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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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Accommodation Supplement
Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment which helps people with their rent, board or the cost of owning a home.
You may get an Accommodation Supplement if you:
- have accommodation costs
- are aged 16 years or more
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here
- are not paying rent for a public (social) housing property. Public housing properties are provided by:
- Kāinga Ora (used to be Housing New Zealand), and
- approved community housing providers.
It also depends on:
- how much you and your partner earn
- any money or assets you and your partner have.
Asset limits
If you are: |
Your assets are no more than: |
Single | $8,100 |
Couple (with or without children) or sole parent | $16,200 |
This cash asset limit may increase if:
- you get paid a lump sum under the Accident Compensation Act 2001, or
- you get a lump sum payment of an Independence Allowance under the Accident Insurance Act 1998.
Check if you can get Accommodation Supplement
To find out if you could get Accommodation Supplement and what else you might qualify for, use our 'Check what you might get' tool.
How much you will get on the Accommodation Supplement will depend on:
- your income
- your assets
- your accommodation costs
- your family circumstances
- where you live.
This payment is not taxed.
Use our 'Check what you might get' tool to work out how much Accommodation Supplement you might be able to get.
What application form you fill out depends on what payments you're getting from us.
We can grant you the financial assistance you're entitled to from the date you first contact us if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.
New client or only getting childcare payments
If you're not getting any payments from us, or only getting childcare payments, you can either:
- apply online through MyMSD, or
- fill out an Extra Help application form.
If you can't apply online or fill out the form, call us.
Apply online
Apply online through MyMSD. We'll check if you can get any other payments at the same time and tell you what else you need to do.
Fill out paper application form
You can fill out the Extra Help application form. You'll also need to provide proof of your costs.
You can get your application form and proof of costs to us by either:
- dropping them in to your nearest service centre
- posting them to your nearest service centre, or
- uploading them to MyMSD (you'll need to call us first).
After you've applied you may need to call us to book an appointment. This could be a phone appointment or a face-to-face appointment.
If this is your first time applying for a benefit or ongoing payment, you need to bring your ID into a service centre so we can check it.
Existing client
If you're already getting payments from us, eg, a benefit or Disability Allowance, you can complete an Accommodation Supplement application form. You'll also need to provide proof of your costs.
You can get your application form and proof of costs to us by either:
- dropping them in to your nearest service centre
- posting them to your nearest service centre, or
- uploading them to MyMSD (you'll need to call us first).
After you've applied we may book an appointment with you if we need more information. This could be a phone appointment or a face-to-face appointment.
If you can't fill out the form, call us on 0800 559 009.
If you're a student, you can apply through the StudyLink website
If you're already getting Accommodation Supplement and your accommodation costs change, you need to let us know.
If you're not sure what costs are included in your Accommodation Supplement, you can check in MyMSD.
Related
Contact
The information provided in this page is a guide only.
Contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.