New Zealand Government Benefits & Entitlements 2026
A complete guide to New Zealand government payments, tax credits, and support programmes.
Main Payments & Tax Credits
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Up to $305 per week (varies by rent, area, income and assets)
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Up to 50 hours/week subsidised; rate depends on income
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Up to $520 per year
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Up to $372.55 per week (single with children, 2026 rate)
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Up to $260.72 per year government contribution
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From $984.28/fortnight (couple, each) to $1,294.74/fortnight (single)
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Up to $754.26 per week for 26 weeks
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$521.52 per week (2026 rate, income-tested)
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$450 per winter (single) or $700 per winter (couple / with children)
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Up to $4,041 per year per eligible child
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Up to $7,921 per year (income-tested)
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Up to $7,670 per year (2026–27 rate, income-tested)
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Tops up net family income to at least $36,604/year
Other Support & Grants
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Subsidised before/after-school and holiday programme care
Disability & Health Support
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Up to $82.85/week ($4,308.20/yr), income-tested
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$62.43/week ($3,246.36/yr) per child, not income-tested
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$51.67/week ($2,686.84/yr) for a partner in care
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Weekly payment for long-term disability or full-time caring
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Travel-cost help to attend the Artificial Limb Centre (eligibility only)
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Paid to approved rehabilitation programme providers (eligibility only)
Aged & Residential Care
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Means-tested aged residential care subsidy (asset thresholds $291,825 / $159,810)
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Help with long-term residential support costs (eligibility only)
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Interest-free loan against your home for care costs
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Paid at the NZ Super rate via Veterans' Affairs
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Up to $2,000 per child per year for OB/UCB carers
Hardship Grants
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One-off needs-tested grant for urgent essential costs
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Repayable grant for urgent costs (non-beneficiaries)
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Recoverable advance on your future benefit
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Last-resort weekly top-up when essential costs exceed income
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Automatic extra for Orphan's / Unsupported Child's Benefit carers
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Help re-establishing in the community after short-term residential treatment
Emergency & Crisis Support
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Ongoing support for those who cannot get a main benefit
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Support for a sole parent who cannot get a main benefit
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$350 one-off grant on release from prison (31+ days)
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Help to re-establish after leaving a difficult situation (eligibility only)
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Activated only when a civil defence emergency is officially declared
Employment & Work Support
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Incentive supporting sustained employment plus training
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Bridging payment when moving off a benefit into work
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Up to $2,754 over 26 weeks when seasonal work is interrupted
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Wage subsidy + support for disabled jobseekers (eligibility only)
Children in Care & Special Circumstances
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$213.93–$274.04/week by child age, for carers of an orphaned child
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Same weekly rate table, for family-breakdown care
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Rare hardship help for a cross-border custody dispute (eligibility only)
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Activated only when a government adverse event (drought/flood) is declared
Find all New Zealand Government Benefits you're entitled to
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