Re-establishment grant
The Re-establishment grant is a payment to help people in specific circumstances re-establish themselves in the community.
A re-establishment grant can pay for things like:
- accommodation, including bond and rent in advance
- beds, bedding and essential appliances
- a fridge, freezer or washing machine
- connecting electricity, gas and telephone
- clothing
- cost of attending English language classes, including transport costs
- translation costs for work-related documents.
Who can get it
You must meet the qualifications for a Special Needs Grant. If you're an Afghan evacuee and have an Afghan Emergency Resettlement Visa, you don't need to meet the residency criteria for a Special Needs Grant.
You also need to be re-establishing yourself in the community and be in one of the following situations:
- you're a refugee who isn't entitled to other forms of government assistance for refugees
- you're a sole parent who:
- is a victim of family violence
- is being assisted by a social service agency (e.g. Women's Refuge) to relocate after the initial separation, and
- has no other resources
- you're a patient in hospital or a residential home for more than 6 months
- you've just been released from a custody period of 31 days or more
- you're an Afghan interpreter who has a residence class visa
- you're an Afghan evacuee who either:
- is a New Zealand citizen
- has a residence class visa (including an Afghan Emergency Resettlement Visa), or
- has applied for an Afghan Emergency Resettlement Visa, or
- you're in a 'Transition from Care to Independence' initiative with Oranga Tamariki and:
- 16 or older
- have been in supported care under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
- leaving supported care to live independently
- have a letter from your personal advisor verifying that you're participating in this initiative and
- have a youth transition payment.
Re-establishment grants are considered on a case-by-case basis.
How much you can get
How much you get depends on your situation.
Sole parent and victim of family violence
You can get up to $800 for accommodation costs but you have to pay this back. You can get up to $600 for other costs and you don't have to pay this back.
Long-term hospital or residential home
You can get up to $800 for accommodation costs but you have to pay this back. You can get up to $1,200 for other costs and you don't have to pay this back.
Refugee, Afghan interpreter or Afghan evacuee
You can get up to a total of $5,000. Of that $5,000, you can get up to $3,500 for accommodation costs. You don't have to pay back any of the $5,000.
Released from custody
You can get up to $350 for all costs and you don't have to pay this back.
Transition from care to independence initiative
You can get up to $800 for accommodation costs but you have to pay this back. You can get up to $1,200 for other costs and you don't have to pay this back.
How to apply
You need to call us on 0800 559 009.
We'll talk with you to understand your situation and how we can help. We'll let you know what information you need to provide and how to get this to us.
You're a refugee, Aghan interpreter or Afghan evacuee
You need to apply within the first year of your arrival in New Zealand.
If you're applying for help with English language classes, you can apply within the first 2 years of your arrival in NZ.