Benefit rates at 1 April 2017

Benefit and payment rates from 1 April 2017

Category 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

Jobseeker Support: without children
Single, 18 to 19 years, at home $141.62 $158.23 $90.78 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home $177.03 $197.80 $90.78 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 20 to 24 years $177.03 $197.80 $90.78 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 25 years or over $212.45 $237.37 $126.51 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $354.06 $395.60 $237.38 $89 $106 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $177.03 $197.80

Jobseeker Support: with children
Sole parent $329.57 $376.64 Note 1 $106 $127 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $379.34 $423.84 Note 1 $118 $142 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $189.67 $211.92

* 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 2 person family
$225 $165 $120 $75 3 or more person family

Category 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 $166.90 $186.48 Note 3 $65 Note 4 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Sole parent $329.57 $376.64 Note 3 $106 $127 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $379.34 $423.84 Note 3 $118 $142 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $189.67 $211.92

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

Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
$160 $125 $75 $55 2 person family
$225 $165 $120 $75 3 or more person family

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.

Category 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 $177.03 $197.80 Note 3 $53 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $354.06 $395.60 Note 3 $89 $106 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $177.03 $197.80

* 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.

Granted before 15/7/2013

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
$221.27 $247.23 $133.74 $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.

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
$329.57 $376.64 Note 1 $106 $127 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 2 person family
$225 $165 $120 $75 3 or more person family

Category 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

Supported Living Payment: without children
Single, 16 to 17 years $214.88 $240.09 $120.95 $66 $80 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $265.54 $299.02 $171.65 $66 $80 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $442.54 $494.46 $313.14 $111 $133 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $221.27 $247.23

Supported Living Payment: with children
Sole parent $374.10 $430.61 Note 1 $117 $140 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $467.82 $522.70 Note 1 $140 $168 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $233.91 $261.35

* 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 2 person family
$225 $165 $120 $75 3 or more person family

Benefit type Weekly rate, non-taxable
Standard Disability Allowance - maximum $62.37
Special Disability Allowance $38.90
Child Disability Allowance $47.00

Child or young person's age Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged under 5 years $147.65
Aged 5 to 9 years $171.35
Aged 10 to 13 years $189.07
Aged 14 years or over $206.71

Category Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged 0-4 years $147.65
Aged 5-9 years $171.35
Aged 10-13 years $189.07
Aged 14 years and over $206.71
Family home $192.74

Category 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 $390.20 $371.35 $450.10
Single, sharing $360.18 $341.33 $413.60
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (total) $600.30 $562.60 $681.60
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (each) $300.15 $281.30 $340.80
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (total) $570.56 $532.86 $645.56
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (each) $285.28 $266.43 $322.78
NZ Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension — non-standard rates
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $600.30 $562.60 $681.60
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $300.15 $281.30 $340.80
Qualified partner in rest home with non-qualified partner in the community $265.54 $246.69 $299.01
Hospital rate $43.93 $40.50 $49.07
Non-taxable amounts
World War I veteran's lump sum payment on death $14,838.65
Other veterans lump sum payment on death $5,885.04
Veteran's spouse's lump sum payment on death $4,487.51

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 $43.93 $49.07
People with Psychiatric or Intellectual Disabilities $64.01 $71.46
People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities $104.02 $116.20

At 1 April 2017 for couples receiving half-married rates of different benefits

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		 $130 $156 $160 $192
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension
and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary		 $119 $143 $149 $179
Supported Living Payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary $100 $119 $129 $155

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates
Gross income per week
1 child Less than $800.00 $800.00 to $1,199.99 $1,200.00 to $1,299.99 $1,300.00 to $1,399.99 $1,400.00 or more
2 children Less than $920.00 $920.00 to $1,379.99 $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 $1,030.00 $1,030.00 to $1,539.99 $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 0 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 0 Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3
Childcare Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $5.06 $4.04 $2.82 $1.57
Childcare Subsidy up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non‑taxable $253.00 $202.00 $141.00 $78.50
OSCAR Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $5.06 $4.04 $2.82 $1.57
OSCAR Subsidy during term time up to 20 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $101.20 $80.80 $56.40 $31.40
OSCAR Subsidy during holidays up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $253.00 $202.00 $141.00 $78.50

Rate
For other than NZ Superannuation, Veterans Pension, Orphans Benefit, or Unsupported Child Benefit $49.08 (gross, weekly)
$43.93 (net, weekly, after tax at "M")

Rate
Income and asset‑tested - maximum $2,030.91

Category Weekly income limits before tax
Single 16-17 years $524.48
Single 18+ years $635.98
Married, civil union or de facto couple (with or without children) $943.88
Sole parent 1 child $731.47
Sole parent 2+ children $770.66

Family size Gross annual cut-out point
Single, sharing accommodation $26,330
Single, living alone $27,942
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship $41,783
Single, sharing accommodation (NZS) $26,949
Single, living alone (NZS) $28,626
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship (NZS) $42,836
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $49,993
3-person family $60,402
4-person family $68,682
5-person family $76,790
6-person family $85,852
For each additional family member add $7,986

Duration Rate, non-taxable
Weekly - maximum $107.73
Yearly - maximum $4,309.20

Below are the rates from 1 April 2017. These have gone up again from 1 January 2018 - see the new rates from 1 January 2018

Category Net weekly allowance
(after tax at "M")		 Gross weekly allowance

Single student without dependent children
Under 24 years, at home - up to $141.62 $158.23
Under 24 years, away from home - up to $177.03 $197.80
Independent circumstances $177.03 $197.80
24 years or over, at home $169.94 $189.88
24 years or over, away from home $212.45 $237.37

Student with earning partner
Student with earning partner, at home, without children $76.76 $85.77
Student with earning partner, away from home, without children $114.33 $127.74
Student with earning partner, partner not receiving, at home, with children $102.03 $114.00
Student with earning partner, partner not receiving, away from home, with children $139.60 $155.98
Student with earning partner, partner receiving, at home, with children $89.39 $99.88
Student with earning partner, partner receiving, away from home, with children $129.96 $141.85

Couple without dependent children
One student, one dependent partner $354.06 $406.32
Both eligible students (each) $177.03 $197.80
Both students, one eligible $212.45 $237.37

Single student with dependent children
Single student with 1 or more children $329.57 $376.64

Couple with dependent children
Both students, one eligible, with 1 or more children $329.57 $376.64
Both students, both eligible, partner receiving, with 1 or more children (each) $189.67 $211.92
Both students, both eligible, partner not receiving, with 1 or more children $202.31 226.04
One student, one dependent partner, with 1 or more children $379.34 $436.96



Below is the rate from 1 April 2017. This has gone up again from 1 January 2018 - see the new rate from 1 January 2018

Weekly rate
Student Loan living cost component - maximum $178.81