Civil Defence Payment
When there's an emergency event (e.g. flooding or an earthquake), we may make Civil Defence Payments available. If you've been affected and these payments are available, you may be able to get one.
Civil Defence Payments are not currently available. If you’re struggling to meet your essential costs, we may still be able to help with living expenses.
What the payments cover
Civil Defence Payments can help cover the costs of:
- Food
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Accommodation
- Loss of income.
Who can get it
You don't have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Civil Defence Payment. You also don't have to be a New Zealand resident. In most cases, it doesn't matter what your income is or what assets you have.
You may be able to get a Civil Defence Payment if:
- Civil Defence Payments have been made available for an emergency event, and
- you don't have insurance to cover your costs.
You must also be in one of these situations:
- you had to leave your home (e.g. you've been evacuated or you're on stand-by) and can't return
- you were away from your home at the time of the emergency and can't return
- you must stay in your home, or
- you can't work and you've lost income because either:
- you can't get to work
- your workplace is closed, or
- you need to stay with your family or whānau, e.g. to care for a child because their school is closed.
We can't help with accommodation costs if you've been offered free accommodation but choose not to take it. You also can't get a Civil Defence Payment to help pay for Temporary Accommodation Service.
Insurance
If you're not sure whether insurance will cover your costs, or your claim is delayed, you may still qualify for a Civil Defence Payment. However if you get a Civil Defence Payment and then your insurance pays for any costs covered by this, you'll need to pay us back.
How to apply
Civil Defence Payments are not currently available. When they are available, this page will be updated with details of who can get it and how to apply.
What you need to tell us
When you apply you'll need to tell us your:
- full name
- date of birth
- phone number
- client number (if you have one)
- normal home address
- current address (if you've had to evacuate your home).
How much you can get
How much you can get depends on your circumstances. You can apply for help with more than one type of cost.
You had to leave your home
Staying in temporary accommodation
If you're staying in temporary accommodation, e.g. hotel or motel, we may be able to pay for your accommodation costs. We'll pay this to your accommodation supplier.
|
If you are: |
Maximum weekly payment |
Maximum daily payment |
|
Single |
$1,426 |
$203.71 |
|
A couple, without children |
$1,504 |
$214.86 |
|
A couple, or sole parent, with children |
$1,773 |
$253.29 |
Staying in hosted accommodation
If you're staying in hosted or billeted accommodation, for example with friends or family or in another private home, we may be able to pay for your accommodation costs.
|
If you are: |
Maximum weekly payment |
Maximum daily payment |
|
Single |
$261 |
$37.29 |
|
Sole parent |
$261, plus $130.50 for each dependent child |
$37.29, plus $18.64 for each dependent child |
|
A couple, without children |
$438 |
$62.57 |
|
A couple, with children |
$438, plus $130.50 for each dependent child |
$62.57, plus $18.64 for each dependent child |
You need help with food, bedding or clothing
How much you get depends on your situation. We'll make this payment to you or the supplier, depending on your circumstances.
|
If you are: |
Maximum amount available |
|
Single |
$400 |
|
A couple |
$600 |
|
A couple or sole parent, with 1-2 children |
$900 |
|
A couple or sole parent, with 3+ children |
$1,110 |
You've lost income because you can't work
How much you get depends on whether you're staying in hosted or billeted accommodation (e.g. with friends or family), or in a hotel or motel. We'll make this payment directly to you.
If you're staying in hosted accommodation
If you are: |
Maximum weekly payment: |
| Single 18-24 | $243.38 |
| Single 25+ | $279.41 |
| A couple without children | $475.46 |
| A couple with children | $502.05 |
| Sole parent, 1+ children | $391.14 |
If you're not staying in hosted accommodation
If you are: |
Maximum weekly payment: |
| Single 18-24 | $324.50 |
| Single 25+ | $372.55 |
| A couple without children | $633.94 |
| A couple with children | $669.40 |
| Sole parent, 1+ children | $521.52 |
After you've applied
We'll call you back within 2 working days to discuss your application, and how it will be paid if it's granted.
If you're applying because you've lost income we may also need to contact your employer about your application.
How it's paid
We'll pay the Civil Defence Payment either to you or to your supplier, depending on what you need help with.
|
If you're applying because you: |
We'll pay the Civil Defence Payment to: |
|
Need to replace food, bedding or clothing |
A Work and Income payment card (green card), usually. Then you can use the card to pay the supplier or shop. In some circumstances we can pay this direct to you. |
|
Had to leave your home |
Your accommodation supplier or host, usually. They'll need to be registered with us as a supplier to receive this. Register as a Work and Income supplier In some circumstances we can pay this directly to you. For example, if your accommodation supplier can't register with us due to the emergency. |
|
Lost income |
Your bank account |