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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
Going on holiday or going to live overseas
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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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Other languages
Read some of our housing information in other languages.
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When you don't meet your obligations
While you're receiving a benefit or payment from us, there are things you and your partner need to do. If you don't do them and you don't have a good and sufficient reason, you may get a debt or your benefit could reduce or stop.
If there's any reason why you or your partner can't meet your obligations, talk to us straight away.
What happens if you or your partner don't:
If you or your partner don't tell us about changes in your life that might affect your benefit entitlement, or rate, then:
- your benefit may be reviewed and cancelled
- you may have to pay back the total amount of any overpayment that you've received
- we may impose a penalty (up to 3 times the value of the overpayment)
- you may be prosecuted and fined and/or imprisoned.
Going overseas
If you or your partner intend to travel overseas and don't let us know before you leave New Zealand, your benefit will be stopped the day after you leave New Zealand.
If you and your partner (if required) do not meet your full-time, part-time or work preparation obligations without a good and sufficient reason:
- for the the first time, your benefit will be reduced by 50% for 4 weeks
- for the second time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will restart if you undertake the activity you failed to do.
- for the third time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will be increased or restarted if you agree to take part in an approved activity for least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit.
Don't take and pass a drug test
If you and your partner (if required) don't take and pass a drug test when required by a potential employer or training provider without a good and sufficient reason, then:
- the first time you do this, you will have to agree to stop using drugs so that you can pass a drug test
- the second time you do this, you will have to agree to take and pass a drug test within 25 working days.
If you don't take and pass a drug test within 25 working days, your benefit will be reduced by 50% (if you have dependent children), or stopped (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. If your benefit has been reduced or stopped and you agree to take part in an approved activity for at least 6 weeks, and you're still entitled to your benefit, it will be increased or restarted.
If you fail a pre-employment drug test with a potential employer you will need to pay for the test from your benefit.
If you have to take and pass a drug test within 25 working days, you'll need to pay for the test.
If you and your partner (if required) do not meet your obligations when you have dependent children without a good and sufficient reason:
- for the the first time, your benefit will be reduced by 50% for 4 weeks
- for the second time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% for 13 weeks. Your benefit will restart if you undertake the activity you failed to do.
- for the third time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% for 13 weeks. Your benefit will be increased or restarted if you agree to take part in an approved activity for least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit.
If you and your partner (if required) do not meet your work ability assessment obligations without a good and sufficient reason:
- for the the first time, your benefit will be reduced by 50% for 4 weeks
- for the second time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will restart if you undertake the activity you failed to do.
- for the third time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will be increased or restarted if you agree to take part in an approved activity for least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit.
If you and your partner (if required) do not complete your activities with your contracted service provider without a good and sufficient reason:
- for the the first time, your benefit will be reduced by 50% for 4 weeks
- for the second time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will restart if you undertake the activity you failed to do.
- for the third time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will be increased or restarted if you agree to take part in an approved activity for least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit.
If your partner doesn't complete their youth activities (if required) without a good and sufficient reason:
- for the the first time, your benefit will be reduced by 50% for 4 weeks
- for the second time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will restart if your partner undertakes the activity they failed to do.
- for the third time, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children), for 13 weeks. Your benefit will be increased or restarted if your partner agrees to take part in an approved activity for at least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit.
If you want to dispute or discuss our decision, you have five working days to contact us after we've advised you that you've failed your obligations before your benefit payments are affected.
If you still disagree with our decision after discussing it with us you are entitled to: