How can we help you?
At Work and Income we’re here to help all New Zealanders in any way we can. Please tell us everything about your individual situation so we can help.
We want to make things as easy as possible for you, and to help you get all the financial and job search help you need. If you have any questions please talk to your Case Manager or contact us.
We can grant you financial assistance from the date you first contact us, if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.
What you may be able to get
Below are some of the financial assistance most commonly paid for the situations described.
| If you are… | You may be able to get… |
|---|---|
| Working and on a middle to low income, facing high costs or in financial hardship |
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| Aged 65 or over |
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| Caring for someone sick or infirm |
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| A woman alone 50 years or over or your partner has died |
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| 16 or 17 years old, unemployed and looking for work or can't work because you're sick, injured, disabled, or still at school or training |
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| Looking for full-time work |
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| A trainee on an approved work-related course |
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| Not able to work because of an illness, injury or disability or pregnancy |
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| A person with a disability from NZAF service or the surviving spouse of an ex-service person |
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| Raising children alone |
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| A refugee, or someone who can't get other types of income support |
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| Caring for someone else's child |
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| Going to a hospital or rest home long term |
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| Caring for a disabled child |
|
If you have an immediate, essential or emergency need for an item or service that you cannot afford to pay for right now, you can make an emergency appointment.
To do this, contact us, your case manager or your local service centre.
| Do you need extra financial support with… | You may be able to get… |
|---|---|
| Housing Costs for example:
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| The cost of setting up a business for example:
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| The costs of working for example:
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| Health Costs for example:
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| Study Costs for example:
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| Family Costs for example:
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| Funeral Costs for example:
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| Emergency, Essential or Immediate Needs for example:
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If you want to know about other support agencies in your community that may be able to help, please contact us.
Community Activities
Activity in the Community
This offers unpaid work experience opportunities in sponsored community projects and helps you learn work skills while you help the community. You may be able to get some expenses paid.
Information matching
The information you have provided may be compared with information held by Inland Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Customs Service, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Accident Compensation Corporation, Housing New Zealand Corporation and New Zealand Immigration Service. It may also be compared with Social Security information (for example, pension or benefit information) held by other governments (including Australia and the Netherlands).
Sharing information
Under the Tax Administration Act 1994, if you have dependent children, the information you have provided may be shared with Inland Revenue for the purpose of administering Working for Families Tax Credits. Inland Revenue may also:
- use the information for the purposes of child support, student loans and taxation
- disclose it to the Department of Labour, Statistics New Zealand, the Ministry of Justice, the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the Ministry of Education
- disclose your personal information to your partner.
Reviewing your benefit
From time to time, your benefit may be reviewed, and you may need to provide us with an update on any change to your circumstances. We will contact you at the time.
Reviews and appeals
If you’re unhappy about a decision we have made, we want to resolve things quickly, so we have a special review process and a Benefit Review Committee. Most misunderstandings can be resolved quickly and easily just by talking things over, so please try talking with your Case Manager first. If you’re still unhappy, you can go through our appeals process. Ask for our Reviews and Appeals brochure.
