Domestic Purposes Benefit – Sole Parent
Domestic Purposes Benefit for sole parents is a weekly payment which helps sole parents with one or more dependent children.
Who can get it
You may get this type of Domestic Purposes Benefit if you:
- are the parent of a child under 18 who is dependent on you
- are not in a relationship with the other parent
- do not have a partner or you have lost the support of your partner
- are 18 or over (or 16-17 if you were legally married or in a civil union).
You must also:
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years at any one time since becoming a New Zealand citizen or resident (unless you are a refugee).
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
You may also be able to get the Domestic Purposes Benefit - Sole Parent if you are caring for a child who is not your own.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
For more information
If you'd like more information please download our brochure:
Domestic purposes and widow’s benefits (PDF 210.64KB)
Financial assistance for sole parents, some women living alone and caregivers.
For a full explanation of the Domestic Purposes Benefit – Sole Parent, please go to our:
How to apply
If you’re aged 16 to 64, you need to:
- complete an application form
- meet us to provide the necessary supporting documents.
If this isn’t you, contact us about applying.
How long do I have to complete my application?
You have 20 working days from when you first contacted us (submitting your online application form counts as contacting us). You'll need to provide us with any supporting documentation required for your application within this time. If you don't do this, you may have to reapply.
If you can't complete your application within 20 working days for any reason, please contact us.