Extra help for people receiving New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension Factsheet
Introduction
Most extra help is income tested and some is also asset tested. You will need to contact Work and Income to find out what you may be able to get.
If you live alone you may be able to get the Living Alone Payment.
If you need help with health costs (for example, doctors visits and prescriptions, medical and health related travel, ambulance fees, power gas and heating, dentures, glasses or hearing aids) what you may be able to get includes:
- Disability Allowance
- Special Needs Grant
- Advance Payment of Benefit
- Temporary Additional Support
- Community Services Card
If you need help with housing costs (for example, essential house repairs, rent, board, mortgage payments, rates, overdue power account, buying household appliances and furniture) what you may be able to get includes:
- Accommodation Supplement
- Special Needs Grant
- Advance Payment of Benefit
- Temporary Additional Support
If you need help with emergency costs (for example, emergency medical or dental treatment, buying food, power and gas, travel costs to attend a family member’s funeral, funeral costs) what you may be able to get includes:
- Special Needs Grant
- Advance Payment of Benefit
- Funeral Grant
If you are the main caregiver of a dependent child what you may be able to get includes:
- Childcare Assistance
- Child Disability Allowance
- Orphans/Unsupported Childs Benefit
- Disability Allowance
- Community Services Card
- Care Supplement
- Advance Payment of Benefit (for school uniforms, stationery and exam fees).
Need more information?
If you have any questions please phone 0800 552 002 between 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday or contact your nearest Work and Income Service Centre during working hours or:
- read our How can we help you? brochure which have more detailed information
- contact the Community Services Card Centre on 0800 999 999.
If you are deaf, hearing impaired or find it hard to communicate by phone, you can send a message to our Deaf Link free-fax 0800 621 621. You can also contact us via the Teletypewriter telephone (TTY) on 0800 111 113 or email us on MSD_Deaf_Services@msd.govt.nz.