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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
Travelling or moving overseas may affect your payments.
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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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Moving 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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Medical alert bracelets
If you have a MedicAlert bracelet and need help with the cost of ongoing membership fees, we may be able to help you pay this as part of a Disability Allowance.
- You can get a Disability Allowance for a number of different things, including medical alert bracelets. The maximum you can get for a Disability Allowance is $78.60 a week.
- You don't have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.
You can apply for a Disability Allowance for you, your partner or a child.
The person who needs a MedicAlert bracelet must:
- have a health condition or disability that's likely to last at least 6 months from when they were diagnosed
- need a MedicAlert bracelet because of the health condition or disability
- have regular, ongoing costs for the MedicAlert bracelet that are not fully covered by another agency.
To apply, you need to be:
- 16 and older
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
It also depends on how much you and your partner earn.
The income limits for Disability Allowance are:
Your situation | Weekly income limits before tax |
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Single 16-17 years | $660.90 |
Single 18+ years | $823.31 |
Couple (with or without children) | $1,225.95 |
Sole parent 1 child | $921.73 |
Sole parent 2+ children | $971.14 |
We pay up to a maximum of $78.60 a week for Disability Allowance. How much you get for MedicAlert bracelet membership fees depends on your situation.
What isn't included in Disability Allowance:
- one-off costs, for example the initial enrolment fee and a bracelet/pendant
- member donations.
If you can't pay for the initial enrolment fee or a bracelet/pendant, we may still be able to help if this is an immediate and essential need. Call us to talk about your situation.
Already getting payments from us (e.g. a benefit or Accommodation Supplement) but not Disability Allowance
- You need to complete this form and a health practitioner, eg your doctor needs to complete the Disability Certificate inside.
- You need to get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Talk to us about the how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
Already getting Disability Allowance
- A health practitioner, e.g. your doctor, needs to complete a Disability Certificate form.
- You need to get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- that you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Call us to talk about how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
We'll include the cost of the MedicAlert bracelet in your Disability Allowance from the date the cost started.
Not getting any payments from us
You can apply for a Disability Allowance online.
You'll also need to:
- get a health practitioner, eg your doctor to complete a Disability Certificate form.
- get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Call us to talk about how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
Applying on behalf of someone else
You can apply for Disability Allowance on someone else's behalf, but only if they've filled out a form to appoint you as their agent.