Financial assistance
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A-Z benefits and payments
Here’s a list of the benefits and payments you can get from Work and Income if you’re eligible.
Accommodation Costs Arrears Grant
If you’re worried you’ll lose your housing because you owe accommodation costs, you may be able to get an Accommodation Costs Arrears Grant from work and Income.
This type of payment can also be called Rent Arrears Grant. It will be called this if you’re in a tenancy that the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) applies to, i.e. you have a tenancy agreement.
- You don’t have to be on a benefit to get this payment.
- You’ll need to pay the money back. Work and Income will put a repayment plan in place to suit your financial circumstances.
Accommodation Supplement
Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment which helps people with their rent, board or the cost of owning a home. This is provided by the Ministry of Social development.
Away from Home Allowance
Away from Home Allowance is a weekly payment which helps carers with the living costs for 16 or 17 year olds who are living away from home while on a tertiary or training course. Work and Income can pay the allowance to the carer of the young person.
You may get an Away from Home Allowance if:
- you are the main carer of a 16 or 17 year-old young person
- you are eligible for a family tax credit for the young person
- the young person is dependent on you
- the young person is living away from home while on a tertiary course or approved employment related training.
Bond Grant
If you don’t have enough money to pay bond to your landlord, you may be able to get a Bond Grant from Work and Income
- You don’t need to be on a benefit to qualify for this help.
- You’ll need to pay the money back. We’ll put a repayment plan in place to suit your financial circumstances.
Child Disability Allowance
Child Disability Allowance is a fortnightly payment made to the main carer of a child or young person with a serious disability. It is paid in recognition of the extra care and attention needed for that child.
Clothing Allowance for Orphan’s Benefit and Unsupported Child’s Benefit
A Clothing Allowance is a weekly payment we give you if you get Orphan’s Benefit or Unsupported Child’s Benefit for children in your care, to help you pay for their clothing.
De Paul House
De Paul House provides housing and support services, focusing on families with dependent children. Their trained Social Work Support team will work closely with the family to transition from emergency housing to a stable home.
Dental care
If you’re on a low income or benefit, immediate and essential dental treatment may be available to you.
Immediate and essential dental treatment includes treatment such as fillings and extractions, but not periodic cleaning or check-ups. See more examples in the ‘What you can get’ section on the link below.
You can apply for up to $1,000 a year (any 52-week period), to help with immediate and essential dental treatment. You don’t have to pay this back.
Disability Allowance
Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability. These could be visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing or travel. You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.
Early Learning Payment
The Early Learning Payment helps pay the costs of Early Childhood Education for children aged 18 months to 3 years. These children need to be from families enrolled in selected Family Start or Early Start Programmes.
Electricity bill assistance
The following electricity suppliers can assist with electricity bills, helping to ease financial burdens and ensure that essential services are maintained.
Extraordinary Care Fund
You can apply if a child you care for shows promise in a skill or talent, or because they are experiencing difficulties and need extra support. To qualify you need to get the Orphan’s Benefit or Unsupported Child’s Benefit.
Flexible Childcare Assistance
Work and Income may be able to help with the costs of informal childcare e.g. a babysitter, if you can’t access formal childcare programmes while you’re at work or in employment-related study or training.
Funeral Grant
A Funeral Grant can help with some of the funeral costs of someone who has died.
A Funeral Grant can only be used towards essential funeral expenses, which are:
- professional services for preparing the body for cremation or burial (for example, embalming)
- the cost of a casket
- newspaper notice costs
- hearse fees
- compulsory fees for buying a burial plot
- cremation fees.
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment
If you’re under 20 and in full-time education, training or work-based learning, you may be able to get the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment (GCAP) to assist with the cost of childcare.
Help to get a driver licence
Work and Income can connect you with providers who can help you get your driver licence.
They can help you with things like:
- studying for the learner licence test
- professional driving lessons for the restricted or full licence test
- paying the test fees
- a vehicle to take the test in.
Internet and phone costs
Work and Income can help you with ongoing phone costs that are directly related to your disability or health condition.
Orphan’s Benefit
Orphan’s Benefit is a weekly payment which helps carers supporting a child or young person whose parents have died or can’t be found, or can’t look after them because they have a serious long-term health condition or incapacity.
Paying for heating
You can get government help with the cost of heating and insulating your home depending on your circumstances, your income and assets.
School fees, uniform and stationery
If you’re caring for someone else’s child and need help with pre-school or school-related costs at the beginning of the year, you may be able to get the School and Year Start-up Payment from Work and Income.
- This is a once-a-year payment.
- You need to apply every year between mid-January and the end of February.
Skinny Jump
Skinny Jump is a flexible prepaid broadband–$5 for 30GB of data, no contracts or credit checks and the modem comes free of charge. Skinny Jump is for those who don’t have a broadband connection at home because cost is a barrier.
Spark hardship policy
Spark customers experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to call them directly and discuss their support packages.
Special Disability Allowance
Special Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have a spouse or partner who is in residential care, or has been in a public hospital for over 13 weeks. It’s paid to the spouse or partner who is not in care to help with the extra costs of having their spouse or partner in care.
Supported Living Payment
Supported Living Payment is a weekly payment to help you if you have, or are caring for someone with, a significant health condition, injury or disability.
Unsupported Child’s Benefit
Unsupported Child’s Benefit is a weekly payment which helps carers supporting a child or young person whose parents can’t care for them because of a family breakdown.
Water Utility Consumer Assistance Trust
Water Assistance can also help provide financial support to people who find it challenging to pay their water bill.
Youth Payment
Youth Payment helps young people aged 16 or 17 who can’t live with their parents or guardian and aren’t supported by them or anyone else.