Benefit rates April 2015

Payment rates for Work and Income benefits and entitlements from April 2015

Benefit type

Net weekly rate (after tax at "M")

Gross weekly rate

Special Benefit standard costs

Accommodation Supplement*

Entry threshold

Maximum rate

Rent or board

Mortgage

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

Single, 18 to 19 years, at home

$140.08

$156.51

$89.79

$53

$63

$145

$100

$65

$45

Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home

$175.10

$195.64

$89.79

$53

$63

$145

$100

$65

$45

Single, 20 to 24 years

$175.10

$195.64

$89.79

$53

$63

$145

$100

$65

$45

Single, 25 years or over

$210.13

$234.78

$125.13

$53

$63

$145

$100

$65

$45

Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total)

$350.20

$391.28

$234.79

$88

$105

$160

$125

$75

$55

Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each)

$175.10

$195.64

              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Benefit type

Net weekly rate (after tax at "M")

Gross weekly rate

Special Benefit standard costs

Accommodation Supplement*

Entry threshold

Maximum rate

Rent or board

Mortgage

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

Sole parent

$300.98

$341.98

Note 1

$98

$118

Note 2

Note 2

Note 2

Note 2

Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total)

$350.20

$391.28

Note 1

$111

$133

$225

$165

$120

$75

Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each)

$175.10

$195.64

              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 1: Special Benefit standard costs for these clients are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Note 2: Accommodation Supplement maximum rates for these clients are:

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

$160

$125

$75

$55

$225

$165

$120

$75

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Sole parent, 16 to 17 years, living with or supported by parents who earn less than the Family Tax Credit threshold $140.08 $156.51 Note 3 $58 Note 4 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Sole parent $300.98 $341.98 Note 3 $98 $118 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $350.20 $391.28 Note 3 $111 $133 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $175.10 $195.64              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 1: Special Benefit standard costs for these clients are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Note 2: Accommodation Supplement maximum rates for these clients are:

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

$160

$125

$75

$55

$225

$165

$120

$75

Note 3: Special Benefit isn't available for these clients.

Note 4: The mortgage rate isn't relevant as these clients are living at home or away from home and supported by their parents.

Note 5: Rates, entry thresholds and maximum rates for Emergency Benefit are the same as those for the analogous benefit.

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Single, 16 to 17 years $175.10 $195.64 Note 3 $53 $63 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $350.20 $391.28 Note 3 $88 $105 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $175.10 $195.64              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 3: Special Benefit isn't available for these clients.

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Grandparented Woman alone or DPB woman alone $218.86 $244.54 $132.28 $55 $66 $145 $100 $65 $45

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Sole Parent Support $300.98 $341.98 Note 1 $98 $118 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 1: Special Benefit standard costs for these clients are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Note 2: Accommodation Supplement maximum rates for these clients are:

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

$160

$125

$75

$55

$225

$165

$120

$75

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Single, 16 to 17 years $212.54 $237.47 $119.63 $66 $79 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $262.64 $295.51 $169.78 $66 $79 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $437.72 $489.08 $309.72 $109 $131 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $218.86 $244.54              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement*
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Sole parent $345.02 $395.36 Note 1 $109 $131 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $437.72 $489.08 Note 1 $133 $159 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $218.86 $244.54              

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Jobseeker Support. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 1: Special Benefit standard costs for these clients are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Note 2: Accommodation Supplement maximum rates for these clients are:

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

$160

$125

$75

$55

$225

$165

$120

$75

Note 3: Special Benefit isn't available for these clients.

Benefit type Weekly rate,
non-taxable
Standard Disability Allowance - maximum $61.69
Special Disability Allowance $38.48
Child Disability Allowance $46.49

Weekly rate,
non-taxable
Aged under 5 years $146.04
Aged 5 to 9 years $169.48
Aged 10 to 13 years $187.01
Aged 14 years or over $204.46

Weekly rate,
non-taxable
Aged 0-4 years $146.04
Aged 5-9 years $169.48
Aged 10-13 years $187.01
Aged 14 years and over $204.46
Family home $190.64

Assistance details

Maximum Hourly Gross Rate

Home Helper (excluding Holiday Pay)

$15.53

Home Helper (including Holiday Pay)

$16.77

Family tax credit for each child - maximum Rate
First or only child, aged 0 to 15 years $92.73
First or only child, aged 16 years or older $101.98
Second or subsequent child, aged 0 to 12 years $64.44
Second or subsequent child, aged 13 to 15 years $73.50
Second or subsequent child, aged 16 years or older $91.25

