Work and Income New Zealand (often called WINZ, part of the Ministry of Social Development / MSD) provides income support, employment services, and hardship assistance to New Zealanders. The system can be confusing to navigate — this guide explains what’s available, how to apply, and what to expect.
Work and Income provides income support (Jobseeker, NZ Super, Sole Parent Support, Supported Living Payment), hardship assistance (food grants, emergency housing), employment services, and supplementary payments (Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance, Winter Energy Payment). Apply online through MyMSD at workandincome.govt.nz, or call 0800 559 009 if you can't apply online. You do not need to be unemployed to receive some payments.
What Work and Income Pays
Main income support payments
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Weekly rate (2026, after tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Jobseeker Support | Unemployed people actively seeking work; or people unable to work due to illness/injury | $276.46 – $372.55 (single, no children); $633.94 (couple, combined) |
| Sole Parent Support | Single parents caring for a child under 14 | $521.52 |
| Supported Living Payment | People with, or caring full-time for someone with, a significant health condition, injury or disability | $355.87 – $581.96 (single or sole parent, depending on age and children) |
| NZ Super | NZ residents aged 65+ who meet residency test | $1,024.90 – $1,110.30 a fortnight (single); $1,708.16 a fortnight (couple, combined) |
| Youth Payment / Young Parent Payment | Youth Payment: 16 or 17 year olds who can’t live with or be supported by parents or guardians; Young Parent Payment: parents aged 16 to 19 | $300.86 – $521.52 |
Rates change annually (usually in April). Check workandincome.govt.nz for the most current rates.
Supplementary payments (can receive in addition to main benefits or when working)
| Payment | What it covers | Max weekly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Supplement | Help with rent, board, or mortgage | Up to $305 a week (Area 1, including Auckland) |
| Disability Allowance | Ongoing costs of disability or health condition | Up to $82.85 |
| Temporary Additional Support (TAS) | Gap between income and essential costs | Varies — assessed individually |
| Winter Energy Payment | Power/heating subsidy during winter | $20.46 – $31.82 |
| Childcare Subsidy | Help with early childhood education fees | Up to $6.72/hour per child |
| Special Needs Grant | One-off emergency assistance | Case by case |
| Funeral Grant | Help with funeral costs for those on benefits | Up to $2,697.43 |
How to Apply
Online
Visit workandincome.govt.nz and click “Apply Online” and complete the form in MyMSD, then your next steps there.
In person
Find your nearest Work and Income service centre at workandincome.govt.nz/contact-us. Bring:
- Proof of identity (two documents, at least one government-issued, such as a passport, birth certificate or driver licence), unless you verified your identity online
- IRD number
- Bank account details
- Evidence of income (payslips, bank statements)
- Evidence of housing costs (lease agreement, mortgage statement)
- Evidence of any other income, and of your assets and their values
By phone
0800 559 009 — Monday to Friday 7am–6pm, Saturday 8am–1pm
What Happens After You Apply
- Application lodged — you’ll get an application reference number
- Verification — Work and Income checks your identity, income, assets, and residency
- Assessment — Work and Income works out whether you qualify, which can include an appointment with them
- Decision — Work and Income lets you know the outcome and, if you’re approved, when your payments will start
- First payment — if approved, Work and Income tells you when your payments start; some payments have a stand-down period
While waiting for approval, if you don’t yet get a benefit and have an essential or emergency cost you can’t pay another way, you may be able to get a Recoverable Assistance Payment, which you pay back.
Obligations When Receiving a Benefit
Most benefit recipients have obligations — if you don’t meet them without good and sufficient reason, your benefit could be reduced or stopped.
| Benefit | Common obligations |
|---|---|
| Jobseeker Support (work-ready) | Actively seeking work; attending appointments; accepting suitable job offers |
| Jobseeker Support (medical) | Preparing for work if you can’t work or can only work under 15 hours a week; taking part in a Work Ability Assessment when asked |
| Sole Parent Support | Youngest child 3 to 13: look for part-time work; youngest child under 3: prepare for work |
| Youth Payment | Budgeting service participation; education or training engagement |
If there’s any reason you can’t meet an obligation, talk to Work and Income straight away.
Your Rights as a WINZ Client
- Right to apply: WINZ cannot stop you from applying for a benefit — they must process your application
- Right to a review: If your application is declined or your payment is reduced, you can ask for a review of decision within 3 months; if you still disagree it can go to the Benefit Review Committee, and then you can appeal to the Social Security Appeal Authority
- Right to have someone with you: You can bring a support person, advocate or lawyer to a review of decision hearing, and a support person or advocate to a fraud interview
- Right to privacy: Work and Income can share your information with other agencies or people to provide services or where there is a legal reason
- Right to information: You can ask to see the personal information WINZ holds about you and ask for it to be corrected if it’s wrong
Finding an advocate: You can find an advocate through the Citizens Advice Bureau or Community Law.
Hardship Assistance — If You Have an Urgent Need
Even if you aren’t getting a main benefit, Work and Income may be able to help with essential or emergency costs:
| Type | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Special Needs Grant (SNG) | Food, bedding, dental treatment, medical costs and other essential or emergency costs; most do not need to be repaid |
| Recoverable Assistance Payment (RAP) | One-off essential or emergency costs for people not getting a benefit; must be paid back |
| Emergency housing | Short-term accommodation if you have nowhere to stay tonight or in the next 7 nights |
| Food Grant | Immediate food assistance — available without being on a main benefit |
To access hardship assistance, call 0800 559 009. You don’t need to be on a benefit to apply for a Special Needs Grant.
Asset and Income Test
Many Work and Income payments are income and/or asset tested:
| You can have (approximately) | Condition |
|---|---|
| Savings and other cash assets | Main benefits such as Jobseeker Support are generally not asset tested; some payments, such as a Special Needs Grant, have a cash asset limit |
| A car for private use | Not counted as a cash asset for a Special Needs Grant |
| Your home | Not counted as a cash asset for a Special Needs Grant; main benefits are generally not asset tested |
| KiwiSaver | Locked-in funds are not treated as a cash asset (funds are generally locked in until age 65) |
For payments with a cash asset limit, such as emergency housing, your cash assets generally need to be under the limit.
Working While on a Benefit
You can work and still receive some benefit support:
| Benefit | Income abatement (how fast benefit reduces) |
|---|---|
| Jobseeker Support (single, no dependent children) | Benefit reduces by 70 cents for every $1 earned over $160/week |
| Sole Parent Support | Benefit reduces by 30 cents for every $1 earned between $160 and $250/week, then by 70 cents for every $1 over $250/week |
| NZ Super | You can still get NZ Super while you are working; other payments you get, like Accommodation Supplement, are affected by income you earn |
| Supported Living Payment (single, 18+) | Benefit reduces by 30 cents in the dollar between $160 and $250/week, then 70 cents in the dollar above $250/week |
Tell Work and Income about your correct income and changes in your circumstances on time; if you do not, you can be overpaid and end up with a debt.