Bereavement
Losing loved ones and helping others through it can have a big impact on your circumstances. We may be able to help you with some living, childcare and funeral costs.
Help with living, health and housing expenses
We may be able to help you with your living expenses, health and housing costs.
If you're struggling to support yourself or your family, please contact us. We can often help.
Accommodation Supplement
Help with your rent, board or the cost of owning a home.
Community Services Card
A card that can help you and your family with the costs of health care. You'll pay less on some health services and prescriptions.
Living Alone Payment
An ongoing extra payment on top of your NZ Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension, when you maintain a household on your own. You may also get this payment in some situations, when you have a spouse or partner, or are not living on your own.
Widow's Benefit
Assistance if you're a woman whose husbands or partners have died.
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Women Alone
Assistance if you're a woman over 50 who has lost the support of your partner or finished caring for a child or sick relative.
Surviving Spouse or Partner Pension
A pension if your spouse or partner died from disabilities caused by a war or other emergency in which they served.
War allowances and grants
If the deceased was a Veteran, and you're related to them, you may be entitled to a children's pension, a War Orphan's Pension, war bursaries or surviving spouse or partner payments.
Websites that may help
Working for Families Tax Credits
Assistance that recognises the cost of raising children and ensures that you’re better off in work. Three out of four families with children can get Working for Families assistance such as:
- tax credits
- help with housing costs
- childcare assistance.
Family and Community Services - Directory of services
Looking for support for you or your family? The National Directory lists organisations in your area that can help.
Help with funeral expenses
We may be able to help you with some funeral costs.
Funeral Grant
Grant to help pay the costs of the funeral.
War allowances or grants
If the deceased was a War Veteran, you may get a War Funeral Grant.
Help with childcare costs
We may be able to help with the costs of bringing up children and childcare (that isn't paid for by 20 Hours Early Childhood Education).
Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) - Sole Parent
Assistance if you're a sole parent.
Supporting children and families
We can support you while you're looking after children. You may be able to get help with living expenses, health, housing or childcare.
Childcare Subsidy
Helps pay for pre-school childcare.
Childcare Assistance Programme
Helps pay for before-school, after-school, and school holiday programmes through the Out of school care and recreation (OSCAR) subsidy.
War allowances and grants
If the deceased was a Veteran, and you're related to them, you may be entitled to a children's pension, a War Orphan's Pension, war bursaries or surviving spouse or partner payments.
Contact us
Everyone's situation is different. We're here to help if you need it.
Contact us if you:
- would like assistance
- aren't sure if you can get assistance
- are struggling to support yourself or your family
- would like more information.