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Work homepage
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Overview
We can help you get ready to apply and find the right job for you. We can even help you while you're working.
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Get ready to work
You can get training, help with CVs and cover letters, and advice for job interviews.
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Find jobs
Find out what jobs are available, which job is best for you and how you can plan your career.
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Working
Whether you've just started a job or need some help at work, we've got your back.
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Lost your job
We'll help you get ready to find a new job and support you while you're between jobs.
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Start your own business
Get help to plan and set up a successful business or be a self-employed contractor.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
Food, school costs, power, accommodation or other living expenses you need help with
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Relationship changes
You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
Counselling, prescription and GP costs, medical alarms and other costs we can help with
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
Dental, glasses, car repairs, fridge, washing machine, funeral or other urgent costs you need help with
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Moving to New Zealand
Payments you can get from us, settling into NZ, overseas pensions and more.
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
Address, contact details, overseas travel, childcare, relationship or anything else that’s changed.
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Income
Declare income and income deduction tables
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Going overseas
Going on holiday or going to live overseas
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Re-apply
Re-apply for Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Temporary Additional Support and more
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Payments
Check or stop your payments, payment cards and other information
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Move house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Other languages
Read some of our housing information in other languages.
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Non-qualified partner included in NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension
What it means and what you need to do when you have a non-qualified partner included in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments.
Before 9 November 2020, you could include your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments. You could do this if you qualified for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension but your partner didn't (eg, they were under 65).
After 9 November 2020, if you exclude your partner from your payments, you can't re-include them again.
Your rate will change to $799.18 (after tax) a fortnight, or $922.82 (before tax) a fortnight. Your partner will no longer get payments.
Your partner may be able to apply for a benefit instead. You may also be able to get other payments from us for health or household costs.
You can use our online tool to check what you might get.
How much you get
If you included your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, your fortnightly payments will be:
After tax (fortnightly) | Before tax (fortnightly) |
Up to $759.64 each | Up to $874.88 each |
When you’re getting other income
Your and your partner's combined income will affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments.
Combined income includes any income either of you have from, for example:
- earnings
- rental properties, less certain expenses (for example house insurance, rates, repairs and maintenance)
- overseas pensions
- interest
- shares
- money from a retirement fund that you can access and withdraw.
If you have income, your total rate between you and your partner ($1,749.76 before tax) will be reduced as follows:
- the first $160 of combined income a week (before tax) doesn’t affect your payments
- for every $1 you get over $160, your total NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payment is reduced by 70 cents
- the reduced rate will then be divided into 2 and you and your partner will get half each (after tax).
If your income is over $39,034.91
If your income is over $39,034.91 or more (before tax) a year, you’ll get more NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension if your partner is not included in your payments.
At that stage, you’ll need to decide if you want to either:
- keep your partner included in your payments, or
- exclude your partner from your payments.
If you decide to exclude your partner, you won’t be able to re-include them at a later date. You can call us to talk about the best option for you.
Tell us if something changes
You and your partner need to tell us about any changes that could affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension. If you don't tell us about these changes, your payment could reduce or stop.
Find out what you and your partner need to do:
How to tell us about changes
You can use MyMSD to tell us about changes, or call us to talk about this.