Rural Assistance Payments

The payment is available in these districts:

• Far North District Council
• Whangarei District Council
• Kaipara District Council
• New Plymouth District Council
• Stratford District Council
• South Taranaki District Council
• Whanganui District Council
• Ruapehu District Council
• Rangitikei District Council
• Manawatū District Council
• Horowhenua District Council
• Palmerston North District Council
• Tararua District Council
• Kāpiti District Council
• Porirua City Council
• Upper Hutt City Council
• Hutt City Council
• Wellington City Council
• Masterton District Council
• Carterton District Council
• South Wairarapa District Council
• Marlborough District Council
• Nelson City Council
• Tasman District Council
• Kaikoura District Council
• Hurunui District Council
• Waimakariri District Council
• Christchurch City Council including Banks Peninsula
• Selwyn District Council
• Ashburton District Council
• Timaru District Council
• Mackenzie District Council
• Waimate District Council
• Waitaki District Council
• Dunedin City Council 
• Central Otago District Council
• Queenstown Lakes District Council
• Clutha District Council

Rural Assistance Payments are paid during or after an adverse event. They're paid to help farmers with essential living costs.

Adverse events

Adverse events are climatic events, natural disasters or biosecurity issues. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) classifies these as either localised events, or medium- or large- scale events.

If it's a medium or large scale event, the Government then decides what sort of assistance will be provided.

Find out how adverse events are classified on the Ministry for Primary Industries' website:

You may be able to get a Rural Assistance Payment if:

• you're finding it difficult to meet your essential living costs through your farming business because of an adverse event.
• your farm is your main source of income, eg:
  • meat or poultry farming
  • wool
  • dairy products
  • arable farming
  • aquaculture
  • sharemilking
  • an orchard
  • bee-keeping
  • herb or flower growing
  • a market garden.

It also depends on:

• how much you and your partner earn (not including your farming business), and
• any money or off-farm assets you and your partner have. 

Income limits

If you have other income other than your farming business, this may affect how much Rural Assistance Payment you get.

You and your partner can earn up to $160 a week (before tax) combined before this affects your payments. If you earn more than this, you may still get a Rural Assistance Payment, but at a lower rate.

Asset limits

To get this payment, any cash or off-farm assets you have must be under a certain amount. This doesn't include farm or orchard assets, such as shares in dairy, meat or fertiliser companies.

Payments are equivalent to the current rate of the Jobseeker Support benefit at the time of the event.

You or your partner can earn up to $160.00 per week (before tax) before your Rural Assistance Payments are affected. If you're earning more than this, you may still be able to get Rural Assistance Payments at a reduced rate, which will be paid weekly.

Tax is automatically deducted at 'M' rate.

Rural Assistance Payments are generally paid in a lump sum covering 4 weeks. If you need the payment for longer than this, you'll need to reapply every 4 weeks.

You can apply for Rural Assistance Payments for:

• up to one year from the date you apply, or
• a set length of time, which is approved by the Minister for Social Development.

You'll get paid for whichever is the shortest of these options.

You need to:

1. fill out the 'Rural Assistance Payment Application' form (your local Rural Support Trust can help you fill this out)
2. print the form
3. get the declaration form signed by either:
   1. an Agri-recovery Facilitator, or
   2. a Rural Support Trust coordinator
4. call us to talk about how to get this to us.

Rural Assistance Payment Application (PDF 855.46KB)

Complete the application form

Rural Assistance Payments are generally paid in a lump sum covering 4 weeks. If you need the payment for longer than this, you'll need to reapply every 4 weeks.

To re-apply, fill out the 'Rural Assistance Payment continuation' form.

Then you can either:

• send it to your local Rural Support Trust (contact them if you need help with this), or
• drop it into your nearest service centre.

Rural Assistance Payment continuation form (PDF 643.8KB)

We may be able to help you in other ways, for example if you've had to stop work or need help to pay unexpected costs. You can use our online tool to find out what support you might be eligible for, and how to apply for this.