Benefit rates at 1 April 2025

Benefit and payment rates from 1 April 2025

Information

On 1 April 2025, benefits and some payments will be increasing due to the Annual General Adjustment: Find out more about the Annual General Adjustment.

Entry thresholds are the minimum amount you have to pay each week for accommodation costs. This is one of the criteria you have to meet to get Accommodation Supplement.

What your entry thresholds are depends on what main benefit or pension you're getting.

  • If you're not getting a main benefit or pension, your entry thresholds will be the same as Jobseeker Support.
  • There are different entry thresholds for couples receiving half-married rates of different benefits.

Jobseeker Support

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage 

Single, no children

 $90 $108

Couple, no children

 $154 $184

Sole parent

 $163 $195

Couple with children

 $198 $238

Note that single clients aged 18-19 living at home won't have a mortgage rate as it is not relevant to them.

Sole Parent Support

Rent or board

Mortgage
$163 $195

Supported Living Payment

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage

Single, no children

 $103 $124

Couple, no children

 $175 $210

Sole parent

 $177 $213

Couple, with children

 $220 $264

Young Parent Payment

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage

Sole parent, 16-17, living with or supported by parents who earn less than the Family Tax Credit threshold

 $109 N/A

Sole parent, 16-19

 $163 $195

Couple

 $198 $238

Youth Payment

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage

Single

 $90 $108

Couple

 $154 $184

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension - without dependent children

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage

Single, living alone

 $135 $162

Single, sharing accommodation

 $124 $149

Couple, both getting pension

 $207 $249

Couple, 1 qualifies for pension, 1 is included as a non-qualified partner before 9 November 2020

 $197 $236

Couple, 1 qualifies for pension, 1 is included as a non-qualified partner before 1 October 1991

 $207 $249

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension - with dependent children

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage

Single, living alone

 $171 $205

Single, sharing accommodation

 $160 $193

Couple, both getting pension

 $243 $292

Couple, 1 qualifies for pension, 1 is included as a non-qualified partner before 9 November 2020

 $233 $280

Couple, 1 qualifies for pension, 1 is included as a non-qualified partner before 1 October 1991

 $243 $292

Couples receiving half-married rates of different benefits - without dependent children

Type of benefit combination

Rent or board

Mortgage

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and Supported Living Payment

 $191 $229

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $180 $216

Supported Living payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $164 $197

Couples receiving half-married rates of different benefits - with dependent children

Type of benefit combination

Rent or board

Mortgage

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and Supported Living Payment

 $235 $282

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $221 $265

Supported Living payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $209 $251

Grandparented Widows Benefit woman alone or DPB woman alone

This benefit was granted before 15 July 2013.

Rent or board

Mortgage
$93 $112

These rates are the maximum amount of Accommodation Supplement you can get, depending on your situation. It also depends on what area of New Zealand you live in.

Category

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Area 4

Single, no children

 $165 $105 $80 $70

Sole parent, 1 child

 $235 $155 $105 $80

Sole parent, 2+ children

 $305 $220 $160 $120

Couple without children

 $235 $155 $105 $80

Couple with children

 $305 $220 $160 $120
Definition of areas

Childcare assistance includes Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy.

The rate you get depends on how many children you have and how much your income is.

Childcare Subsidy

You have 1 child

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,099 $6.52 $326
 $1,099 to $2,001.99 $5.20 $260
$2,002 to $2,168.99 $3.64 $182
$2,169 to $2,335.99 $2.03 $101.50
$2,336 or more nil nil

You have 2 children

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,264 $6.52 $326
$1,264 to $2,302.99 $5.20 $260
$2,303 to $2,484.99 $3.64 $182
$2,485 to $2,669.99 $2.03 $101.50
$2,670 or more nil nil

You have 3 children

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,416 $6.52 $326
$1,416 to $2,568.99 $5.20 $260
$2,569 to $2,786.99 $3.64 $182
$2,787 to $3,003.99 $2.03 $101.50
$3,004 or more nil nil

OSCAR Subsidy

The rate you get depends on how many children you have and how much your income is.

You have 1 child

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,099 $6.52 $130.40 $326
$1,099 to $2,001.99 $5.20 $104 $260
$2,002 to $2,168.99 $3.64 $72.80 $182
$2,169 to $2,335.99 $2.03 $40.60 $101.50
$2,336 or more nil nil nil

You have 2 children

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,264 $6.52 $130.40 $326
$1,264 to $2,302.99 $5.20 $104 $260
$2,303 to $2,484.99 $3.64 $72.80 $182
$2,485 to $2,669.99 $2.03 $40.60 $101.50
$2,670 or more nil nil nil

You have 3 children

Weekly income, before tax

Hourly rate per child

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
Less than $1,416 $6.52 $130.40 $326
$1,416 to $2,568.99 $5.20 $104 $260
$2,569 to $2,786.99 $3.64 $72.80 $182
$2,787 to $3,003.99 $2.03 $40.60 $101.50
$3,004 or more nil nil nil

To be eligible for a Community Services card, you need to have income under the following amounts:

Family size Annual cut-out point for NZ Super clients, before tax Annual cut-out point for other clients, before tax
Single, sharing accommodation $36,245 $33,919
Single, living alone $38,596 $35,997
Couple $57,894 $53,828
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $65,747 $65,747
3-person family $80,928 $80,928
4-person family $93,364 $93,364
5-person family $105,578 $105,578
6-person family $119,024 $119,024
For each additional family member add $12,065

Benefit type Weekly rate, non-taxable
Standard Disability Allowance - maximum $80.35
Special Disability Allowance $50.11
Child Disability Allowance $60.55

Category Weekly income limit, before tax
Single 16 to 17 years $675.60
Single 18+ years $843.78
Couple, with or without children $1,256.07
Sole parent 1 child $942.23
Sole parent 2+ children $992.74

Category Rate per child, non-taxable
First or only child $144.30
Second or subsequent child $117.56

Category Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged 0-4 years $292.44
Aged 5-9 years $294.47
Aged 10-13 years $317.30
Aged 14 years and over $340.01
Family home $322.02

This is income and asset tested. The maximum amount you can get is $2,616.12.

