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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
Travelling or moving overseas may affect your payments.
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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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Moving 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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Who can get NZ Super
If you want to apply for New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), you need to meet certain criteria.
Use our step-by-step guide to find out if you may meet the criteria for NZ Super.
Criteria you need to meet
You may qualify for NZ Super if you:
- are 65 or older
- either:
- are a New Zealand (NZ) citizen
- are an NZ permanent resident, or
- hold an NZ residence class visa
- are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply, and
- have lived in New Zealand for a certain amount of time.
If you are ordinarily resident in a country NZ has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with when you apply for NZ Super, you may still qualify. There may be additional criteria you need to meet, it depends on your situation.
If you get other income, it may affect your NZ Super payments.
You must have lived in NZ
You must have lived in New Zealand for a certain number of years from age 20. This must include 5 years from age 50.
The total number of years you need is based on your date of birth.
These years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive.
What we mean by 'have lived in NZ'
When we say 'have lived in NZ', we mean you were 'resident' and 'physically present' in NZ at the same time.
If you left NZ to travel overseas, this period may not be counted as having lived in NZ. Read the definition to find out more.
You're a refugee or protected person
If you're recognised as a refugee or protected person, the number of years may be worked out differently. It depends on the age you started living in NZ.
Work out how many years you need
Use the table below to work out how many years you must have lived in NZ.
Date of birth |
Total number of years you must have lived in NZ from age 20 |
On or before 30 June 1959 | 10 years |
1 July 1959 - 30 June 1961 | 11 years |
1 July 1961 - 30 June 1963 | 12 years |
1 July 1963 - 30 June 1965 | 13 years |
1 July 1965 - 30 June 1967 | 14 years |
1 July 1967 - 30 June 1969 | 15 years |
1 July 1969 - 30 June 1971 | 16 years |
1 July 1971 - 30 June 1973 | 17 years |
1 July 1973 - 30 June 1975 | 18 years |
1 July 1975 - 30 June 1977 | 19 years |
On or after 1 July 1977 | 20 years |
Example - born in 1961
Your date of birth is 28 March 1961. You must have lived in NZ for at least 11 years from age 20. The 11 years must include 5 years from age 50.
The 11 years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive.
Haven't lived in NZ for required years
If you haven't lived in NZ the whole time, you may be able to use another country to meet this criteria if:
- it is a country that has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with NZ, or
- it is a NZ realm country (the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau).
SSA countries are: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Malta, the Netherlands, South Korea and United Kingdom.
Wait until you meet the residence criteria
If you don't meet the residence criteria when you're 65, you can wait until either:
- you've lived in NZ for the required number of years, or
- you can use another country to meet this criteria.
Then you can apply for NZ Super (as long as you meet all the other criteria).