What's new

Board and rent definitions

Map has been updated to clarify when someone is considered to be a boarder or a renter.

Board

Board is an arrangement where a person pays a set amount that includes the cost of residing at the premises along with food and may include other costs such as power, water, and internet.

Note Additional occupants may pay a contribution towards accommodation costs while living in the social housing property.

The contribution amount may include food and sometimes other costs. Whether it includes food (and/or other costs) or not, only 62% of the contribution can be considered as their allowable accommodation cost. This means they are treated the same as a boarder.

Rent

When the amount a client pays for their accommodation does not include food but does include other costs (e.g. service costs) and the accommodation cost can be separately identified as part of the amount they pay, they will be considered renting.

For more information see:

• Definition Board
• Accommodation Supplement
  • Board
  • Rent
  • Examples of when a client is paying rent or board
  • Social housing tenants
• Temporary Additional Support
  • Board
  • Rent
• Income Related Rent Contributions from additional occupants

Traffic Light System

Phase three of the Traffic Light System introduces two new non-financial sanctions:

• Report Job Search
• Upskilling

New pages have been added with guidance on when these sanctions can be imposed and what clients will need to do to complete them. See:

• Emergency Benefit Report Job Search + Upskilling
• Emergency Maintenance Allowance Upskilling
• Jobseeker Support Report Job Search + Upskilling
• Sole Parent Support Report Job Search + Upskilling
• Supported Living Payment Report Job Search + Upskilling
• Jobseeker Support Student Hardship Report Job Search + Upskilling

FamilyBoost Tax Credit

The eligibility criteria for FamilyBoost Tax Credit, which is administered by Inland Revenue, have changed. Map has been updated to reflect these changes. FamilyBoost payments continue to be exempt as income and cash assets for MSD-administered assistance for 12 months after they've been paid. See:

• FamilyBoost Tax Credit

Deskfile - 2026 calendar

The 2026 calendar, with the fortnightly paydays marked, has been added.