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Work homepage
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Overview
We can help you get ready to apply and find the right job for you. We can even help you while you're working.
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Get ready to work
You can get training, help with CVs and cover letters, and advice for job interviews.
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Find jobs
Find out what jobs are available, which job is best for you and how you can plan your career.
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Working
Whether you've just started a job or need some help at work, we've got your back.
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Lost your job
We'll help you get ready to find a new job and support you while you're between jobs.
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Start your own business
Get help to plan and set up a successful business or be a self-employed contractor.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
Food, school costs, power, accommodation or other living expenses you need help with
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Relationship changes
You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
Counselling, prescription and GP costs, medical alarms and other costs we can help with
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
Dental, glasses, car repairs, fridge, washing machine, funeral or other urgent costs you need help with
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Moving to New Zealand
Payments you can get from us, settling into NZ, overseas pensions and more.
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
Address, contact details, overseas travel, childcare, relationship or anything else that’s changed.
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Income
Declare income and income deduction tables
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Going overseas
Travelling or moving overseas may affect your payments.
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Re-apply, review or renew
Re-apply for a payment, review circumstances, renew medical certificate and more
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Payments
Check or stop your payments, payment cards and other information
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Moving house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Other languages
Read some of our housing information in other languages.
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loginGoing into or leaving hospital
If you're going into hospital or have just left, you need to tell us.
How to tell us
You need to contact us as soon as you can. If you don't tell us we may not pay you enough. Or we may pay you too much and you'll have to pay the debt back.
Payments may be affected
Your benefit or payment will keep being paid for the first 13 weeks you're in hospital.
Then your payments will change to our hospital rate of $55.35 a week (after tax), unless you either:
- have a partner and a child, or
- are a veteran.
The hospital rate covers the cost of personal items you need to get while you're in hospital.
Get Supported Living Payment
You may get the Supported Living Payment because you're caring for someone.
If you, or the person you're caring for, is in hospital, your benefit will keep being paid for the first 4 weeks. Then it will stop.
If you're in hospital for longer than 4 weeks, we'll need to check if there are other payments you could qualify for.
If the hospital rate isn't enough to cover your costs, we may be able to pay more. This will depend on what expenses and income you have while you're in hospital.
What you need to do
You need to fill out an 'Increased payment while you're in hospital' form. You can drop it off to one of our service centres, or post it to us.
If you can't download and print the form, ask the hospital. They may have some on site. The hospital staff may also be able to help you fill it out and send it.
What happens next
Once we've processed your form, we'll send you a letter and give you a call to let you know if it's approved.
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