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.
Who can get it
You may get Temporary Additional Support if you:
- are over 16 years old
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- have essential living costs that you have no other way to meet
- are not already getting Special Benefit.
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
To work out if you can get this help we also look at:
- how much you and your spouse or partner earn
- any money or assets you and your spouse or partner have
- whether we can help you in other ways
- the types of costs you are paying for
- what you are doing to meet or reduce your costs.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
How much you can get
This depends on your current circumstances. This support may be paid for up to 13 weeks.
For more information
If you'd like more information please download our brochure:
Need extra help with costs? (PDF 311.52KB)
A guide to allowances and extra payments for people on a benefit.
For a full explanation of Temporary Additional Support, please go to our:
How to apply
Contact us to talk about your circumstances and we’ll explain how to apply. We’ll normally arrange a meeting with you and will tell you what you need to bring.
Extra Help Application Form (PDF 316.82KB)
Use this form to apply for Temporary Additional Support.
How long do I have to complete my application?
You have 20 working days from when you first contacted 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