New Zealand Superannuation
Financial assistance for people aged 65 years or more
Can I get it?
To get New Zealand Superannuation (Super) you must be:
- 65 years of age or over and
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who normally lives here when you apply.
You must also have been resident and present in New Zealand for a total of 10 years since you turned 20 years of age (and 5 of those years must be since you turned 50), unless, when you were overseas you were:
- having special medical or surgical treatment or
- doing vocational training or
- working as a missionary or
- working with Volunteer Service Abroad or
- serving in one of the Commonwealth's armed forces or
- working overseas and paid tax in New Zealand on the earnings from that work or
- working on a New Zealand owned or registered ship trading to and from here.
If you spent time overseas, you must usually have been living here before and after you were overseas, unless you spent time in Australia, Britain, Jersey, Guernsey, Canada, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, Greece or the Netherlands. That may also count as time lived here in terms of getting your Super.
Applications and payments
The date you apply for your Super is important because it will directly affect when your payments start. It's important to apply at least two weeks before you reach the qualifying age. We can't backdate your payments. Payments are made directly to your bank account every two weeks (this can be a joint account). To apply call us first on 0800 552 002 to arrange a meeting.
This guide tells you the maximum fortnightly payments for Super. It shows the amount you get before and after tax at the normal rate. If you have other income, you will be taxed at a different rate. Please call Inland Revenue for more information on 0800 227 774 (please have your IRD number handy).
Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to apply to Inland Revenue for a lower tax deducation rate. Any extra assistance you may be eligible for is not included in the chart below.
If you receive a pension from an overseas Government, it is likely to be deducted from your Super. For more details call 0800 552 002 and ask for our International Services office.
If you have a partner who doesn't already qualify for their own Super, you can choose to include them in your payments. If you do this, you could both get paid but any other income either of you earn could affect how much you get. We can help you work out the best option.
| Fortnightly payments | Before tax | Taxed at ‘M' (if you have no other income) |
|---|---|---|
| Single living alone | $747.12 | $636.24 |
| Single (sharing) | $685.16 | $587.30 |
| Married, civil union or de facto couple (partner not included) | $561.24 | $489.42 |
| Married, civil union or de facto couple (both partners qualify) | $561.24 each | $489.42 each |
| Married, civil union or de facto couple* (only one partner qualifies) | $531.72 | $465.48 |
| * This amount may be affected by other income you receive. People whose payments started before October 1991 may get more than this. | ||
Rates as at 1 April 2010
Tax
Super is taxed before you get it, but you still need to pay tax on any other income you get. If you do have other income or receive an overseas pension, talk to Inland Revenue about your tax rate so you don't get a tax bill at the end of the year. Call Inland Revenue on 0800 227 774 (please have your IRD number handy).
Other income
Receiving other income does not affect your Super unless your partner is included in your payments. If your partner is included, you can have other income of up to $80 (before tax) a week between you before your Super is affected. If you earn more than this, we will take 70c off your payment for each dollar of income over this limit. Other income may affect any extra assistance from us. Please ask us about this.
ACC
If you receive weekly compensation payments paid through ACC you may not be able to receive Super as well.
If your partner does not qualify for Super in their own right but is included in your Super and your partner is receiving weekly compensation payments paid through ACC, then your Super payments could be affected.
Going overseas
Always tell us if you are going overseas. If you don’t tell us you are going overseas and your payments continue, you may have to pay back the money you received after you left New Zealand. You may still be able to get your Super, but it is best to call International Services to find out.
Please read our brochure for more details:
Other help
Depending on your income and circumstances, we may be able to offer extra assistance with your Super. For a fuller explanation of the extra financial assistance we offer, please read our:
If you live alone, you may qualify for the Living Alone Payment in addition to your Super. You can get the payment from the date you started living alone or the date we receive your application, whichever is later. If your partner has died recently and you apply within 28 days, the payment can be started from the day after your partner died.
If your partner is in long-term residential care you may qualify for the Living Alone Payment. Please talk to us about this.
If you don't qualify for Super, you may be eligible for another type of income support, for example if you are a woman alone who is over 50 years of age, you may be eligible for the Domestic Purposes Benefit.
If you are an ex-service person and you're disabled, you may be able to get the War Disablement Pension or Veteran's Pension. Call War Pension Services for more information.
The Community Services Card can help reduce the costs of going to the doctor and getting prescriptions. To apply, call our Community Services Card Centre free on 0800 999 999.
If you have a disability, the Disability Allowance can help with the extra costs you have, such as ongoing visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothes or travel or gardening services.
Tell us about changes
It is important you tell us about any changes that may affect your Super. See How can we help you? for a list of the kinds of things we need to know about.
You must tell us immediately if:
- you or your partner begin getting a pension from overseas
- you or your partner are admitted to hospital
- your income or your partner's income changes, but only if your partner is included or you receive extra assistance from us
- there are changes in any of the costs you get extra assistance for.
You may need to fill out a review form once a year if:
- you receive extra assistance from us (such as an Accommodation Supplement)
- your partner is included in your payments
- you are receiving a Living Alone Payment.
This is reviewed every 2 years.
Important
Make sure you bring everything you need to your meeting.
If your partner is included and under the qualifying age, you also need to bring payslips, bank statements or a letter from your employer(s) showing your combined income for the past 52 weeks and any assets you or your partner own which could earn income.
Remember, if you don’t think you qualify for Super, there may be some other way we can help, so please ask us.
For more information visit: