Benefit rates April 2012

Payment rates for Work and Income benefits and entitlements from April 2012

Benefit type Net weekly rate after tax at 'M') Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum subsidy
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit: without children
Single, 18 to 19 years, at home $136.64 $152.67 $87.58 $51 $61 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home $170.80 $190.84 $87.58 $51 $61 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 20 to 24 years $170.80 $190.84 $87.58 $51 $61 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 25 years or over $204.96 $229.01 $122.07 $51 $61 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $341.60 $381.68 $229.02 $85 $102 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $170.80 $190.84
Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit: with children
Sole parent $293.58 $333.01 See Note 1 $97 $116 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $341.60 $381.68 See Note 1 $109 $130 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $170.80 $190.84
Youth Payment
Single $170.80 $190.84 $51 $61 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $341.60 $381.68 $85 $102 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) Hospital rate $170.80 $190.84
Hospital rate $42.38 $47.35
Young Parent Payment
Sole parent, 16 or 17 years living at home or supported by parents (who earn less than Family Tax Credit threshold) $136.64 $152.67 $51 n/a $145 $100 $65 $45
Sole parent, 1 child $293.58 $333.01 $97 $116 $160 $125 $75 $55
Sole parent, 2+ children $293.58 $333.01 $97 $116 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship, both qualify (total) $341.60 $381.68 $109 $130 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship, both qualify (each) $170.80 $190.84
Hospital rate $42.38 $47.35
Emergency Maintenance Allowance or Emergency Benefit
16 to 17 years, at home $136.64 $152.67 $87.58 $51 See Note 3 $145 $100 $65 $45
DPB or Widows Benefit
Woman alone or single adult $213.49 $238.54 $129.03 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Sole parent $293.58 $333.01 See Note 1 $97 $116 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2
DPB - Care of Sick or Infirm
Single, 16 to 17 years $207.32 $231.64 $116.69 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $256.19 $287.69 $165.61 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Sole parent $336.55 $385.10 See Note 1 $107 $129 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2
Half married, civil union or de facto rate $213.49 $238.54 $129.03
Invalids Benefit: without children
Single, 16 to 17 years $207.32 $231.64 $116.69 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $256.19 $287.69 $165.61 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $426.98 $477.08 $302.12 $107 $128 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $213.49 $238.54
Invalids Benefit: with children
Sole parent $336.55 $385.10 See Note 1 $107 $129 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2 See Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $426.98 $477.08 See Note 1 $130 $156 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $213.49 $238.54

Benefit type Rate
Family tax credit for each child (maximum)
First or only child, aged 0 to 15 years $92.73
First or only child, aged 16 years or older $101.98
Second or subsequent child, aged 0 to 12 years $64.44
Second or subsequent child, aged 13 to 15 years $73.50
Second or subsequent child, aged 16 years or older $91.25

Pension type Net weekly rate after tax at ‘M’) Net weekly rate after tax at 'S') Gross weekly rate
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension (standard rates)
Single, living alone $348.92 $330.07 $400.07
Single, sharing $322.08 $303.23 $367.45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (total) $536.80 $499.10 $604.80
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (each) $268.40 $249.55 $302.40
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (total) $510.18 $472.48 $572.58
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (each) $255.09 $236.24 $286.29
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension (non-standard rates)
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $536.80 $499.10 $604.80
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $268.40 $249.55 $302.40
Partner in rest home, with non-qualified spouse included $256.19 $237.34 $287.56
Hospital rate $42.38 - $47.31
Non-taxable amounts
War Pensioner's Funeral Grant $2,395.10
World War I veteran's lump sum payment on death $14,316.63
Other veterans lump sum payment on death $5,678.00
Veteran's spouse's lump sum payment on death $4,329.64

For more information about war pensions and allowances, please phone Veterans' Affairs New Zealand on 0800 483 8372 (0800 4 VETERAN)

