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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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Payment issues
Fixing issues with Accommodation Supplement, Special Benefit and other payments we’ve made
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16-19 year olds
Education, training, work and benefit help for 16-19 year olds
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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Work homepage
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Overview
Find out what services we can offer to help you find work and when you start a new job.
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Looking for work
We have jobs available now in various industries and you can search on our job websites.
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Help with your job search
From advice on making a plan, to tips on where to look and following up leads.
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Training and experience
Our programmes can help you get ready for work with training and work experience.
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Apprenticeship Support Programme
Get help to retain and bring on new apprentices.
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CVs and cover letters
We’ve got great templates and advice for writing your CV or cover letter, and filling out job applications.
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Help with work costs
Get help to pay for the things you need to start work
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Job support and advice
Get all the support and advice you need to stay in work.
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Health and disability
If you want to work, we can support you to find the right job for you.
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Start your own business
We can help you get your business up and running.
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Job interviews
Get advice about how to prepare for and deliver a great interview.
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Help for 16-19 year olds
We’ve got extra support for young people to get ready for work and find a job.
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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, wages deduction calculator and 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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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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NZ Super /Veteran's Pension for Cook Islands residents
If you live in the Cook Islands you may be able to get New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) or Veteran's Pension.
- If you're already 65, apply as soon as possible so you don't miss out on any payments.
- If you're nearly 65, apply before your birthday.
You may qualify for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension from the Cook Islands if you:
- are 65 or over
- either:
- are a New Zealand citizen
- are a permanent resident, or
- hold a residence class visa
- are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20
- have lived in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau (or a combination of these) for at least 5 years since you turned 50.
When we say 'you live' or 'you've lived', we mean you normally live in NZ, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau and that's where your home is.
Intend to move to the Cook Islands
If you live in New Zealand and intend to move to the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, you can still apply for NZ Super/Veteran's Pension.
Talk to us before you leave New Zealand.
How much you get depends on how long you've lived in New Zealand since you turned 20:
- 20 years or more – the full rate appropriate to you (single or married rate)
- Less than 20 years – a rate calculated on the number of years you have lived in New Zealand.
The amount you get may change if you or your partner get, or qualify for, a social security benefit, pension or allowance from a country other than New Zealand.
You need to complete and sign an application form. You can get this from either the:
- New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga (or your outer-island administration office), or
- Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand by emailing us at: international.services@msd.govt.nz
Take the form and all the documents we need to the New Zealand High Commission or your outer island administration office. The documents we need are listed below and on the application form.
Identification
You must provide government issued ID and secondary ID. One of your identification documents must be at least 2 years old.
If you have a partner who's not getting NZ Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, you also need to provide identification documents for them.
Government issued ID
You need to provide one type of government issued identification that has your full legal name and your date of birth. For example:
- birth certificate
- passport
- drivers licence
- firearms licence
- deed poll.
If your name has changed, you need to provide your:
- marriage certificate
- deed poll, or
- other proof of the name change.
Secondary ID
You need to provide 2 documents that support your identity. For example:
- marriage certificate
- bank statement
- driver licence
- bill with your name on it.
Bank account number
You need to provide a bank statement or deposit slip showing the:
- account name
- account number
- bank logo.
If you write any of these details yourself, you need to get the bank to stamp and sign the statement or slip.
Living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau
You may be using the time you lived in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau from the age of 50, to qualify for this payment. If this is the case, you need to provide proof of your residence and presence. You can get this from the Customs or Immigration offices in those places.
Ask us if you need help with this.
After you return your application form and the documents we need:
- your form will be checked to make sure it's complete
- copies of your documents will be made and the originals will be sent back to you
- your application will be sent securely to New Zealand to be processed.
We'll send you a letter to let you know the outcome of your application.