Pension type Net weekly rate
(after tax at "M")		 Net weekly rate
(after tax at "S")		 Gross weekly rate
NZ Superannuation or Veteran's Pension - standard rates
Single, living alone $374.53 $355.68 $431.10
Single, sharing $345.72 $326.87 $396.17
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (total) $576.20 $538.50 $652.60
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (each) $288.10 $269.25 $326.30
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (total) $547.64 $509.94 $618.08
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (each) $273.82 $254.97 $309.04
NZ Superannuation or Veteran's Pension - non-standard rates
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $576.20 $538.50 $652.60
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $288.10 $269.25 $326.30
Qualified partner in rest home with non-qualified partner in the community $262.64 $243.79 $295.41
Hospital rate $43.45 Note 1 $48.49
Non-taxable amounts
World War I veteran's lump sum payment on death $14,677.20
Other veterans lump sum payment on death $5,821.01
Veteran's spouse's lump sum payment on death $4,438.68

Note 1: The hospital rate is always taxed at the "M" rate.

For more information about war pensions and allowances, please phone Veterans' Affairs New Zealand on 0800 483 8372 (0800 4 VETERAN)

Category Net weekly rate Gross weekly rate
Older People Receiving RCS $43.45 $48.55
People with Psychiatric or Intellectual Disabilities $63.31 $70.74
People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities $102.89 $114.96

Type of benefit combination Without children With children
Rent or board Mortgage Rent or board Mortgage
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension
and Supported Living Payment		 $127 $152 $150 $180
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension
and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary		 $116 $139 $139 $167
Supported Living Payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary $98 $118 $122 $146
Supported Living Payment and NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension $127 $152 $150 $180

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates
Gross income per week
1 child Less than $1,200.00 $1,200.00 to $1,299.99 $1,300.00 to $1,399.99 $1,400.00 or more
2 children Less than $1,380.00 $1,380.00 to $1,489.99 $1,490.00 to $1,599.99 $1,600.00 or more
3 or more children Less than $1,540.00 $1,540.00 to $1,669.99 $1,670.00 to 1,799.99 $1,800.00 or more
Rate that applies - see the chart below Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3 Nil

Below are the rates of Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy that apply to the income thresholds listed above.

Assistance type Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3
Childcare Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $4.00 $2.79 $1.55
Childcare Subsidy up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $200.00 $139.50 $77.50
OSCAR Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $4.00 $2.79 $1.55
OSCAR Subsidy during term time up to 20 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $80.00 $55.80 $31.00
OSCAR Subsidy during holidays up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $200.00 $139.50 $77.50

Rate
For other than NZ Superannuation, Veterans Pension, Orphans Benefit, or Unsupported Childs Benefit $48.55 (gross, weekly)
$43.45 (net, weekly, after tax at "M")

Rate
Income and asset-tested - maximum $2,008.76

Category Gross weekly cut-out point
Single, 16 to 17 years $518.76
Single, 18 years or over $616.71
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship with or without children $914.71
Sole parent with 1 child $723.49
Sole parent with 2 or more children $762.26

Family size Gross annual cut-out point
Single, sharing accommodation $26,042.00
Single, living alone $27,637.00
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship $41,327.00
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $48,797.00
3-person family $59,093.00
4-person family $67,282.00
5-person family $75,302.00
6-person family $84,265.00
For each additional family member add $7,898.00

Duration Rate,
non-taxable
Weekly - maximum $106.56
Yearly - maximum $4,262.40

Category Net weekly allowance
(after tax at "M")		 Gross weekly allowance
Single student without dependent children
Under 24 years, at home - up to $140.08 $156.51
Under 24 years, away from home - up to $175.10 $195.64
Independent circumstances $175.10 $195.64
24 years or over, at home $168.09 $187.81
24 years or over, away from home $210.13 $234.78
Student with earning partner
Student with earning partner, at home $75.92 $84.83
Student with earning partner, away from home $113.08 $126.35
Couple without dependent children
One student, one dependent partner $350.20 $401.64
Both eligible students (each) $175.10 $195.64
Both students, one eligible $210.13 $234.78
Single student with dependent children
Single student with 1 or more children $300.98 $341.98
Couple with dependent children
Both students, one eligible, with 1 or more children $300.98 $341.98
Both students, both eligible, with 1 or more children (each) $175.10 $195.64
One student, one dependent partner, with 1 or more children $350.20 $401.64

Weekly rate
Student Loan living cost component - maximum $176.86