The Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment from Work and Income that helps people with the cost of renting, boarding, or paying a mortgage. It’s available to people on low-to-middle incomes — you don’t need to be on a main benefit to qualify.
The Accommodation Supplement (AS) pays up to $165/week for a single person, or up to $305/week for a couple with children or a sole parent with 2+ children, in Area 1 (Auckland, Queenstown, Tauranga) from 1 April 2026. The amount you receive depends on your income, assets, household size, and where you live. You can receive the Accommodation Supplement even if you're working — it's income-tested, not employment-tested. Apply via Work and Income.
Maximum Weekly Rates by Area
Work and Income divides NZ into four accommodation supplement areas, with higher rates in high-cost areas. Area 1 covers Auckland (all zones), Queenstown, Tauranga, Pukekohe, and Waiuku. Area 2 covers Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch, Napier, Hastings, Nelson, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and other regional cities. Area 3 covers Dunedin, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Gisborne, and other provincial centres. Area 4 is everywhere else.
Single person (16+)
| Area | Example locations | Max weekly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | Auckland, Queenstown, Tauranga | $165 |
| Area 2 | Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch, Napier, Nelson | $105 |
| Area 3 | Dunedin, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Gisborne | $80 |
| Area 4 | Most other NZ areas | $70 |
Couple (no children)
| Area | Max weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Area 1 | $235 |
| Area 2 | $155 |
| Area 3 | $105 |
| Area 4 | $80 |
Sole parent with 1 child
| Area | Max weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Area 1 | $235 |
| Area 2 | $155 |
| Area 3 | $105 |
| Area 4 | $80 |
Couple with children, or sole parent with 2+ children
| Area | Max weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Area 1 | $305 |
| Area 2 | $220 |
| Area 3 | $160 |
| Area 4 | $120 |
These are the maximum rates from 1 April 2026, confirmed directly against workandincome.govt.nz. Budget 2026 announced increases of $10 to $30 a week in the maximum rates for all areas, effective 1 April 2027, depending on where you live and your family size. Always check the current rate at Work and Income before relying on these figures.
How the Accommodation Supplement is Calculated
The AS does not simply pay the maximum rate. Work and Income works it out in steps:
- Housing-cost subsidy: AS pays 70% of your weekly accommodation costs (rent, board or mortgage costs) above an entry threshold. For people not on a main benefit, the entry threshold is the same as for Jobseeker Support: $93 a week for rent or board ($112 for a mortgage) for a single person with no children, from 1 April 2026. If you board, only 62% of your board counts as accommodation costs, and any rent or board you receive from people living with you (such as a boarder) is taken off your costs first.
- Area cap: the result can’t exceed the maximum rate for your area and family type (the tables above).
- Income reduction (non-beneficiaries): if your income before tax is above the income threshold ($693 a week for a single person, from 1 April 2026), AS is reduced by 25 cents for every dollar over it.
For example, a single person in Area 1 paying $450 a week rent and earning $750 a week before tax: 70% × ($450 − $93) = $249.90, capped at $165, then reduced by 25% × ($750 − $693) = $14.25, giving $150.75, which Work and Income rounds up to the next whole dollar. (The cut-out points below follow from this: $693 + $165 ÷ 0.25 = $1,353 a week for a single person in Area 1.)
Work and Income will calculate your specific entitlement during your application.
Income and Asset Tests
Income test
AS is income-tested and abates as your income rises. Rather than a single cut-off, Work and Income publishes “income cut-out points” (the weekly income before tax at which AS reduces to zero), which vary by area and household type. For non-beneficiaries, from 1 April 2026:
| Household type | Area 1 cut-out (gross/week) | Area 2 cut-out (gross/week) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, 16+ | $1,353 | $1,113 |
| Couple, no children | $2,006 | $1,686 |
| Couple, 1+ children | $2,337 | $1,997 |
| Sole parent, 1 child | $1,846 | $1,526 |
| Sole parent, 2+ children | $2,126 | $1,786 |
Cut-out points are progressively lower in Areas 3 and 4. Below the cut-out point, AS abates gradually as income rises — it is not an all-or-nothing threshold, so it’s worth applying even close to these limits. Use Work and Income’s “Check what you might get” tool for a personalised estimate.
Asset test
| Household type | Asset threshold (liquid assets) |
|---|---|
| Single, no dependent children | $8,100 |
| Couple (with or without children), or sole parent | $16,200 |
Liquid assets include savings, shares, and other accessible cash. Your home and KiwiSaver are generally excluded. Net equity in an investment property, boat, caravan, or business can count as a cash asset and may push you over the threshold.
Who Is Eligible
Work and Income’s rule:
- You pay accommodation costs (rent, board or home-ownership costs) of at least a minimum amount, the entry threshold.
- You are 16 or older.
- You are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay.
- You are not paying rent for a public (social) housing property from Kāinga Ora or an approved community housing provider.
- The amount depends on how much income you and your partner get.
- It also depends on the money or assets you and your partner have.
- Payments you get from boarders or renters are taken into account.
If you’re 16 or 17, you must also be financially independent.
You do not need to be on a main benefit (Jobseeker, NZ Super, etc.) to receive the Accommodation Supplement. Many working people qualify.
Renting vs Owning — Different Rules
Renters and boarders
AS is based on your actual weekly rent or board payment.
Homeowners (mortgage)
AS is based on your actual weekly mortgage payment. If you also own another property, such as a rental, Work and Income generally treats your net equity in it like a cash asset, which usually takes you over the asset limit.
Students
Tertiary students getting a Student Allowance may get StudyLink’s Accommodation Benefit, which is paid with the allowance, instead of the Accommodation Supplement. Students who aren’t eligible for a Student Allowance for a reason other than income (for example part-time students) may get AS, and apply through StudyLink.
How to Apply
- Visit workandincome.govt.nz and apply online, or call 0800 559 009
- Gather your: tenancy agreement (showing your rent amount), income details (payslips or bank statements), bank account details, IRD number, proof of identity
- Work and Income assesses your application. If you complete it within 20 working days of first contacting them, they can pay from the date you first made contact
- If approved, AS is paid weekly into your bank account
Common Reasons People Miss Out on AS
1. Not knowing they qualify while working. Many working NZ renters in Area 1 (Auckland) earning under $55,000 would receive meaningful AS payments — but never apply because they assume it’s only for beneficiaries.
2. Moving without notifying WINZ. AS is area-based. If you move between areas without notifying Work and Income, you may be overpaid (creating a debt) or underpaid.
3. Changes in rent. If your rent increases, notify Work and Income — your AS may also increase. This is not automatic.
4. Changes in household. A partner moving in or out, or a child leaving home, affects your entitlement. Tell Work and Income about changes in your income, assets, accommodation costs or household as soon as they happen, so you aren’t overpaid (which creates a debt) or underpaid.
5. Not returning the annual review form. Work and Income reviews your AS at least once every 52 weeks, and if you don’t return its Confirming your Circumstances form by the due date, your payments stop.
Accommodation Supplement vs Public Housing
| Feature | Accommodation Supplement | Public (social) housing |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | Work and Income (weekly payment to you) | Kāinga Ora or a community housing provider (a rental home) |
| You choose your landlord? | Yes, any private landlord | No, you’re offered a property that suits your needs |
| How to access | Apply via Work and Income | Apply through Work and Income; if you qualify you go on the social housing register |
| Waitlist | No waitlist | You wait for a suitable property; how long depends on how urgently you need one and what becomes available |
You can’t get AS while paying rent for a public housing property.