This is the maximum rate before tax.

  Rate per hour, before tax
Excluding holiday pay $24.74
Including holiday pay (8%) $26.72

The weekly hospital rates listed here are for payments other than NZ Super, Veteran's pension, Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit. To see the hospital rate for these payments, select the relevant payment headings on this page.

Weekly rate (after tax at "M")

Weekly rate (before tax)
$56.58 $63.22

If you don't have children

Category Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax Special Benefit standard costs
Single, 18 to 19 years, at home $268.13 $299.59 N/A
Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home $314.72 $356.02 N/A
Single, 20 to 24 years $314.72 $356.02 N/A
Single, 25 years or over $361.32 $412.51 $162.98
Couple (total) $614.84 $694.36 $305.80
Couple (each) $307.42 $347.18  

Note that single clients aged 18-24 don't have Special Benefit standards costs available to them.

If you have children

Category Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax
Sole parent $505.80 $587.64
Couple (total) $649.22 $736.02
Couple (each) $324.61 $368.01
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit (total) $324.61 $368.01
Couple with 1 partner on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension (total) $324.61 $368.01

Note that Special Benefit standard costs for people with children are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

There are standard rates, non-standard rates and non-taxable lump sum payments.

Standard rates

Pension type Fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'M')		 Fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'S')		 Fortnightly rate, before tax
Single      
Single, living alone $1,076.84 $1,034.84 $1,254.28
Single, sharing $994 $952 $1,153.60
Couples      
Only one of you qualifies $828.34 $786.34 $952.94
Both you and your partner qualify (combined) $1,656.68 $1,572.68 $1,905.88
Both you and your partner qualify (each)  $828.34 $786.34 $952.94
Only one of you qualifies and you include your partner in your payments (combined) – grandparented since November 2020 $1,575.16 $1,491.16 $1,806.84
Only one of you qualifies and you include your partner in your payments (each) – grandparented since November 2020 $787.58 $745.58 $903.42

Non-standard rates

Pension type Fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'M')		 Fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'S')		 Fortnightly rate, before tax
Couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $1,656.68 $1,572.68 $1,905.88
Couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $828.34 $786.34 $952.94
Hospital rate (always taxed at 'M') $113.16 N/A $126.38

Non-taxable lump sum payments

Pension type Rate
Veteran's lump sum payment on death $7,580.60
Veteran's spouse's lump sum payment on death $5,780.43

Child or young person's age Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged under 5 years $292.44
Aged 5 to 9 years $294.47
Aged 10 to 13 years $317.30
Aged 14 years or over $340.01

Category Weekly rate (after tax at 'M') Weekly rate for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, before tax Weekly rate for other benefits, before tax
People receiving Residential Care Subsidy $56.58 $63.19 $63.22
People with Psychiatric or Intellectual Disabilities $82.46 $92.12 $92.13
People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities $133.98 $149.62 $149.70

Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax
$505.80 $587.64

Note that Special Benefit standard costs for people are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

If you don't have children

Category 

Weekly rate (after tax at 'M') 

Weekly rate, before tax

Special Benefit standard costs 
Single, 16-17 $345.14 $392.90 N/A
Single, 18+ $411.80 $473.70 $221.11
Couple (total) $699.70 $797.22 $403.38
Couple (each) $349.85 $398.61  

Note that single clients aged 16-17 don't have Special Benefit standards costs available to them.

If you have children

Category 

Weekly rate (after tax at 'M') 

Weekly rate, before tax
 Sole parent $564.42 $658.69
 Couple (total) $734.12 $838.94
 Couple (each) $367.06 $419.47
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit (total) $381.10 $436.49
Couple with 1 partner on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension (total) $381.10 $436.49

Special Benefit standard costs are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Duration Rate, non-taxable
Weekly - maximum $138.77
Yearly - maximum $5,550.80

Category Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax
Solo parent, 16 to 17 years, living with or supported by parents who earn less than the Family Tax Credit threshold $291.79 $328.23
Solo parent, 16 to 19 years $505.80 $587.64
Couple with 1 or more children (total) $649.22 $736.02
Couple with 1 or more children (each) $324.61 $368.01
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit and 1 or more children (total) $324.61 $368.01

Note that Special Benefit standards costs are not available to people getting Young Parent Payment.

Category Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax
Single, 16 to 17 years $314.72 $356.02
Couple (total) $614.84 $694.36
Couple (each) $307.42 $347.18

Note that Special Benefit standards costs are not available to people getting Youth Payment.

These benefits were granted before 15 July 2013.

Weekly rate (after tax at "M") Weekly rate, before tax Special Benefit standard costs
$372.93 $426.58 $172.28