Unemployment Benefit
Unemployment Benefit is a weekly payment which helps people who are looking for work or training for work.
Who can get it
You may get the Unemployment Benefit if you are not in full-time work.
You must be:
- available for, and looking for full time work
- 18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and have one or more children you support).
You must also (unless you are in hardship):
- 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 still qualify if you are a full-time trainee on an approved work related course (usually less than 12 weeks) and looking for work.
This information is a guide only. Contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
Are you eligible?
Find out if you might get this benefit, and what other financial assistance may be available to you.
We can grant you the financial assistance you’re entitled to from the date you first contact us if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.
Contact us for more information
Once you’re on the benefit
What happens if you don’t meet your work obligations?
Work obligations include things like:
- attending scheduled job interviews
- actively looking for a job
- taking a suitable job that’s offered to you
- attending work experience, training or workshops that we think would be helpful.
The first time you don’t meet your work obligations, your main benefit will be reduced by 50%. You’ll continue to receive any supplementary assistance that you’re entitled to.
The second time you don’t comply, your benefit and supplementary assistance will be suspended.
The third time you don’t comply all your benefits will be cancelled, see:
On Unemployment Benefit for more than 12 months
If you still require Unemployment Benefit after 52 weeks you’ll have to re-apply for your benefit. We’ll let you know when you have to re-apply and tell you what you need to do.
When you re-apply, you’ll also need to complete a Comprehensive Work Assessment. This will identify what steps you have taken to find work and what help you might need from us to be more successful in getting a job.
What happens if you don’t re-apply in time?
Your benefit will be stopped if you don’t reapply in time. In some cases you may be able to have an extension if you can’t reapply in time but you need to contact us immediately and explain your circumstances.
What does your partner need to do?
If you have a partner, then your partner will need to complete their portion of your reapplication form.
If you don’t reapply for Unemployment Benefit after 52 weeks, your partner’s portion of your benefit will also stop.
Partners with work obligations need to participate in and complete their own Comprehensive Work Assessment.
