How to repay us
How to repay us if you are no longer receiving financial assistance.
Making regular payments
If you want to make regular payments, we have a minimum weekly repayment rate that we expect you to pay. This varies according to the amount you owe.
| Amount owed | Minimum Weekly Repayment Rate |
|---|---|
| Under $2,000 | $25 |
| $2,000 - $3,500 | $30 |
| $3,500 - $5,000 | $35 |
| $5,000 - $6,000 | $40 |
| $6,000 - $8,000 | $45 |
| Over $8,000 | $50 |
If you can afford to pay more, please do.
There are several ways you can pay us. Even if you're living overseas, you can still arrange for your payments to reach us.
What to do if you can't afford the minimum weekly repayment rates
We may be able to accept payment at less than the minimum weekly repayment rates depending on your personal circumstances.
What to do if you are currently getting financial assistance
If you are currently getting financial assistance from Work and Income or StudyLink, we can arrange for your repayments to be deducted from these payments. To arrange this, contact your Work and Income Case Manager or StudyLink.
What happens if you don’t pay us back?
Talk to us if there is any reason that you cannot pay. We can make arrangements that take your circumstances into account.
We actively collect money owed to us and take the time to find people who need to pay us back. One of the ways we do this is by comparing records with other Government agencies and organisations.
We also have certain legal powers. If you don't pay us back we may be able to make deductions from your wages or bank account without your consent. We will make every effort to contact you before doing this.
Any amount of financial assistance that you need from us in the future (for example, Unemployment Benefit or NZ Superannuation) could be reduced to repay what you owe.
Why do you owe us money?
There are a number of reasons you may owe us money. The two main reasons are:
Recoverable Assistance
This is money that we have lent you to help you pay for necessary items, such as an appliance, school uniforms or rent arrears that you've agreed to pay back in instalments.
Overpayment of benefit
If you've had changes in your personal situation that have affected your entitlement or rate, you may have been paid more than you're entitled to. You'll have to pay this back.
If you don't agree with how much you owe
If you don't agree that you owe us or think that the amount is wrong, talk to Work and Income or StudyLink. They'll explain the assessment they made. They'll also correct any mistakes.
If you still disagree, you can ask for a review of decision.
Keeping track of how much you owe
It's a good idea to keep track of how much you owe so you can budget for your repayments.
You can request regular statements to be send out to you. We can issue this every 3 months, 6 months or annually.
Contact our Collections Unit to:
- find out your current balances and repayment dates
- request a statement
Put your last name and client number in the subject line.
Tell our Collections Unit about changes
It's important to inform our Collections Unit if your details change, such as when you:
- change your address and contact details
- change your employer (if you tell us in time, we can arrange for your repayments to start with your new employer straight away)
- are going overseas.
This will help us give you a better service.
Put your last name and client number in the subject line.
