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Work homepage
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Overview
Find out what services we can offer to help you find work and when you start a new job.
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Looking for work
We have jobs available now in various industries and you can search on our job websites.
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Help with your job search
From advice on making a plan, to tips on where to look and following up leads.
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Training and experience
Our programmes can help you get ready for work with training and work experience.
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Job Connect on Facebook
Find out how we can help you get ready to work, find work, and support available while you're working.
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CVs and cover letters
We’ve got great templates and advice for writing your CV or cover letter, and filling out job applications.
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Help with work costs
Get help to pay for the things you need to start work
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Job support and advice
Get all the support and advice you need to stay in work.
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Health and disability
If you want to work, we can support you to find the right job for you.
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Start your own business
We can help you get your business up and running.
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Job interviews
Get advice about how to prepare for and deliver a great interview.
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Help for 16-19 year olds
We’ve got extra support for young people to get ready for work and find a job.
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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
Going on holiday or going to live overseas
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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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Move 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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$5k to Work
You may be able to get $5k to Work if you qualify for a benefit and need to move to take up a job.
You'll have to pay the money back if you leave your job without a good reason and then re-apply for a benefit or return to study within 3 months of starting your job.
Who can get it
To get $5k to Work, you have to:
- either:
- qualify for a main benefit (eg, Jobseeker Support), or
- be the partner of someone who qualifies for a main benefit
- have a confirmed job offer for work in New Zealand, with a permanent or fixed-term contract (not a casual contract), that's either:
- at least 30 hours a week, or
- less than 30 hours a week where it is reasonable and appropriate (eg, you can support yourself with this job if you're not on a benefit)
- have a confirmed job offer that's:
- longer than 91 days, and
- starting within 28 days from when you apply for $5k to Work
- based in New Zealand
- be moving to take up the job
- be likely to need a benefit for a long time if you don't get this job.
What you can get
You'll get a lump sum payment of $5,000 which is not taxed. This is to help with the costs of moving to take up your new job.
How to apply
1. Complete the application form
Once you have a confirmed, full-time job offer, complete the $5K to Work paper application form.
2. Call us
You need to call us on 0800 559 009
We'll talk with you to understand your situation and how we can help.
3. Provide documents
You'll need to provide a copy of your confirmed job offer (eg, an employment contract or a letter from your employer) that shows the:
- start date for the role
- number of hours
- duration of the contract.
Well let you know how to get these documents to us.
What happens next
We'll contact your employer to confirm your employment.
If your application's approved, we'll pay the money into your bank account.