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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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Apply for public housing
Find out how to apply for public (social) housing.
If you’re in urgent housing need and have nowhere to live now or in the next 7 days, call:
- Work and Income on 0800 559 009 or
- Senior Services on 0800 552 002 if you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension.
The application process
Call us on 0800 559 009
If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, call Senior Services on 0800 552 002
We'll talk with you about your situation and look at ways we can help you. This includes checking what support you might be able to get to move into private housing, for example, help with rent or bond.
If we think you may qualify for public housing, we’ll book a housing assessment interview for you. This is usually done over the phone but you can come in and see us if you'd prefer.
Support person or interpreter
If you want a support person at your interview, you can organise to have one with you.
If you can't speak English, you can bring someone to interpret for you. Or we can find an interpreter for you, just let us know so we can organise this.
The interview will take about an hour. We’ll:
- talk with you about your situation and the type of housing you need
- confirm you meet the criteria for public housing.
You'll need to tell us at least 3 areas where you could live so you can be matched to a suitable property.
Documents you need to provide
We'll also ask you to gather some documents and drop them off to one of our service centres. We'll let you know what documents you need to get. These could be:
- proof of who you are, such as your birth certificate, passport or driver licence
- proof of any income (after tax) you've got in the last 52 weeks, such as wages, holiday pay, family tax credits and any other income
- proof of any assets you have and their value
- your business accounts, if you have your own business
- trust documents, if you're involved in a trust, such as trust deed, deed of debt, gift statements, or accounts
- full birth certificates for each dependent child in your care.
We may ask you to bring the same documents for other members of your household who are moving with you. Household members are people who permanently live with you.
If you qualify for public housing, you’ll go on the social housing register. The register has details of people who need public housing and the type of property they need.
We'll pass the register onto housing providers who will let you know when a suitable property becomes available.
There are some things you'll need to do while you're waiting to get into a public house.
If a housing provider makes you an offer for a property and it suits your needs, you can accept this by signing the tenancy agreement.