How much you can get for Veteran's Pension

Veteran's Pension is paid fortnightly on a Tuesday. How much you get depends on your situation and what tax code you use.

Payment rates may be different if:

If you get an overseas pension this could affect your Veteran's Pension payments. Talk to us about how this could affect your payments.

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Your tax code

Veteran's Pension is a taxable payment. The amount of tax you pay depends on the tax code you use.

If you only get Veteran's Pension, your tax code will probably be 'M'.

If you get other income as well, it may be a different tax code. This means you could get less for your Veteran's Pension payments, it depends what tax code you're on.

If you need help working out what tax code you should use, go to 'Tax codes for individuals' on the Inland Revenue website.

If you've changed your tax code, you need to let us know. You can do this by filling out our 'Change tax code' form online.

Tax codes for individuals - ird.govt.nz
Change your tax code

Payment rate if you're single

How much you get depends on your living situation and what tax code you use. Payments are fortnightly.

Your living situation

M

S (17.5%)

SH (30%)

ST (33%)

SA (39%)

Live alone or with a dependent child

 $1,043.24 $1,001.24 $849.74 $813.38 $740.66

Live with someone who's either:

  • 18 or older (unless they're a dependent child who's 18), or
  • visiting and staying more than 13 weeks.
 $963.32 $921.32 $781.82 $748.26 $681.38
Definition of dependent child

Payment rate if you have a partner

How much you get depends on who meets the criteria for Veteran's Pension and what tax code you use. Payments are fortnightly.

Your situation

M

S (17.5%)

SH (30%)

ST (33%)

SA (39%)

Both you and your partner meet the criteria for Veteran's Pension

 $803.48 each $761.48 each $646.22 each $618.56 each $563.24 each
Only one of you meets the criteria for Veteran's Pension $803.48 $761.48 $646.22 $618.56 $563.24
Who can get Veteran's Pension

If you get other income, it will affect your Veteran's Pension payments if:

  • you're under 65
  • you were getting a Veteran's Pension on 7 December 2014, when the War Pensions Act 1954 was replaced by the Veterans' Support Act 2014, and
  • you've chosen to get Veteran's Pension instead of weekly income compensation from Veteran's Affairs.

Other income will also affect your Veteran's Pension when:

  • you're 65 or older, and
  • you have included your partner in your Veteran's Pension payments.

How other income will affect your payment

You and your partner can earn up to $160 a week (before tax) in total before it affects your payment. 

Then, if you're under 65

Once you and your partner earn over $160 (before tax) a week:

  • any income you get between $160 and $250 a week (before tax) will reduce your payment by 30 cents for each $1 of income
  • any income you get over $250 a week (before tax) will reduce your payment by 70 cents for every $1 of income.

Or, if you're 65 or older

Once you and your partner earn over $160 (before tax), your payment reduces by 70 cents for every extra $1 of income you earn.

Related

Payment dates
Tax on your income when you retire - IRD website