Type of benefit combination Without children With children
Rent or board Mortgage Rent or board Mortgage
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension and Invalid's Benefit $120 $145 $144 $172
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension and Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit or non-beneficiary $110 $132 $133 $160
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit or non-beneficiary $96 $115 $119 $143
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension $120 $145 $144 $172
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and Invalids Benefit $107 $128 $130 $156

From 27 September 2010 there are two sets of income thresholds for childcare assistance. These are:

  • a set of lower thresholds - for people who did not receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.
  • a set of higher thresholds - for people who did receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Each set of thresholds is listed below. The rates of Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy are the same for both sets. Below are the income thresholds for people who did not receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates Gross income per week
1 child Less than $1,200.00 $1,200.00 to $1,299.99 $1,300.00 to $1,399.99 $1,400.00 or more
2 children Less than $1,380.00 $1,380.00 to $1,489.99 $1,490.00 to $1,599.99 $1,600.00 or more
3 or more children Less than $1,540.00 $1,540.00 to $1,669.99 $1,670.00 to 1,799.99 $1,800.00 or more
Rate that applies (see the chart below) Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3 Nil

Below are the income thresholds for people who did receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates Gross income per week
1 child Less than $1,274.00 $1,274.00 to $1,379.99 $1,380.00 to $1,485.99 $1,486.00 or more
2 children Less than $1,465.00 $1,465.00 to $1,580.99 $1,581.00 to $1,697.99 $1,698.00 or more
3 or more children Less than $1,634.00 $1,634.00 to $1,771.99 $1,772.00 to 1,909.99 $1,910.00 or more
Rate that applies (see the chart below) Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3 Nil

Below are the rates of Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy that apply to both sets of income thresholds listed above.

Assistance type Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3
Childcare Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $3.91 $2.72 $1.51
Childcare Subsidy up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $195.50 $136.00 $75.50
OSCAR Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $3.91 $2.72 $1.51
OSCAR Subsidy during term time up to 20 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $78.20 $54.40 $30.20
OSCAR Subsidy during holidays up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $195.50 $136.00 $75.50

Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment

Rate Maximum hours Maximum total
Per child $6 per hour 50 hours $300

Benefit type Rate
Hospital Rate
For other than NZ Superannuation, Veterans Pension, Orphans Benefit, or Unsupported Childs Benefit $47.35 (gross, weekly) $42.38 (net, weekly, after tax at 'M')

Benefit type Rate
Funeral Grant
Income and asset-tested (maximum) $1,959.42

Category Gross weekly cut-out point
Single, 16 to 17 years $506.01
Single, 18 years or over $585.67
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship with or without children $866.91
Sole parent with 1 child $705.72
Sole parent with 2 or more children $743.53

Family size Gross annual cut-out point
Single, sharing accommodation $24,894
Single, living alone $26,393
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship $39,423
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $47,597
3-person family $57,640
4-person family $65,627
5-person family $73,450
6-person family $82,193
For each additional family member add $7,703

Duration Rate, non-taxable
Weekly (maximum) $103.95
Yearly (maximum) $4,158.00

Category Net weekly allowance(tax at 'M') Gross weekly allowance
Single Students
Under 24 year old living, at home (up to) $136.64 $152.67
Under 24 year old, away from home (up to) $170.80 $190.84
Independent Circumstances Allowance $170.80 $190.84
24 year old and over, at home $163.96 $183.20
24 year old and over, away from home $204.96 $229.01
Student with Earning Partner
Student with earning partner, at home $74.05 $82.74
Student with earning partner, away from home $110.31 $123.25
Couple Allowance
One student, one dependent partner $341.60 $391.22
Both eligible students (each) $170.80 $190.84
Both students, one eligible $204.96 $229.01
With Dependents
Single student (with 1+ children $293.58 $333.01
Both students, one eligible (with 1+ children) $293.58 $333.01
Both students, both eligible (with 1+ children) (each) $170.80 $190.84
One student, with dependent partner (1+ children) $341.60 $391.22

Weekly Maximum
Student Loan Living Cost $172.51