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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
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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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Security deposit for emergency housing
If you're going to stay in emergency housing, your housing supplier may ask for a security deposit.
The security deposit can help to cover certain types of losses or damages that you, or people staying with you, are responsible for.
For example, damage to, or replacement of:
- curtains, carpet or furniture
- kitchen appliances (toaster, jug, etc)
- walls, doors
- locks or keys/key cards
- any other spaces or shared spaces, such as a laundry room, hallway or play area.
How it works
If your supplier asks for a security deposit, talk to us about this when you apply for emergency housing.
We'll approve a security deposit at the start of your stay, but we won't pay the supplier then. We'll usually approve up to 7 nights' of the accommodation cost. We'll discuss the amount with you before we approve it and check you agree with it.
If there are any losses or damages during your stay or when you leave, your supplier can make a claim to get the deposit paid.
Making a claim
We'll only pay the security deposit on your behalf if:
- there are losses or damages that you, or someone staying with you, were responsible for
- there are unpaid costs, and
- the supplier has made a claim.
The supplier must claim within 3 months
Your housing supplier will need to claim any losses or damages from us within 3 months of when you leave.
You will need to pay it back to us
If you get a main benefit, NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, it will automatically come out of this payment.
If you don't, we'll let you know how you can pay us back.
If you don't agree to the loss or damage
If the supplier tells us you don't agree that you or your whānau are responsible for the loss or damage, we won't pay the security deposit. We will pay it once you have agreed on an outcome with the supplier. If you don't agree on an outcome, it may go to a Tribunal or court.
If you didn't check out of your accommodation, we will still pay it regardless.
You'll need to talk to the emergency housing supplier and resolve it with them.
Costs not covered by security deposit
There are standard costs that are not covered by the security deposit. If you have these costs, you will need to pay the bill yourself.
This could include things like:
- phone
- internet pre-pay television charges
- storage
- laundry services
- car-parking
- utilities
- meal charges.