paid through ACC, then your Super payments could be affected.
Going overseas
Always tell us if you are going overseas. If you don’t tell us you are going overseas and your payments continue, you may have to pay back the money you received after you left New Zealand. You may still be able to get your Super, but it is best to call International Services to find out. Please ask for our Retired and Going Overseas brochure for more details.
Other help
Depending on your income and circumstances, we may be able to offer extra assistance with your Super. For a fuller explanation of the extra financial assistance we offer please ask for our Extra Financial Assistance or How can we help you? brochures.
If you live alone you may qualify for a Living Alone Payment in addition to your Super. You can get the payment from the date you started living alone or the date we receive your application, whichever is later. If your partner has died recently and you apply within 28 days, the payment can be started from the day after your partner died.
If your partner is in long-term residential care you may qualify for the Living Alone Payment. Please talk to us about this.
If you don’t qualify for Super, you may be eligible for another type of income support, for example if you are a woman alone who is over 50, you may be eligible for a Domestic Purposes Benefit.
If you are an ex-service person and you’re disabled, you may be able to get a War Disablement Pension or Veteran’s Pension. Call War Pension Services free on 0800 553 003 for more information.
The SuperGold Card is a discounts and concessions card issued free to all eligible seniors and veterans. The card is automatically sent to anyone who is eligible for the card. The card is not income tested. It gives access to discounts from a wide range of businesses nationwide and facilitates easy access to government entitlements and local authority services and concessions. More details and a full list of business partners can be found at www.supergold.govt.nz.
If you have a disability, the Disability Allowance
can help with the extra costs you
have, such as ongoing visits to the doctor or hospital,
medicines, extra clothes or travel or gardening services.
What else do I need to know?
Tell us about changes
It is important you tell us about any changes that may affect your Super. See our How can we help you? Brochure for a list of the kinds of things we need to know about.
You must tell us immediately:
- If you or your partner begin getting a pension from overseas
- If you or your partner are admitted to hospital
- If your income or your partner’s income changes, but only if your partner is included or you receive extra assistance from us
- If there are changes in any of the costs you get extra assistance for.
You may need to fill out a review form once a year if:
- You receive extra assistance from us (such as an Accommodation Supplement)
- Your partner is included in your payments
- You are receiving a Living Alone Payment. This is reviewed every 2 years.
Here's what you can expect from us
You can expect efficient and helpful service from us. You also have certain rights under the law:
- you usually have the right to see your file
- you can ask us to correct information which is wrong
- you can ask for a review if you don't agree with a decision we make
- you can 'appeal' to the Social Security Appeal Authority if you are not happy with the outcome of a review
Sometimes we may have to check information
As part of our follow-up processes, we may check the information you give us - with employers and banks for instance. We also compare records with other Government agencies.
Checklist
What do I need to bring to our meeting?
To save us all time and move things along faster, please bring all of the relevant items listed below to our meeting. If you want your partner 'included' in your payments, they have come with you. This list will help you double-check you have everything we need. If you are unsure about any item, please call us before you come on 0800 552 002.
| We need to see proof of | You need to bring along |
|---|---|
Your identity and New Zealand residency Your partner's identity and residency |
Two documents each - we need to see a birth certificate, passport or citizenship papers. The second can be a drivers license or firearms license for example |
| Any name changes you or your partner have had | Marriage certificate, civil union certficate or deed poll papers |
| Your bank account number(s) | Bank book or statement with your account number/s |
Your IRD (tax) number Your partner's IRD number |
A form or letter from Inland Revenue |
| Any benefit or pension you or your partner get from overseas | A letter, statement or payslip showing your payments |
| Your housing costs (to apply for an Accommodation Supplement | Items such as a rent book or a letter from the person you board with; if you own your home bring details of your mortgage, rates, insurance and home repair costs |
| Costs and expenses for other allowances | Please talk with us about what to bring |
| If your partner is 'included' and under the qualifying age... | |
| Your combined income for the past 52 weeks | Items such as payslips, bank statements, a letter from you employer(s) |
| Any assets you or your partner own which could earn income | Items such as bank statements, share certificates, property valuations |
By income we mean any income you or your partner get from any source, such as work, regular insurance payments like ACC, investments, business, private pensions, rent or board.
By assets we mean anything you or your partner own which you can earn income from such as savings, shares, stocks, loans to others or property you don't live in.
