Community Costs
Community Costs is a weekly payment which helps people in a short-term residential treatment programme meet their essential ongoing costs in the community.
What Community Costs can help with
Community Costs aim to help make it easier for people to go back into the community at the end of their treatment and can help pay for essential costs such as:
- accommodation
- childcare
- storage
- hire purchases for essential items.
These payments are not for the expenses people might have during the treatment programme.
Who can get it
You may get Community Costs if you:
- are aged 16 years or more
- have ongoing costs in the community that are essential
- have no other way of meeting these costs
- are in a short-term residential treatment programme (less than 39 weeks).
It also depends on:
- how much you and your spouse or partner earn
- any money or assets you and your spouse or partner have.
You must also:
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years at any one time since becoming a New Zealand citizen or resident (unless you are a refugee).
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
How much you can get
How much you get depends on your circumstances and the costs you claim. It also depends on how much you and your partner earn and any money or assets you have.
You need to show that you have done everything you can to meet your ongoing essential costs before the Community Costs Payment can be approved.
How to apply
Contact the Residential Subsidy Unit on 0800 999 779 to talk about your circumstances.