Financial Assistance in a Civil Defence Emergency
Here is some information about financial assistance you and your family may qualify for if you’ve been affected by a civil defence emergency.
April 2011
Civil Defence payments
These payments are to meet the immediate needs of people who are affected by the Civil Defence Emergency. Civil Defence payments can cover the following costs:
- payments to hosts for billeting evacuees (private homes, marae or community centres)
- accommodation costs for evacuees in tourist accommodation (motels, hotels or temporary rental accommodation)
- loss of livelihood (where evacuees cannot work and lose income due to the emergency, eg if you can’t get to work, your workplace is closed or you need to remain with your family/whanau)
- food, clothing and bedding (immediate needs up to a maximum amount).
If you are unsure whether the costs or your immediate needs will be covered by insurance, an initial payment to meet your immediate needs may be made. Note: should your insurance subsequently cover any payments made by the Civil Defence payment, you will be required to refund the amount paid.
The following payment arrangements apply:
- payments for people billeting evacuees and for evacuees in tourist accommodation are to be made directly to the accommodation provider
- payments for loss of livelihood are to be made to the applicant
- payments for food, clothing and bedding should generally be made to the supplier, however, as this is an exceptional circumstance payment can be made directly to you.
No stand-down period applies to payments for loss of livelihood. Payments can commence from the day following the date payment of wages or salary stopped.
Other Support
This payment can help with urgent things that you don’t have any other way to pay for, like bedding and emergency dental or medical care. You won’t usually have to pay this back.
This is for people not already receiving a Work and Income benefit. If you need something but can’t afford to pay for it right now, (like rent or appliances) you may be able to get this assistance. This payment is recoverable and will need to be paid back.
Other
Work and Income also administers a range of other assistance, eg Unemployment Benefit, Sickness Benefit, Domestic Purposes Benefit, Working for Families assistance, Temporary Additional Support and Emergency Benefit. Everyone’s situation is different, so what you may qualify for depends on your situation.
You can 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.
How to contact us
You can visit us at a welfare centre, or you can call us on 0800 559 009 to make an appointment at your local Work and Income service centre.
