What to bring when you meet with us
A basic checklist of what you need to bring along to your meeting with us.
What you need to bring
It is important that you bring everything that way we can move things along faster. If there is anything on the list you don’t think you have access to, or if you are not sure about what to bring, please contact us.
If you are applying for one of our health or disability benefits or allowances, we may need to see forms from your doctor or any existing reports or assessments.
If you are looking for help with childcare costs, we need to see information from your childcare provider.
Check on the application form for more details. To get a form either:
- download one from our forms and brochures page
- contact us
- pick one up from your nearest service centre.
| We need to see proof of: | You will need to bring: |
|---|---|
| Your identity and New Zealand residency (and your partner’s if you have one) |
Proof of your identity: One government-issued document with your legal birth name recorded (or legal name if changed by Deed Poll), and two additional documents to support this identity. Please note: The issue date of one of these document must be at least two years prior to the day before the date of your application. If you have changed your name (other than by Deed Poll) within the last two years, please supply documentation for the legal name that you used before this change, as well as documentation to show the new name. |
| Any name changes you and your partner have had | Marriage certificate or deed poll papers |
| Your bank account(s) numbers | Bank book or statement with your account number |
| Children living with you who you support | A full birth certificate for each child |
| Your (and your partner’s) IRD number | A form or letter from Inland Revenue |
| Your (and your partner’s) last pay and all income for the last 26 weeks and/or 52 weeks | Items such as payslips, bank statements a letter from your employer(s) |
| Any assets you (or your partner) own, which could earn income | Items such as bank statements, share certificates, property valuations |
| Any benefit or pension you (or your partner) get from overseas | A letter, statement or payslip showing your payments |
| Your housing costs | Items such as a tenancy agreement or a letter from the person you board with; if you own your own home bring details of your mortgage, rates, insurance and home repair costs |
| Costs and expenses for other allowances | Please talk to us about what to bring |
| Emergency |
Proof of what created the emergency and/or receipts to show where your benefit/income has been spent. Quote(s) for the goods or services required (no quote for food is required) |
By income we mean any income you (and your partner) get from any source, such as work, regular insurance payments like ACC, investments, business, private pensions, rent or boarders.
By assets we mean anything you or your partner own which you can earn income from such as savings, shares, stocks, loans to others, property you don’t live in.
Forms that you may need to complete
| Forms that you may need to complete: | |
|---|---|
| If you have disability related expenses relating to you, your partner or children. | A disability certificate completed by your doctor of other medical practitioner or specialist. |
| If you have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work. | You need to provide information from your doctor or other health professional about your condition and how it affects your ability to work such as:
|
| If you are caring for someone who requires full-time care and attention. | A medical certificate to confirm the level and type of care the person you are caring for needs. |
| If you are currently in training. | A training statement completed by your trainer |
| If your child is currently attending an early childhood programme. | A Childcare Subsidy Verification Form completed by the supervisor of the early childhood programme. |
| If your child is currently attending an OSCAR programme. | A OSCAR Subsidy Verification Form completed by the supervisor of the early childhood programme. |
| If your child requires constant care and attention due to a serious disability. | A medical certificate completed by your doctor of other medical practitioner or specialist. |
What we can accept as identification
Before we can grant you assistance, we need to see proof of who you are. We need to see one form of identification and two further documents that support your identity. The issue date of one of these documents must be at least two years prior to the day before the date of your application. The identification that we can accept depends on whether you were born in New Zealand or overseas.
What we need if you were born in New Zealand
We need to see a Government issued document such as:
- birth certificate
- passport (current or expired)
- driver licence
- firearm licence
- Steps to Freedom
- other government issued documents.
We also need to see two additional documents. These must support your identity.
What we need if you were born overseas
We need to see one of the following:
- New Zealand Passport
- passport from another country endorsed with permanent residence in New Zealand
- Certificate of Citizenship or Refugee status
- Certificate of Identity
- for Australian clients, full Australian Birth Certificate, Passport, or Proof of Residence
- for Cook Island, Tokelauan and Niuean clients, full Birth Certificate, Letter of Confirmation, Certificate of Registration, or Naturalisation
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence letter from the New Zealand Immigration Service.
We also need to see two additional documents. These must support your identity.
Additional documents we need to see
We need to see two additional documents which support your identity. Some examples of documents we accept are:
- household accounts or utility bills such as power and phone bills, documents from suppliers of goods and services, hire purchase agreements or a tenancy agreement.
- government issued documents such as Marriage Certificate, a tax assessment, rates notice, car registration form, birth certificate from another country, licences, any Ministry of Social Development, StudyLink or Work and Income correspondence or an Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS) printout.
- employment related documents such as a support letter or payslips from a past or present employer.
- bank/insurance company documents such as bank account statements, mortgage papers or insurance policies
- health or education organisation documents such as student identification card, school report, school leaving certificate, doctor's bill, degree or trade certificate.
For more information
You may like to read a quick guide to the support you and your family may be able to get from us:
Contact us
It is better to contact us before you come into one of our offices to apply for assistance. That way we can learn about your circumstances and talk to you about the types of assistance you might get.
We can grant you the financial assistance you’re entitled to from the date you first contact us if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.