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Work and income | Te Hiranga Tangata

Moving Costs Grant

If you're moving into accommodation and don't have enough money to pay for moving costs, we may be able to help.

Note
  • You don't need to be on a benefit to qualify for this help.
  • You'll need to pay the money back. We'll put a repayment plan in place to suit your financial circumstances.

You can use this payment for you, your partner and dependent children (if you have any) for costs such as:

  • trailer, van or truck hire
  • petrol
  • moving companies if you can’t help with the move, e.g. because of:
    • age
    • illness
    • disability.

It can’t be used for:

  • personal moving costs, e.g. airfares
  • moving overseas
  • moving items into storage.

Who can get it

You may be able to get a Moving Costs Grant if you:

  • are moving into accommodation, e.g. a rental property or a place where you're boarding, and
  • have moving costs.

We'll also take into account other factors, such as:

  • your situation
  • if you can afford to stay in the accommodation long-term
  • how long you’ll be living in your accommodation (generally this needs to be at least 28 days)
  • if this is the best payment for you
  • what other help is available to you.

There are also residency and income criteria you need to meet.

Residency criteria

You must be either:

  • getting a main benefit, NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, or
  • ordinarily resident in New Zealand and either:
    • a New Zealand citizen
    • have a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009
    • recognised as a refugee or protected person under the Immigration Act 2009, or
    • getting a Special Needs Grant because you came to New Zealand on a temporary visa to be with your New Zealand partner and your relationship ended due to domestic violence.

Main benefit

Ordinarily resident

Income criteria

It also depends on:

  • how much you and your partner earn
  • any money or assets you and your partner have.

Income limits

If you’re:

Weekly income (before tax) is less than:

Single, 16+ years

$1,353

Couple without children

2,006

Couple with children

$2,337

Sole parent, 1 child

$1,846

Sole parent, 2+ children

$2,126

Asset limits

Assets include money in the bank, or things like a caravan or second property. Assets don’t include the things you need for day-to-day living, like the home where you live or your car.

If you’re:

Your assets are worth less than:

Single

$8,100

Married, civil union or de facto couple (with or without children) or sole parent

$16,200

 

What you can get

You can only get this payment twice in 12 months, up to a total of $1,500.

You may be able to get it more than twice, or more than $1,500, if there's an exceptional situation outside your control, e.g:

  • you need to move unexpectedly through no fault of your own, or
  • you're in a family violence situation.

You'll need to pay the money back.

How to apply

Call us on 0800 559 009

If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, call Senior Services on 0800 552 002

We may need to book you an appointment either to come in and see us, or a phone appointment. We'll let you know if this is the case.

You'll need to provide proof of your moving costs, like a quote from the moving company.

 

What happens next

If your application's approved, we'll pay the money to you or directly to the supplier, it depends on what the cost is.

If we pay the money to you, we may give you a payment card (if you don't already have one) and load the money onto it. A payment card is like an Eftpos card and you can use it at any store that accepts them.

Payment cards

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