Supporting children and families
We may be able to provide financial help, even if you’re working, whether you’re looking after your own or someone else’s child.
Check what you might get
Find out if you could be entitled to:
- Working for families
- help with childcare costs
- help with housing and living costs
- help if your child is ill or disabled.
We also provide additional assistance to clients in specific circumstances:
A card that can help you and your family with the costs of health care. You'll pay less on some health services and prescriptions.
Information about some of the help you may be able to get when you're having a baby.
A payment which helps carers or parents with things like laundry, housework, cooking, childcare or parenting skills.
There are a number of payments or advances to help you pay for an immediate need for essential items or services such as school uniforms, books, exam fees, car seats or safety helmets if you have no other way of paying for it.
A payment for parents who are involved in an international custody or access dispute and are finding it hard financially.
Assistance if you're a carer supporting a child or young person whose parents have either died, can't be found or can't look after them because they have a long-term illness or incapacity.
Assistance if you're a carer supporting a child or young person whose parents can't care for them because of a family breakdown.
Help with the cost of early childcare if you're a parent aged under 18 years and in secondary school.
Other services available
There is also support available through a number of government and non government agencies:
Information to help parents understand 20 Hours Early Childhood Education
Promoting the wellbeing and safety of children and supporting positive
Calculate your entitlement.
Programmes and initiatives to help families and their children.
Information and resources for parents paying child support, custodians and employers making child support deductions.
Information on the role of Disability Services within the Ministry of Health and the disability support services it funds.
If you or your family need a lot of prescriptions each year, this card can help with these costs.
Contact us
Everyone's situation is different. We're here to help if you need it.
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.