Sickness Benefit
A weekly payment which helps people who aren’t currently working, or are working less hours, because they are sick, injured, disabled or pregnant.
Who can get it
You may get the Sickness Benefit if, because you are sick, injured, disabled or pregnant, you:
- have had to reduce your hours
- have had to stop working
- are not working, or are working part-time, and find it hard to look for and do full-time work.
You will need to give us a medical certificate.
You must be 18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or a de facto relationship and have one or more children you support).
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.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
For more information
You can find more information in our:
Manuals and procedures
For a full explanation of the Sickness Benefit.
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.