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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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Payment issues
Fixing issues with Accommodation Supplement, Special Benefit and other payments we’ve made
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16-19 year olds
Education, training, work and benefit help for 16-19 year olds
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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Work homepage
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Overview
Find out what services we can offer to help you find work and when you start a new job.
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Looking for work
We have jobs available now in various industries and you can search on our job websites.
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Help with your job search
From advice on making a plan, to tips on where to look and following up leads.
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Training and experience
Our programmes can help you get ready for work with training and work experience.
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Job Connect on Facebook
Find out how we can help you get ready to work, find work, and support available while you're working.
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CVs and cover letters
We’ve got great templates and advice for writing your CV or cover letter, and filling out job applications.
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Help with work costs
Get help to pay for the things you need to start work
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Job support and advice
Get all the support and advice you need to stay in work.
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Health and disability
If you want to work, we can support you to find the right job for you.
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Start your own business
We can help you get your business up and running.
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Job interviews
Get advice about how to prepare for and deliver a great interview.
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Help for 16-19 year olds
We’ve got extra support for young people to get ready for work and find a job.
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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, wages deduction calculator and 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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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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Payment Cards
Information for suppliers about what Payment Cards are, how to use them, and the rules around using them.
Notice of Credit Vouchers / Hologram letters
Due to Cyclone Gabrielle, in places with limited communications/connectivity, we’re using notice of credit vouchers / hologram letters. See 'For more information' section below.
You can register to become a supplier with us here.
When clients receive assistance from us, they will be given a Payment Card which works like an EFTPOS card. Once a client's application has been approved, we'll confirm with the client that their card has been credited.
Payment Cards have replaced the notice of credit vouchers used by our clients to pay for most goods and services.
There are situations when you can still receive notice of credit vouchers. These will be limited to the following:
- if you don't have an EFTPOS terminal
- if the client is unable to use a Payment Card
- when the EFTPOS network is offline
- in a declared state of emergency.
If you want to be a supplier for Work and Income
Complete the Payment Card supplier registration form.
Previously registered suppliers
We are changing the way we pay you for goods and services bought by our clients. To continue being a supplier and to be able to accept Payment Cards, you must register as a supplier again.

- Funds will be credited directly to your bank account straight away at the time of the sale of goods.
- There's no need to reconcile bank statements with hologram letters. This saves you time.
- Once you're a registered supplier, all you need is your existing EFTPOS terminal to accept a Payment Card.
- It's a more efficient way for us to make payments to you.
If you don't have an EFTPOS terminal, you can continue to receive payments by Notice of Credit.
- The customer swipes the Payment Card through the EFTPOS machine to pay for their goods or services.
- The customer selects the 'CHQ' option on the EFTPOS machine. The card details are then validated by our bank.
- Suppliers will be sent an 'accept with signature' message through the EFTPOS terminal.

- Payment Card must only be used to pay for the approved goods or services at the agreed suppliers.
- The Payment Card can't be used to buy:
- alcohol
- cigarettes
- tobacco
- appliances
- electronics
- gift cards
- vouchers
- lotto tickets
- Cash or change can't be given. The Payment Card pays the exact amount of the goods or services.
- Refunds on return of goods must be credited to the card.
- Clients are required to sign for the goods or services when using the Payment Card. You must be satisfied as to the identity of the client.
- The Payment Card is given back to the customer.
- The payment on the card is valid for only 7 days.
Reasons why a transaction might be declined:
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You're not a registered Work and Income supplier or you're not registered to the new Payment Card system
Your business needs to be registered or re-registered with us before you can accept Payment Cards. -
The amount being spent is more then the amount available
Advise the customer to reduce the amount being spent. -
The payment has expired
The payment on the card is valid for only 7 days. Advise the customer to call Work and Income.
Call us on 0800 559 009 - say "Online help" when our phone system asks you what you're calling about. You'll be put straight through to someone who can help.
Or email:
Notice of credit vouchers
Notice of credit vouchers or hologram letters are used when we have limited communications/connectivity, or when payment cards can’t be used.
Use of these is limited to:
- if you don't have an EFTPOS terminal
- if the client is unable to use a Payment Card
- when the EFTPOS network is offline
- in a declared state of emergency.
They’re an A4 letter with a shiny disc, which has detail that the client has been granted money for this purchase. The money is direct credited to the supplier’s bank account in a few days.
Example:
