Your debt with us
We can help you manage any money you owe to Work and Income.
When a debt is created, we'll check to see if this happened because of an error we made. If it's because of an error we made, we'll check against a list of criteria to see if we can write it off.
If it wasn't because of an error we made, or we can't write it off, we'll send you a letter to let you know about it.
How we can help with your debt
If you have a debt with us, we're here to help.
We can help with:
- a breakdown of your debt, if you want one
- debt repayments
- what to do if you don't agree with your debt, and
- support for managing your debt.
When you could get a debt
There are 2 common ways to get into debt with us:
- We paid you too much money (an overpayment). This could happen if you didn't tell us:
- your correct income before we paid you
- about a change in your circumstances
- We paid you money for something which you agreed to pay back. This is usually for something you really needed and couldn't afford at the time, e.g. a:
- washing machine,
- school uniform, or
- rent payment.
Get a breakdown of your debt
If you want to get a breakdown of your debt, you can. How you get the breakdown depends on whether you get a benefit from us or not.
- If you get a benefit from us, you'll be able to see a breakdown of your debt in MyMSD from 2018 onwards. If you want details of your debt from before 2018, you'll need to contact us.
- If you don't get a benefit from us, you can contact us for a debt breakdown.
If the debt breakdown is quite complex, it might take a few days to get this for you. It may be best for us to give it to you in writing as well. If this is the case, we'll let you know when you contact us.
How to contact us
If you're getting payments from us, call us on 0800 559 009
If you're not getting payments from us, contact our Client Support Debt Management Team.
Client Support Debt Management Team
Our staff will talk you through the debt and how it was created, and give you a breakdown of it.
Debt repayments
How much you repay and how you pay your debt back depends on whether you get one of these payments from us:
- a main benefit
- NZ Super or Veteran's pension, or
- Accommodation Supplement.
Disagree with your debt
If you think we've made a mistake with your debt, you can contact our Client Support - Debt Management Team.
Client Support - Debt Management Team
They can:
- explain why you have a debt
- consider any new information you give us
- start a review of the decision if you ask them to.
Support for managing your debt
We have support to help you budget, deal with debt and manage your money.
This includes information about:
- budgeting support
- MoneyTalks - a free financial helpline
- joining a MoneyMates support group, and
- talking to a financial mentor.
Want someone else to talk with us about your debt
If you want someone else to talk with us about your debt, you need to fill out a form to nominate them as your agent.
If someone has died and had a debt with us
The debt becomes part of the person's estate, which is what a person owns and owes at the time they die.
The debt won't be transferred or inherited by children, siblings, parents or any other relatives or friends.
In most cases, the debt is not transferred to a surviving partner. The person's partner would only be liable if some of the debt was a shared debt from benefit fraud.
We'll send a letter with information about the money owed to us. This letter is sent to the address of the person who died, or to whoever is settling their estate (if we know who it is). The letter will explain what to do.
If there is money to pay it back from the person's estate, the letter will tell you how to pay this. If the estate doesn't have enough money to pay it, we may be able to write it off.
If you want to get in touch about debt after death, please contact our Client Support Debt Management team:
- phone 0800 558 008, or
- email Client_Support_Debt_Management@msd.govt.nz