Whiteware

You may get help if you:

• are 16 or over (if you're 16-19 and have a Youth Service provider, contact Youth Services)
• are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here
• have an immediate or essential need.

It also depends on:

• how much you and your partner earn
• any money or assets you and your partner have.

Your income will be assessed either weekly or yearly, depending on the kind of help you qualify for. These income and asset limits usually apply:

Current income limits

If you are:	Weekly income before tax is less than
Single and 16 to 17 years old	$854.30
Single and 18 years old or over	$981.83
Couple (with or without children)	$1,426.10
Sole parent with 1 child	$1,191.41
Sole parent with 2 or more children	$1,255.22

Asset limits

These don't include the things you need for day-to-day living, e.g. your home, car, and some payments after a severe weather event. They do include things like money in the bank, or a second property.

If you are:	Your assets are worth less than
Single	$1,368.68
Couple (with or without children) or sole parent	$2,280.58

You can apply for an advance or recoverable assistance payment to buy a:

• fridge
• freezer
• combined fridge-freezer
• washing machine.

If your application is approved, you'll be able to buy your appliance from one of the suppliers we have an arrangement with. They will:

• provide a minimum 2-year warranty
• deliver and install the appliance
• remove your old appliance (if it's clean and empty).

The appliance will also be covered under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

You only need to pay back the money you spend. Any money left on your payment card will automatically return to us, and you won't have to pay it back.

Step 1: Call us

You need to call us.

We'll talk with you to understand your situation and how we can help. We'll let you know what information you need to provide and how to get this to us.

You do not need to provide quotes.

Step 2: Get a payment card

If your application is approved, we'll load the money onto a payment card for you. If you don't already have one of these, you'll need to visit a service centre to get one, and set a pin on it before you use it.

Step 3: Choose where you'll buy your appliance from

We have an arrangement with 4 suppliers for whiteware for you to choose from. They have a range of different appliances, models and brands available at MSD prices.

These suppliers are:

• Big Save
• Noel Leeming
• Trade Depot
• Fisher and Paykel and Haier (through 100% Home, Appliance Plus, Harvey Norman and Heathcotes - these retailers offer only Fisher and Paykel/Haier whiteware through this arrangement).

You can go to any of these stores to buy the appliance you've been approved for. Tell the staff you're paying with a Work and Income payment card. They will show you the appliances and tell you the MSD prices. If appliances are on sale, those sales prices are available to you also.

You can visit the supplier's websites to see the appliances and price ranges:

• Big Save
• Fisher and Paykel
• Noel Leeming
• Trade Depot.

The specific MSD prices for individual appliances aren't available online.

You can't top up the money available on your payment card with your own funds.

Step 4: Buy the appliance

You'll need to buy your appliance at the store using your payment card. You can't use your payment card online. If you can't get to a store, tell us when you call to apply.

If you're not sure how to use your payment card, you can find out how to do this here:

Our whiteware retailers tell us about payment card transactions, including the payment card number used. We use this information to make sure clients are using the assistance for the purpose we've discussed with them.

Step 5: Arrange delivery

The store will work with you to arrange for the appliance to be delivered to your home and installed. They will also remove the packaging and take away your old appliance (if it's clean and empty).

If you need to make any changes to your order, get in touch with the store.

If there is a refund, the money will be returned to us, not your payment card.

Appliances come with a minimum 2-year warranty.

If you need help with your appliance, contact the store you bought it from. They will talk to you about what needs to be done, and if needed arrange for a service technician to come look at it.  

If the fault with your appliance isn't covered by the warranty, we may be able to help you pay for servicing and repairs. Call us to apply.

If you need a new appliance, you’ll need to apply with us again.