Jobseeker Support

To get Jobseeker Support, you generally need to be in one of the following situations:

• not be in employment and are looking for a job
• be in part-time employment and looking for more work, or
• have a health condition or disability which affects your ability to work. This means you have to reduce your hours or stop work for a while. We may still be able to help if you have a job to go back to.

You also need to:

• be aged 18 or older, or 20 and older if you have dependent children
• either:
  • be a New Zealand citizen
  • be a permanent resident, or
  • have a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009
• have lived continuously in NZ for at least 2 years since either:
  • becoming a NZ citizen
  • becoming a permanent resident, or
  • getting a residence class visa
• be ordinarily resident in NZ, and
• be ordinarily resident in New Zealand when you apply.

If this isn't you, find out how we can help. Talk to us.

You also need to agree to some obligations such as:

• be willing to accept suitable employment
• be taking reasonable steps to find work.

This is a guide only. For more detail about who can get it read:

Check if you can get Jobseeker Support

To find out if you could get Jobseeker Support and what else you might qualify for, use our 'Check what you might get' tool.

Jobseeker Support is paid weekly. How much you get depends on your situation and how much you and your partner (if you have one) earn.

If you get Jobseeker Support, you'll also automatically get a Winter Energy Payment. This is paid during the Winter months.

You can apply online through MyMSD. We'll also check to see if you can get any other help from us based on the answers you give in your application.

If you want to get child support through Inland Revenue, you can apply through us when you complete your online application. Or you can apply through Inland Revenue. Any child support payments you get will be counted as income for your benefit.

Once you've submitted your online form, we’ll call you if there's anything else you need to do.

Provide a medical certificate

If you have a health condition, injury or disability that impacts your ability to work, you must provide a medical certificate. To get a medical certificate you'll need to book an appointment with your health practitioner.

If your application's approved

• We'll let you know when your payments will start.
• We'll send you a Community Services Card to help with the costs of healthcare and public transport.
• If you have dependent children under 18,  you may get a family tax credit. This can be paid with your benefit or from Inland Revenue (it depends what option you chose when you applied for your benefit).

You'll need to attend a Kōrero Mahi work seminar

If you have full-time work obligations, you'll need to attend a seminar.

At our Kōrero Mahi work seminars you'll get support to get ready to work. We'll explain how we can help you find work, and get you set up to start applying for jobs.

Meet your obligations

There are things you need to do when you're getting a Jobseeker Support benefit. If you don't do them, your benefit could reduce or stop. This includes things like:

• telling us if something changes
• finding or preparing for work
• taking part in work ability assessments.

If you have a partner, there are things they'll need to do as well.

Employment plan

To meet your obligation to find work, there are activities you'll need to do by a certain date. Some people will have an employment plan in MyMSD where they can see these activities and the date they need to do them by. 

Renew your medical certificate

If your medical coverage is due to expire while you're getting Jobseeker Support, you'll need to provide another medical certificate.

If you're getting Jobseeker Support and you still need it after a year, you have to reapply.