Benefit rates at 31 July 2024

Benefit and payment rates from 31 July 2024

Information

On 31 July 2024, the Personal Income Tax thresholds will be adjusted. This will change some payment rates, income limits and income thresholds. Find out more about this.

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

 $88 $106

Couple, no children

 $150 $180

Sole parent

 $160 $192

Couple with children

 $195 $234

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 
$160 $192

Supported Living Payment

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage 

Single, no children

 $101 $121

Couple, no children

 $171 $205

Sole parent

 $174 $209

Couple, with children

 $216 $259

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

 $108 N/A

Sole parent, 16-19

 $160 $192

Couple 

 $195 $234

Youth Payment

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage 

Single

 $88 $106

Couple 

 $150 $180

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension - without dependent children

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage 

Single, living alone

 $130 $156

Single, sharing accommodation

 $120 $144

Couple, both getting pension

 $201 $241

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

 $191 $229

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

 $201 $241

NZ Super or Veteran's Pension - with dependent children

Your situation

Rent or board

Mortgage 

Single, living alone

 $167 $200

Single, sharing accommodation

 $157 $188

Couple, both getting pension

 $237 $284

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

 $227 $273

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

 $237 $284

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

 $186 $223

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

 $176 $211

Supported Living payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $161 $193

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

 $230 $276

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

 $216 $259

Supported Living payment and Jobseeker Support or non-beneficiary

 $205 $246

Grandparented Widows Benefit woman alone or DPB woman alone 

This benefit was granted before 15 July 2013.

Rent or board

Mortgage 
$91 $109

These rates are the maximum amount of Accommodation Supplement you can get, depending on your situation. It also depends on what area of the country 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 depends on how many children you have and how much your income is.

Childcare Subsidy

You have 1 child

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,062 $6.38 $319
 $1,062 to $1,933.99 $5.09 $254.50
 $1,934 to $2,094.99 $3.56 $178
 $2,095 to $2,256.99 $1.99 $99.50 
 $2,257 or more nil nil

You have 2 children

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,221 $6.38 $319
 $1,221 to $2,224.99 $5.09 $254.50
 $2,225 to $2,400.99 $3.56 $178
 $2,401 to $2,578.99 $1.99 $99.50 
 $2,579 or more nil nil

You have 3 children

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,368 $6.38 $319
 $1,368 to $2,481.99 $5.09 $254.50
 $2,482 to $2,691.99 $3.56 $178
 $2,692 to $2,901.99 $1.99 $99.50 
 $2,902 or more nil nil

OSCAR Subsidy

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

You have 1 child

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,062 $6.38 $127.60 $319
 $1,062 to $1,933.99 $5.09 $101.80 $254.50
 $1,934 to $2,094.99 $3.56 $71.20 $178
 $2,095 to $2,256.99 $1.99 $39.80 $99.50 
 $2,257 or more nil nil nil

You have 2 children

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,221 $6.38 $127.60 $319
 $1,221 to $2,224.99 $5.09 $101.80 $254.50
 $2,225 to $2,400.99 $3.56 $71.20 $178
 $2,401 to $2,578.99 $1.99 $39.80 $99.50 
 $2,579 or more nil nil nil

You have 3 children

Gross weekly income 

Hourly rate per child 

Term weekly rate per child (20 hours)

Holidays weekly rate per child (50 hours)
 Less than $1,368 $6.38 $127.60 $319
 $1,368 to $2,481.99 $5.09 $101.80 $254.50
 $2,482 to $2,691.99 $3.56 $71.20 $178
 $2,692 to $2,901.99 $1.99 $39.80 $99.50 
 $2,902 or more nil nil nil

Family size Gross annual cut-out point for NZ Super clients Gross annual cut-out point for other clients
Single, sharing accommodation $35,283 $33,181
Single, living alone $37,531 $35,213
Couple $56,327 $52,656
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $64,316 $64,316
3-person family $79,167 $79,167
4-person family $91,332 $91,332
5-person family $103,281 $103,281
6-person family $116,434 $116,434
For each additional family member add $11,802

Benefit type Weekly rate, non-taxable
Standard Disability Allowance - maximum $78.60
Special Disability Allowance $49.02
Child Disability Allowance $59.23

Category Weekly income limits before tax
Single 16 to 17 years $660.90
Single 18+ years $823.31
Couple with or without children $1,225.95
Sole parent 1 child $921.73
Sole parent 2+ children $971.14

Category Rate per child
First or only child $144.30
Second or subsequent child $117.56

Category Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged 0-4 years $286.08
Aged 5-9 years $288.06
Aged 10-13 years $310.40
Aged 14 years and over $332.61
Family home $315.01

This is income and asset tested. The maximum amount you can get is $2,559.20.

