What to provide when you apply for Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment
Here's what you need to bring to your first appointment with us or your Youth Service provider to support your application. If you have a partner, they will need to provide these documents too.
A list of what you need to provide can also be found on the 'next steps' page after you submit an online application.
Identification
We need your identity documents if we haven't seen them before or we haven't got a copy of these on your file.
If you applied for a benefit or payment in MyMSD, you may have verified your identity online using Identity Check. If so, you do not need to provide any identity documents.
If you haven't verified your identity online using Identity Check, you need to:
- provide 2 identity documents (at least 1 of these needs to be government-issued), and
- bring the government-issued ID you're providing into a service centre.
Verify your identity online using Identity Check
You can choose to either:
- upload your 2 identity documents to MyMSD and bring your government-issued ID into a service centre, or
- bring your 2 identity documents into a service centre.
If you can't provide identity documents, talk to us about ways we can help.
Verify your identity at a service centre
Your partner needs to provide their identity documents as well. They can only do this by bringing their ID into a service centre. They can't use Identity Check.
Types of government-issued ID
Documents must be current, or up to 2 years expired.
You must provide original government-issued identity documents. We cannot accept copies, including certified copies.
If you were born in New Zealand
Examples of government-issued ID include:
- NZ birth certificate (apply online for a birth certificate)
- NZ passport
- NZ driver licence which is either a:
- photo licence
- temporary paper driver licence
- Firearms licence
- Steps to Freedom release form
- Oranga Tamariki issued Custody Order.
Apply online for a birth certificateexternal
If you're born overseas
As well as ID that proves who you are, we also need proof that you have the right to live in New Zealand.
Examples include:
- New Zealand passport
- Passport from another country (current or up to 6 months expired) showing your residence class visa or permit
- Citizenship certificate
- NZ Refugee Travel document
- If you're from Australia, either your Australian:
- passport
- birth certificate
- proof of residence
- If you're from Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue, either:
- birth certificate
- letter of confirmation
- certificate of registration
- certificate of naturalisation
- Letter of confirmation of your residence class visa or permit from Immigration New Zealand.
Other documents that prove your identity
Examples:
- education organisation documents
- letter from Inland Revenue
- marriage certificate
- Kiwi Access card (18+).
Other documents that prove your identity, but should be less than 6 months old:
- bank document
- document from a health practitioner
- employment letter or payslip
- power account document
- rates notice
- telecommunications account
- tenancy agreement
- insurance document
- letter from a prominent community member.
Supporting Documents
You will need to provide the following to complete your application:
Evidence of your bank account(s) numbers: For example a bank statement, screenshot of your online banking (showing your name, account number, and the bank's logo), or deposit slip.
Your IRD number(s): We'll check this with Inland Revenue. If your IRD number doesn't match with Inland Revenue, we may ask you for proof of your IRD number, if we don't already have it. Proof can be things like:
- a letter from Inland Revenue (digital or paper)
- a screenshot/photo of your myIR account (this must show your name, IRD number, the IR logo and web address).
Evidence of your last pay and all income for the last 52 weeks: For example payslips, bank statements, or a letter from your employer(s). By income we mean any income you (and your partner) get from any source including work, regular insurance payments like ACC, investments, interest, business income, private pension, rent or boarders.
Details of your housing costs: For example a tenancy agreement or a letter from the person you board with. We'll also need the bank account details of your landlord so that we can pay them directly.
Details of your living costs: For example electricity bills, phone bills, or debts.
Confirmation of your circumstances:
- a letter from your school that confirms that you're enrolled as a full-time secondary school student, or
- a medical certificate (if you are unwell) from your health practitioner about your condition and how it affects your ability to work, attend training or go to school.
Full birth certificates for your child (or children): if applicable.
Details of any name changes: your marriage certificate or deed poll papers.
Additional information required for specific benefits
You'll also need to provide the following if you're applying for:
Childcare assistance
- Evidence of your work, course, study and number of hours e.g. confirmation of study.
- A completed childcare assistance application form.
Disability-related benefits
Examples of you may need to provide:
- evidence of any costs relating to your disability
- medical reports from your specialist
- assessments from Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination (NASC) agencies
- Special Education assessments
- Work and Income Medical Certificate or Disability Certificate completed by your health practitioner.
Talk to your youth coach if you're not sure what you need.
If you don't have a youth coach, call our general enquiries line at 0800 559 009 and say "youth client" when you call.