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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
Going on holiday or going to live overseas
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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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Move 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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Winter Energy Payment
The Winter Energy Payment is an extra payment to help with the cost of heating your home over the winter months.
You don't need to apply – if you’re eligible, you’ll get the Winter Energy Payment automatically, along with your other regular payments from us.
The Winter Energy Payment starts on 1 May and ends on 1 October every year.
You'll automatically get the Winter Energy Payment if you're getting:
- NZ Superannuation
- Veteran's Pension
- Jobseeker Support
- Jobseeker Support Student Hardship
- Sole Parent Support
- Supported Living Payment
- Young Parent Payment
- Youth Payment
- Emergency Benefit
- Emergency Maintenance Allowance.
Who can't get the Winter Energy Payment
You can't get the Winter Energy Payment if you:
- don't get one of the payments listed above
- get an overseas pension which means you don't get any NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
- get Residential Care Subsidy or Residential Support Subsidy
- live overseas.
Winter Energy Payment dates
The Winter Energy Payment is paid from 1 May to 1 October.
Winter Energy Payment rates
Single people with no dependent children |
$20.46 a week |
Couples, and people with dependent children |
$31.82 a week |
You'll get the Winter Energy Payment automatically, along with your other regular payments from us (either weekly or fortnightly).
The Winter Energy Payment:
- doesn't affect your other payments from us, or your Income Related Rent
- is a non-taxable payment
- can't be paid as a lump sum.
Couples getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
Couples are paid $31.82, whether you live together or separately.
It's paid to one person in the couple. The system we use for payments can’t split it to pay into 2 separate accounts.
Generally, we'll pay it into the bank account of the person in the couple who has the lowest client number – you can find this on your Community Services Card or SuperGold Card or letters from us. The letters about the Winter Energy Payment are sent to the person with the lowest client number only.
If you’d like to switch the payment to the other person’s account, please call us.
Overseas travel when you're getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
If you're heading away from New Zealand over the winter months, we can keep paying your Winter Energy Payment for up to 28 days. Tell us if you plan to leave New Zealand for more than 28 days, otherwise we might pay you too much and have to ask for some money back. The easiest way to let us know is to either:
- fill out and submit the overseas travel dates online form
- call us on our Seniors line, 0800 552 002
When you return to New Zealand
If you return to New Zealand:
- before 1 October, you need to contact us so we can start your Winter Energy Payment again. Call our Seniors line on 0800 552 002
- after 1 October, your Winter Energy Payment will automatically start again next year, as long as you still qualify.
Overseas travel and getting a benefit
You need to let us know your travel plans, the reasons for travelling, and for how long.
Payments and your overseas travel
If you're able to keep getting your benefit when you're overseas, we'll also keep paying your Winter Energy Payment for up to 28 days.
When you return to New Zealand
If you return to New Zealand:
- before 1 October, you need to contact us so we can start your Winter Energy Payment again. Call us on 0800 559 009
- after 1 October, your Winter Energy Payment will automatically start again next year, as long as you still qualify.