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We all try to prepare ourselves and our families for times when something unexpected happens (for example, a flood, drought or other natural disaster). One of the best ways to prepare for this is by planning ahead.

Unfortunately, sometimes, in spite of our preparations we need some extra help.

Rural Assistance Payments are the Governments’ way of providing this extra help to those farming families who need it.

What are Rural Assistance Payments for?

Rural Assistance Payments are provided to meet essential living expenses for farming families affected by an adverse event.

What is an adverse event?

Adverse events are climatic events or natural disasters described as medium or large scale as defined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s (MAF) adverse events recovery framework.

The Government scales adverse events through an adverse events recovery framework to decide what sort of assistance will be provided.

For more information on the adverse events recovery framework, see the:

What are the conditions for payment?

• The applicant finds it difficult to meet essential living expenses through their farming business because of an adverse event.
• The applicant has no other significant income.
• Payments are cash and off-farm asset tested. Farm/orchard assets such as dairy company, meat company or fertiliser company shares are not included in the off-farm asset testing.

What are the payment details?

Payments are equivalent to the current rate of unemployment benefit at the time of the event.

Payments can be made for one year or for a period as approved by the Minister for Social Development and Employment, whichever is the lesser.

Payments are approved from the Monday of the week of application.

You or your partner can earn $80.00 per week (before tax) before your Rural Assistance
Payments are affected.

Payments should generally be made in a lump sum representing a four-week period. You will need to re-apply every four weeks if you need ongoing assistance.

Note: payments may need to be made weekly if there is any off-farm income that is likely to vary. In these cases the amount of off-farm income can be phoned in each week to enable the correct rate of payment.

Payment rates

How can I apply?

Complete the application form:

This form is also available from your local Rural Support Trust.

See the Rural Support Trusts contact details in this brochure or on the MAF website:

Your local Rural Support Trust can also help with filling out the application form if needed.

You will need an Agriculture Recovery Facilitator to sign the declaration part of the form (this is usually your Rural Support Trust co-ordinator).

Initial applications can be made either in person at a Work and Income office or through a Work and Income Rural Case Manager. Further applications to extend the duration of payments can be posted or faxed to your local Work and Income office. Contact details for your local Work and Income office are available by calling Work and Income on 0800 559 009.

What other support is available?

If your income has changed because of an adverse event, you may be eligible to receive extra assistance through for example Working for Families.

To see if you are eligible for more money through Working for Families go to their website and check how much you could get by using the calculators.

For more information, you can also call:

• 0800 774 004 for housing and childcare
• 0800 227 773 for tax credits

Rural Support Trusts

Rural Support Trusts provide assistance and support to the rural community in times of hardship including adverse events. You can contact your local Rural Support Trust representative for any information on the assistance and support available:

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