This is the maximum rate before tax.

  Rate per hour (before tax)
Excluding holiday pay $24.37
Including holiday pay (8%) $26.32

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

Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") 

Gross weekly rate 
 $55.35 $61.84

If you don't have children

Category Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs
Single, 18 to 19 years, at home $262.30 $293.07 N/A
Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home $307.87 $347.72 N/A
Single, 20 to 24 years $307.87 $347.72 N/A
Single, 25 years or over $353.46 $402.98 $159.43
Couple (total) $601.46 $678.14 $299.15
Couple (each) $300.73 $339.07  

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

If you have children

Category Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate
Sole parent $494.80 $574.30
Couple (total) $635.10 $718.90
Couple (each) $317.55 $359.45
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit (total) $317.55 $359.45
Couple with 1 partner on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension (total) $317.55 $359.45

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.

You can find more information about the NZ Super and Veteran's Pension rates here.

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

Standard rates

Pension type Net fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'M')		 Net fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'S')		 Gross fortnightly rate
Single      
Single, living alone $1,043.24 $1,001.24 $1,213.34
Single, sharing $963.32 $921.32 $1,116.62
Couples      
Only one of you qualifies $803.48 $761.48 $922.82
Both you and your partner qualify (combined) $1,606.96 $1,522.96 $1,845.64
Both you and your partner qualify (each)  $803.48 $761.48 $922.82
Only one of you qualifies and you include your partner in your payments (combined) – grandparented since November 2020 $1,527.88 $1,443.88 $1,749.76
Only one of you qualifies and you include your partner in your payments (each) – grandparented since November 2020 $763.94 $721.94 $874.88

Non-standard rates

Pension type Net fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'M')		 Net fortnightly rate
(after tax at 'S')		 Gross fortnightly rate
Couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $1,606.96 $1,522.96 $1,845.64
Couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $803.48 $761.48 $922.82
Hospital rate (always taxed at 'M') $55.35 N/A $61.75

Non-taxable lump sum payments

Pension type Rate
Veteran's lump sum payment on death $7,415.97
Veteran's spouse's lump sum payment on death $5,654.89

Child or young person's age Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged under 5 years $286.08
Aged 5 to 9 years $288.06
Aged 10 to 13 years $310.40
Aged 14 years or over $332.61

Category Net weekly rate (after tax at 'M') Gross weekly rate for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension Gross weekly rate for other benefits
People receiving Residential Care Subsidy $55.35 $61.75 $61.84
People with Psychiatric or Intellectual Disabilities $80.67 $90.12 $90.13
People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities $131.07 $146.40 $146.45

Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate
$494.80 $574.30

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 

Net weekly rate (after tax at 'M') 

 Gross weekly rate

Special Benefit standard costs 
Single, 16-17  $337.63  $383.79  N/A
Single, 18+  $402.84  $462.84 $216.30
Couple (total) $684.48  $778.76  $394.60
Couple (each) $342.24 $389.38  

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

If you have children

Category 

Net weekly rate (after tax at 'M') 

 Gross weekly rate
Sole parent $552.14 $643.81
Couple (total) $718.14 $819.56
Couple (each) $359.07  $409.78 
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit (total) $372.81 $426.44
Couple with 1 partner on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension (total) $372.81 $426.44

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 $135.75
Yearly - maximum $5,430

Category Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate
Sole parent, 16 to 17 years, living with or supported by parents who earn less than the Family Tax Credit threshold $285.44 $320.53
Sole parent, 16 to 19 years $494.80 $574.30
Couple with 1 or more children (total) $635.10 $718.90
Couple with 1 or more children (each) $317.55 $359.45
Couple with 1 partner not on benefit and 1 or more children (total) $317.55 $359.45

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

Category Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate
Single, 16 to 17 years $307.87 $347.72
Couple (total) $601.46 $678.14
Couple (each) $300.73 $339.07

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

These benefits were granted before 15 July 2013.

Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs
$364.82 $416.75 $168.53